Summary:
Mt Conner is a huge mesa formation, commonly mistaken for Uluru at a distance. Situated in picturesque salt pan, dune, and spinifex country. Like many large rock formations viewed from a distance, the climbing at Mt Conner looks awesom "Another Moonarie!". However it is not, and the Mt was nicknamed Mt Conjob by some visiting Victorian climbers. You might also call it Mt Chosspile. The sense of adventure the cliff inspires though cannot be belittled, and the cliff is well worth visit if you're after a little adventure and some virgin rock to climb. The cliff is over a km long, and is about 90m high.

Access and Ethics:
You must get permission to climb from the station owners at Curtin Springs. Contact Ashley Severin on (08) 8956 2906. He will draw you a mudmap on how to get to the mount, and give you a key for the locked gate. You will need a $50 deposit for the key, and all they ask is that you make a donation to the Royal Flying Doctor Service when you return it. Please support this important Outback service - you may in fact need it after a day climbing at the mount! Please don't drive off the tracks, and take out all your trash.

Getting There:
Mt Conner is on Curtin Springs Cattle Station on the way to Uluru (Ayes Rock). From Alice Springs take the Stuart Hwy South for 200km to Erldunda. Turn R (West) onto the Lasseter Hwy and follow this to the Curtin Springs Roadhouse. From here the mount is easily visable.

Notes:
Beware of loose rock and be warned of loose blocks. Climbs are technically easy for the grade given, but the grades take into account the seriousness of the climbing. Beware the Aussie Bush Flies!

Camping:
You can camp at the base of the mount, at Sunset Camp, (known as Camp Hell in the hotter months - not advised). Facilities are bare, and only include a fireplace and bench seats. Alternatively there is a thatched shade/shelter on the R of the track quite a distance before you get to Sunset Camp.

Sunset Bluff

This is the closest part of the cliff to Sunset Camp. Walk up the scree slope at the NE corner of the mount. At very top of the scree slope there are some obvious high walls with large corners. The most obvious corner is Herbert's Way and climbs are described in reference to this. Decent is a scramble down Central Gully - facing the cliff, this is the gully around the corner to the L and a repeater station exists for Curtain Springs, and makes a good landmark for the way down.

Note: An unnamed climb was put up in 1989 by Rick White, Doug Scott and Sharu Prabhu. It may be an early ascent of Herbert's Way, but the original description published in Rock magazine is worthless: "90m 19, Obvious corner at the R end of main face. Two pitches of varied crack, corner and face climbing…" and has been ignored, given the extent of the cliff and the vagueness of the description.

All Along the Choss Tower 70m 18
A wandering line that climbs some of the worst rock imaginable - absolute garbage. 1) 35m (12) Climb R facing corner approx 20m L of Herberts Way. Up steeply, then follow line to ledge at 18m. Traverse L across the rubble to belay on arete. 2) 35m (crux) Up easy ground to large terrace. From small cave at foot of corner head diagonally L up horribly loose L wall to finish at ledge. An easy walk leads to decent gully (Central Gully). Simon Mentz, Ronnie Sammut (alt) 4/10/96

Herbert's Way 85m 15
Lots of loose rock and a scary lead (like most routes on this cliff). The obvious corner and main line of the cliff - you can pick it out from the campsite below. 1) 20m Take the obvious chimney crack L of the Main corner with the detached buttress. Up to belay in cave with long horizontal break extending L from it. 2) 20m Straight up crack to belay in corner. 3) 45m Continue up cornercrack to top. Michael Herro, Fred Dubose, Collin Rowland 17/1/96

Herbert's Way (2nd Pitch Variant) 85m 15
Technically easier for the grade, but the seriousness of the loose rock keeps the grade up. 1) 20m As for HW. 2) 20m From cave climb diagonally up and L to the R of a line of three caves. Now diagonally R along a ramp, back towards main corner. 3) 45m As for HW. Chris Peisker, Roxanne Wells (alt) 4/10/96

*Slow Motion 48m 18
Surprisingly quality route, with good pro and decent rock. First climbed in 38deg heat (hence the name). From HW, scramble R along ledges and under overhangs, around semi-detached buttress to a solid looking inset face. Done in one pitch, the route follows the lovely finger cracks in the middle of the wall. Climb through small black cave, with friable rock to start, but don't worry it gets heaps better. Lots of rock was thrown off during the first ascent, but you'll still come across some loose stuff. Kieran Culhane, Michael Hampton, Glenn Tempest 4/10/96