Climbing in Arapiles (Part III) - My Final Departure

WRITTEN BY TIM DESMOND

I have been trying a climb called “Final Departure” for two seasons now. Each year I come painfully close to sending this notoriously difficult route. In the first season I took a huge whipper and slammed into the rock down low which resulted in a damaged wrist and elbow – ending the climbing trip. Last year I would come painfully close once again on a very cold afternoon. I didn’t warm up very well and did a minor finger injury in the first crux section. This would end my climbing trip once again and take almost 6 months to recover from. I affectionately know this route now as – The Mega Proj.

This season was going to be my triumphant redemption on the route. I was in good shape and psyched to put this old nemesis away for good. However, as fate would have it – I would be struck down once more. This time with serious illness. There was much sickness at the camp this year. Covid was going around as well as at least two variants of cold and flu. Alas, it was bacterial tonsilitis that took me down, and after several days of brutal discomfort and relentless fever – I collapsed in front of my van and was taken to hospital. I spent the next two weeks trying to recover. Too sick to climb, too weak to leave. All my hopes, dreams and aspiration would have to wait till next season... Again…

All in all, the 2022 trip to Mt Arapiles was a great success. I had many memorable adventures with great people, caught up with old crew and made some new friends. We have goals in climbing to keep things progressive and interesting, but I have always enjoyed the adventure as a whole. Rock climbing is not just about climbing rocks. It's about community, love for the natural world and living each day to the fullest. As frustrating as it is being incapacitated by illness, I’ve learned over the years to take the good with the bad on the big trips, and despite not sending my projects – Arapiles is going nowhere, and the mega proj awaits my return…

Read Part 1and Part 2 of Tim's trip climbing in Arapiles.