Acorn To Arabella · video

What this video covers

Steve and Robin, crew of the boat Arabella, explore mountain biking and traditional climbing in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland. They ride a professionally built, bermed mountain bike trail near Rocky Harbour, developed by the West Coast Cycling Association.2:53 Transitioning to climbing in the Tablelands, they shift from sport climbing with fixed bolts to traditional climbing, which requires placing removable protection in the rock.7:48 They use a rack of nuts (stoppers) and spring-loaded camming devices (SLCDs) to secure the route, noting that the Tablelands' peridotite rock is slippery and lacks the friction found in granite.9:20 The pair completes an alpine scramble characterised by loose rock and complex route-finding rather than technical vertical climbing.21:23 They emphasise that the primary risks in this environment include dislodging boulders onto a belayer and managing rope safety on loose terrain.19:50 The experience highlights the necessity of advanced gear management and route-finding skills for alpine environments where fixed hardware is prohibited.

More from Acorn To Arabella

We Stripped Our Wooden Sailboat Back to Bare Wood... AgainOct 2026Saying Goodbye to Newfoundland—and the Man Who Inspired ArabellaSept 2026Upgrading the Rudder and Another Trek To The CliffAug 2026We're Climbing a Wall No One Has Ever Climbed Before | Rock Climbing on Newfoundland's South CoastJul 2026

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