My name is Caleb Skirrow and I’m a 20-year-old University student from Adelaide, located in southern Australia about a 15-hour drive west of Sydney and an 8-hour drive northwest of Melbourne. I’m in my second year of an outdoor recreation degree, but to be honest, at the moment university is very much my secondary priority after climbing. I’m also lucky enough to work at Annapurna, one of Adelaide’s premier outdoor retailers, and am a Scout leader.

The author, Caleb Skirrow, on the climb Battery Acid (25/5.11d) in Onkaparinga River National Park just outside of Adelaide, Australia. Caleb describes it as a nicely flowing climb with a beautiful full kneebar "letting me go full Adam Ondra Style!" (Photo Credit: Lewis Potter, IG: @lewispotterphotography)

I started bouldering at our local Beyond Bouldering gyms after Adelaide’s first lockdown and loved the community culture and problem-solving nature of boudering. I quickly made many friends. These friends took me lead climbing outdoors for my first time in the winter of 2020 and then on a trad climbing trip to Arapiles in December 2021. Although I generally prefer sport climbing, boy did that trip to Arapiles blow my mind more than I expected!

Since then I’ve aimed for monthly trad climbing trips, and have made it up to the magical area Moonarie a couple of times. Moonarie is a remote trad-climbing area about a 5-hour drive north from Adelaide. It is a band of cliffs along the edge of the Wilpena Pound in Flinders Range and the rock is similar to Arapiles, a dense sandstone quartzite. 

Originally a hiker, the whole experience of waking up early, making the hour uphill hike with loaded packs to the base of the cliffs, spending a day out in nature and all its serenity, and coming back exhausted, guided by the light of our headtorches reminds me of being off-trail atop remote mountains and is something I really froth. Although I prefer the rock at Arapiles, Moonaire’s sense of remoteness is just so magical and really brings you back to what’s important in life: friends, challenges and the memories and moments that come with.

​​I’ve really enjoyed some of the multi-pitches here at Moonarie, namely Flying Buttress (15/5.7), Hangover Layback (15/5.7) and Pagoda Flake (17/5.9).

Some standout single pitches have been Alien Country - which was my first 18 (5.10a) trad onsight and Buckets of Jism (19/5.10b). I'm not too sure about the name, but the moves sure are memorable! After protecting yourself and your belayer with a nut at the start, you hit the face and do some wonderful technical climbing for four bolts, before having the option to run it out to the rap chains.

My incredibly strong and photogenic climbing partner, Sarah, enjoying a stretch after our morning’s outing on Pagoda Flake (17/5.9). Having to climb up with your shoes and bag, to then hike back down via the descent gully, as annoying as it is in the moment, definitely adds to the whole magic of the experience. (Photo Credit: Caleb Skirrow, IG: @calebskirrow)

Click the above photos to enlarge and read the caption. (Photo Credits: Caleb Skirrow, IG: @calebskirrow)

Moonarie is remote, so I feel privileged to experience it with very few other people apart from my climbing partners. 

I’ve always been into photography, especially landscapes and wildlife from my time hiking, but I recently bought a point-and-shoot and am now taking some steps to involve some rope access to photograph climbing.

I’m very excited to do some proper climbing photography and to see where this new avenue will take me! Also, since I’m studying outdoor recreation at university, it’s only a matter of time until I put all these amazing skills I’m learning to use professionally.

The future is a very exciting place!

An echidna, a small and unusual species native to Australia that eats ants. These are mammals (they nourish their young with milk), have pouches, like kangaroos, but lay eggs like reptiles (they do not give live birth). (Photo Credit: Caleb Skirrow, IG: @calebskirrow)

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A Note from the Traditional Owners

FROM THE CRAG:

The Traditional Owners (Adnyamathanya Yarta - which means rock people) have a 'Welcome to Country' nightly in Wilpena Pound. They would like all visitors to attend 'Welcome to Country' at the start of their stay. Attend an amazing ceremony to meet them show respect to the TO's and their relationship with this beautiful land that we share as 'rock' people."

​FROM WILPENA POUND RESORT
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"Each evening a Yura guide welcomes visitors to the area. The Welcome to Country is offered in the traditional Yura Ngawarla language and interpreted into English. The Yura guide explains the background to the Adnyamathanha flag and some of the traditional stories of the Yura Muda (dreaming).
All guests and visitors to the region are welcome to share in this complimentary Aboriginal cultural experience.
Runs daily, meet on the front lawn beside reception. No booking required."
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+ March to November: 4:30 p.m.
+ December to February: 6 p.m.

Sarah and her new converted van in front of the walls of Moonarie from bottom camp. This was the first ever view I got of the crag! (Photo Credit: Caleb Skirrow, IG: @calebskirrow)

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​Taking Care of the Crag

+ There are no toilets. Although The Crag talks about burying your poo, in desert environments it is best to pack it out. Bring some Wag Bags - which you can buy or make yourself.

+ Per The Crag "Top Camp is within the bounds of the Flinders Ranges National Park , and camp fees apply , and FIRES ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED!"