I Conquered(?) My Fear of Heights Climbing in the Blue Mountains

There’s something special about being at a height, be it up a tree, a mountain top, or soaking up the window-seat views from a plane. As humans, getting ourselves to a great height is a feat of strength, power, and courage. As kids we climb trees and build cubby houses, as adults we climb mountains, seek out lookouts, and visit the top of buildings to revel in our insignificance and push ourselves outside our normal comfort zones.

Before I became conscious of my mortality I was bloody fearless – climbing trees higher and quicker than anyone at school. The bigger the tree, the better. The higher I got, the bigger I felt.

But somewhere along the way – probably coinciding with the wonders of teenage angst – I stopped climbing trees.

I didn’t even realise I’d become scared of heights, although rock climbing was far from a hobby I’d considered taking up. So, when Daygin Prescott invited me for a weekend of rock climbing, it’s safe to say I was filled with unrealistic optimism and absolutely no idea what I was in for…

Uncovering a Climber’s Playground

The Blue Mountains is well known for its epic peaks and valleys, full of incredible hiking routes and scenic lookouts. I’ve gazed out at the Three Sisters more times than I can count, but jumping off them? Ah nah, I’m good thanks.

The thing about working at We Are Explorers is that opportunities regularly come up to do something cool and crazy. So thanks to Daygin and a little healthy peer… persuasion, I said a big yes to checking out exactly why the Blue Mountains is a climber’s playground and a great option for beginners.

Kitted out with Jeep’s brand new, first-ever, electric vehicle, the Avenger and I hit the road as two newbies – fully charged for an adventure away from the bustling city.

The weather never plays ball these days, even our mates at ‘The Bureau’ can’t predict it – so I wasn’t exactly surprised when the first trip was rained out and the following weekend was blowing a gale, with severe weather warnings for extreme winds. Alas, we went ahead, wind and all.

Jumping off a cliff and trying to climb back up in 50km/h+ winds, having never climbed before… yeah cool, no sweat.

Read more: Best Beginner Climbing in the Blue Mountains

Day 1: The Eyrie at Mt Boyce

Height: 50m
Grade: 12
Fear: 95%

Overlooking the Megalong Valley, the first climb (of my life) was The Eyrie at Mt Boyce. Known as one of the Blue Mountains’ most scenic climbs, The Eyrie is classified as a beginner-friendly Grade 12* climb. To redeem a little dignity here, it’s the highest ‘beginner’ grade before swinging into intermediate territory, and it looked a hell of a lot higher from the top.

The views from The Eyrie are out of this world. With no protective barriers, man-made walkways, or tourists snapping pictures, standing atop the ledge was a moment of awe and appreciation that took me back to the highest tree in the Dorrigo.

Sadly, my boldness didn’t last long and the realisation that I’d be jumping off hit. To calm the beast that is anxiety, Daygin told me some tales of his worst-ever climbing moments, moments of sheer panic and how he overcame self-doubt.

He said the thing that always talked his brain out of panic, was to be grateful.

Be grateful for the beauty surrounding you. Be grateful to have these mountains on your doorstep. Be grateful to have opportunities like this available, and most of all, be grateful for the ability to be climbing at all.

I thought the scariest part would be going backwards off the 50m cliff, but it turns out the abseiling was my favourite part. It wasn’t until the burn in my hands and arms started on the way back up – as I struggled to find hand and footholds to bolster myself – that an intrusive thought (and a hefty gist of wind) hit me. It was then I decided the only two options out were a helicopter rescue or a rapid downward fall.

After some deep breaths, a few glances of gratitude across the valley, and a little assistance from Daygin, I allowed myself to be grateful and proud of what I was doing. And I bloody did it.

*Australia’s grading system starts at 1, which is essentially a flat piece of ground you walk on, and continues up to 12 for beginners. Intermediate falls between 13 to 18 and 19 to 24 for experienced climbers. The grades continue up to 39, but let’s be honest, anything above 24 is batshit crazy.

Day 2, Climb 1: The Block at Medlow Bath

Height: 12-20m+
Grade: Varying from beginner-friendly to experienced
Muscle capacity: 10%
Level of fear: 10%

Day two featured me, Daygin, two heavily bruised shins, and a whole lotta stiff muscles.

With a caffeine injection for us and a juice up for the Jeep Avenger, we launched into another day of adventures starting at Medlow Bath’s ‘The Block’.

Access to The Block is via a residential area, so be conscious not to park right in front of the local’s houses. It’s a nice walk down to the base, where you’ll find a raft of easy or more difficult climbs to the top – you’ll need a more experienced climber to set up and throw down the ropes, and then it’s climbing time!

I loved this route, and climbing from the bottom up seemed far less daunting – likely because I hadn’t seen the height from the top first. Climbing up, there were plenty of easy hand and footholds, as well as little ledges and even caves – all overlooking the stunning bush and valley below.

Day 2, Climb 2: Cave Climbing at Narrowneck

Height: 50m
Grade: 13
Muscle capacity: 0%
Wind: 56km/h
Level of fear: F*** no

By the afternoon of day two, the wind picked up and every muscle was wobbling (seriously my face was twitching from concentration and laughter).

Now, full disclaimer – I didn’t climb at Narrowneck. Instead, I stood or rather tried not to blow away, at the top while Daygin disappeared over the edge.

The Cave Climb at Narrowneck is Grade 13, but is known as a ‘sandbag’, meaning it’s harder than advertised. It’s about 50 metres from top to bottom, though I’m told you can do sections and don’t have to do the full 50.

Read more: Rock Climbing Slang And How To Use It (Word Beta)

So, did I conquer my fear of heights? Or spend two days shouting at Daygin to put down his camera and save me?

Honestly, a strong combination of both. Despite the fact my first words standing at the top of The Eyrie on day one were ‘I don’t think I can do this…’, I did it. I jumped backwards off a 50m cliff and then climbed my way back to the top, and I have the battle wounds to prove it.

Will I climb again? 100%! The Blue Mountains is loaded with climbs ranging from beginner-friendly through to pure madness.

As a newbie, Grade 12 was doable, but if you’re anything like me I wouldn’t suggest doing multiple climbs back to back. It’s safe to say I’ll be back on the ledge at some point, but I reckon a few indoor strengthening climbs will be on the cards first.

Want to feel freedom? I reckon, once you calm your inner screams, there aren’t many things more freeing in the world than hanging off a cliff, looking out across the valleys below.

As Winnie the Pooh once said, ‘You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think’.

Images by @dayginprescott