Will's Rock Climbing Page > Crags > The Grampians > Hollow Mountain > Sandinista Area

Last updated: July 2004

Sandinista Walls

The Word: Some stonking classics, if you go looking.
The Classic(s): Sandinista (*** 23)
Sun/shade: Generally the routes face north and get plenty of sun, however there's a small number of routes which face east or west giving some shade options.
Wet weather options: Sandinista Wall is steep enough to not get direct rain, however seepage is probably an issue.
Best Season(s): Year round, except for hot summer days.
Rock type: Fairly good sandstone by Grampians standards, but it does vary quite dramatically along these cliffs.
Style of Climbs: Sport, mixed and trad.
Grades: 4-30

Access: 10min walk. Drive to the Hollow Mountain carpark at the far northern end of the Grampians, next to Mt Zero. 3.5hrs from Melbourne, 30mins from Horsham, 10mins from Stapylton campground. Follow the signposted trail to Hollow Mountain, which deposits you at the base of the incredible overhanging Sandinista Wall (the tourist trail scrambles up L of it).

Sandinista Wall

Guidebook(s): Grampians Selected Climbs, Mentz/Tempest, (Page 80-82); North Grampians, 1990 and North Grampians Update 1994, Andrews (Pages ???); and the VCC website for recent updates
Available Grades: 23-30
The Details: A stunning steep swathe of rock towering over the walking track.
Descent(s): Very easy 30sec walk down the tourist trail.

Another view of Chris on Sandinista
Gorgeous rock

Sandinista Wall viewed from near the top of Gunn Buttress. Note Chris on Sandinista (*** 23).

Side view of Sandinista Wall, showing how overhung it is. Neil is on the same spot as Chris is in the above shot, on Sandinista (*** 23), the obvious diagonal flake line. Journey Through Nicaragua (*** 30) is the steep shallow corner beyond. Samosa (32) and Spartacus (33?) take the steep orange rock L of Sandinista.
Sandinista Wall - steepness personified

Greg on Contra Arms Pump (30), with Neil in the background getting going on Sandinista
Good boys, wearing their photo blues!!

Another view of Joe on Contra Arms Pump (30). The rap rope is hanging vertically.
Joe's best angle The poxier end of the wall - Joe leads up Contra Arms Pump (30), ignoring the crappiness of the bolts and cam!
Everyone knows Joe

Moral Vandal Block

Guidebook(s): Grampians Selected Climbs, Mentz/Tempest, (Page 84)
Available Grades: 18-24
The Details: Not worth visiting in its own right, but a nice enough little plaything to while away an hour or two at the end of the day.
Access: Walking R along the base of the cliff from Sandinista, this little wall is about 50m along and is the first section perpendicular to the main cliff, facing you.
Descent(s): Over the back, shimmy down using the big tree, then back through the chasm at the base of the main cliffline.

Moral Vandal 9m 21 (OS)
A nice little problem, a bit hard for the grade especially considering the pump you get trying to place the first wire after the bolt. But then you don't really expect a 9m Kevin Lindorff route to be a soft touch do you? Anyway, the technical crux is past the bolt (look out for a good hold in the seam out L), with easier (ie grade 21!) moves above being well protected by wires and a cam.

This is a shot of Jill on Allied Rat (18), just beside Moral Vandal which is out of shot to her right.

More Internet Sites on Sandinista Walls Climbing

Victorian Climbing Club (VCC) go here to check for new routes, and/or upcoming trips to this area.

Bureau of Meteorology Navigate to "Wimmera" - Horsham's weather is the closest.

Australian Maps Enter "Reservoir" as the road and "Laharum" as the suburb (and Victoria as the state).

Chockstone The best site on Victorian climbing, though only has a few pics of Hollow Mountain....

Onsight Photography Shots 16 and 18-22 are of Hollow Mountain.

Parks Victoria Park information, downloadable maps, etc.

Parks Victoria Education Resource Kit A fascinating explanation of Grampians climate, geology, wildlife, vegetation, soils, history, park management, and visitor impacts.

TheCrag.com As always. Record your Hollow Mountain ticks here, and see what everyone else is climbing.

� 2003-2004 Will