Frenchmans Cap in a Day

Chimes of Freedom is a day mission. Pleasant 50 km hike and a fun 250 M rock climb in between makes for another good day out in Tasmania. 2 years ago Me, Deano, Jakey B and Gaz P. travelled to the far west for a few days of climbing at Frenchman's Cap. We had beautiful weather and me and Deano climbed one route a day, 9th of January (with variants!),the Lorax, and Chimes of Freedom. After climbing the Lorax, we felt Chimes could have been a solo. Gary and Jake made a few comments about Frenchmans in a day and it stuck in my beedy little brain for the last two years.

Last year I rafted the Franklin river with the Tas Uni Rafting Club. Awesome group of folks, pics should be posted soon if GRADY ever sends em!!! Anyway, on that trip we summited Frenchman's from the Irenabyss and the idea of rafting in and climbing a route on Frenchies than walking out was discussed. The thought of soloing Frenchman's in a day kept circling in my mind. I decided to do it early Feb and started watching for a weather window.

I did no run training all of last year except for a footie practice in Natimuk so I decided to get in one run before the 50km round trip. I ran about 14 K and could barely walk for the next two days! So on Friday I was still sore while Alex and Will drove me and Anna up to Frenchies. They were dropping us off on the way to finish bolting and climb a new route in the Tyndall's. Which they subsequently completed: 7 pitches 165M 22 all bolted called How Hard Can It Be.

Meanwhile, I was sore and hungover from dodgy homebrew and a late night of bin diving. Saturday morning I woke up late and left the Hwy at 7:21 AM. I took a couple thermal shirts, a pair of shorts, shoes chalk, 2 Candy Bars and a banana. No water bottle as 300 CM of rainfall a year makes it pointless. I got to Tahune before noon but had an epic climbing Sydney route so retreated and climbed Chimes of Freedom (17) instead. It took 4 hours for the climbing and got back to the ranger station at the hwy 9:18 pm. Sub 14 hours. Im a bit sore but now in good shape to start run training!

I got back and couldn't find anna so I started screaming for her which was pretty stupid considering she is hard of hearing. I walked back from the Hwy and looked for her again. She was camped in an obvious spot but in my tiredness I missed her! Well the boys who gave us the ride from Hobart had finished their new route early and waited for me til 8PM then bailed back to Hobart. Don't blame em! Young Will had just started back at high school and had homework due on Monday. Anyway, the first car that drove by Frenchman's gave us a ride to New Norfolk, then 5 minutes at the roundabout we got a lift to Glenorchy, then bus to Hobs. Total cost of trip: $2.40 and some sore legs.

Id like to thank my sponsors...
Dready Ben from the Blueis who gave me a pair of shoes he got from a guy on the West Coast Track.
Jedi who loaned us his car so we could bin dive and that got me the banana and candy bars.
Stubley who gave me the little bullet backpack that carried everything.
Alex and Will who drove us out.
Anna having pasta cooked on my return. And always believing in me.
Jakey B and Gaz for the idea in the first place.
And everyone in Tas who is Psyched!
See ya out there! As you can tell Im scared shitless. 12 seconds in you can see the old piton on the traverse. Wish I had better pics but it turned out to be WAAAYYY more committing than I thought. :)