General
Situated on the vegetated hillside overlooking the souther end of the main beach at Shek O, the Hillside Sector comprises a number of coarse, scattered, and typically large granite boulders with some stunning lines and futuristic projects.
Access
From the main car park at Shek O beach, walk south along the beach towards the restaurant at the back of its far end. From here, follow the streamline past the restaurant to reach a footpath leading up the hill. Follow this footpath (dirt trail with frequent concrete steps) up the hill. Upon reaching a small cluster of hillside graves, look for a collection of burial urns to the right of the main path and between the main graves. At the back of this cluster, a dirt trail leads through the trees to bring you to a granite slab. Follow this to the top and then trend right to reach the boulders. It is also possible to stay left and on the main path from the graves, passing through some vegetated ‘tunnels’ and across several small granite slabs to reach a much larger slab. Upon reaching the large slab (about level with the Hillside Boulders), follow the right-hand branch of the trail and contour the hillside to bring you to the first set of boulders
The Daddy
The first set of blocs you reach is a cluster of three large boulders that look like they’ve been split down the middle. These offer some highball classics, test-pieces and futuristic projects.
1) Warm Up Slab * V0
The short slab on the small block has a tricky start due to the undercut base, but easy finish above.
2) Pegmatite * V1
Pull on to the left arête of the uppermost large bloc using the good jug, before lay backing the arête above to finish.
3) Sugar Daddy Slab *** V5
Follow the small crimps right of the arête until they run out. Then make tenuous moves left to gain a pocket on the easier angled slab out left. From this make worrying moves directly up to gain the good holds on the lip.
4) Sugar Daddy Direct *** V7
The direct to Sugar Daddy provides one of the finest and purest pieces of slab climbing in Hong Kong. Follow the small edges right of the arête until they run out, trending up and right. Make delicate moves to gain a small pocket high on the wall before a committing step hopefully brings the top.
Note: All holds on the small ledge just down and right of the pocket (e.g. on Sugar Daddy Right) are out of bounds, including the small crimp right at the left edge of the ledge. If you used any of these, just claim the route below instead…
5) Sugar Daddy (Right) ** V3
Start as for the Sugar Daddy slab lines but trend right across the slab to gain the horizontal ledge at two-thirds height. Finish as for Scooped Wall from this, avoiding any holds in the vertical crack line.
6) Scooped Wall * V2
The right side of the wall offers slightly more features and a more amenable line. Climb the right side of the slab via crimps and ledges to a long reach for the lip, avoiding all holds in the vertical crack just to the right.
7) Scooped Crack ** V0
The crack on the right side of the wall gives a pleasant, if somewhat high, problem.
1) Back and Forth * VB
The easiest line up (and back down) the main bloc of The Daddy
2) Daddies Slab * V1
Follow the various curving flake features up the slab wall
3) Daddies Brown Sauce ** V1
Climb the right side of the slab wall via an assortment of crimpy ledges and side pulls.
4) Bushey V3
Climbed previously but currently hidden by vegetation that needs digging out
5) Our Father *** V(Scary)
You’ll definitely be reciting prayers at the top of this one. Climb relatively easily up the overhanging flake to reach a terrifying transition to the blank slab above.
6) Project
A contender for one of the best looking unclimbed lines in Hong Kong. Start matched low on the obvious juggy flake. From here somehow power your way up the wall and arête above.
7) Rocky’s Arête *** V8
The rounded overhanging arête on the bottom side of the bloc is climbed with extreme difficulty via a series of widely spaced small crimps, and a fair degree of arête slapping too.
8) Will’s Sit (sds) *** V9
Starting from the obvious flake and side pull, make hard moves to get established in the start position of Rocky’s Arête. From here you’ve only got a highball V8 to climb to claim the tick!
9) Stu’s Arête (Left) ** V4
Climb the left side of the prominent arête in the split between the two boulders, with tricky moves low down leading to a jug romp up high.
10) Stu’s Arete (Right) *** V4
The other side of the arête has a tricky start move followed by an enjoyable romp up the arête above.
11) Root Crack ** V2
Climb the crack (currently occupied by part of a tree) to gain the large pocket on the slab and then the arête beside this. Follow the arête to the top of the block.
12) Crack and Groove * V1
Climb the obvious diagonal crack, making use of the wall out left to ease the difficulties.
13) Daddy Cruel *** Project
A stunning and compelling line that has yet to see a successful top out, although many have come close and taken big falls in the process of trying…
14) Daddy Cool *** V2
Climb the obvious vertical crack until it stops and forces you into a somewhat precarious top out on to the slab above. The crux is right at the top so you probably want to be very very solid at V2 before trying this.
14a) Daddy Cool (sds) ** V3
Add a sit start to Daddy Cool, making use of holds out left as well as the crack to get going.
15) XXX * V?
The left side of the wall on the small boulder to the right of Daddy Cool
16) Runnel Wall * V?
The right side of the wall.
The Spawn
Beneath Rocky’s Arête is an overgrown trail. Follow this down the hill (back in the direction of Shek O beach) for a few minutes until you reach a sizable boulder.
The first two problems are located on the small block at the top of the wall.
1) Will’s Warm Up * V1
Follow all the good features up the left side of the wall
2) Round House ** V6/7
Climb the right trending seam to a hard, and very rounded, top out.
3) Spawn Arete * V4?
Climb the left arête of the wall on good, but crumbly and rough, side pulls and jugs to a very rounded top out.
4) Spawn Wall ** V3
The rounded groove right ofd the arête gives a fine line that is easier than appearances might suggest.
5) The Spawn *** V1
The right trending flake gives a delightful romp up good holds to a more rounded and worrying top out.
6) Offspring ** V5
Sit start on crimps in the lower break and with poor feet under the roof. Crank up the crimps in the next break before making hard campus like moves to the break above. Finish more easily up the flakes above.
7) The Hatching * V2
Start on good crimps at the base of the crack and out left of this. Paste on poor feet and then climb the left trending feature to, you guessed it, a rounded top out.
8) First Born * V?
Climb the wall right of the slanting crack to thin slopey top out. (Can’t remember how hard this one was and haven’t repeated it recently to check)
9) Thornication *** V4
Start matched on the small crimp on the arete. Make a hard pull up to the slopey ledge above before romping out right along the ledge to the crack at its right end. From here a strong rock up brings big jugs in the breaks above.
10) Thornicated ** V2
From perched on the boulder opposite, make a committing leap for the jug at the right edge of the ledge. Finish as for Thornification.
11) Thornication Direct * V4
Start as for Thornication but continue direct above the start holds with trepidation.
1) Topside * V0
The easy obvious groove and slab on the topside of the boulder.
2) Will’s Arete ** V?
The rounded arete is challenging by virtue of the fact is has bugger all in the way of footholds.
The Outcast Blocs
Situated a short way up the hillside from the Daddy is a collection of big blocs with mediocre landings (hence why most things are unclimbed) and a smaller undercut bloc that may house a few hard lines too.
The Offspring
Whack your way through the jungle beneath the Outcast Blocs (path excavated in early 2023) and eventually you’ll be able to work you way over to The Offspring, which looks awesom from afar but is sadly a little disappointing once you get there.
1) White Guy * V2
Start matched at the very bottom of the crack. Avoiding any use of the crack higher up, make a long move to positive crimps above. Finish above these, making good use of the arête to the left as needed.
2) Pretty Fly * V3
Start matched at the very bottom of the crack. Avoiding any use of the crack higher up, make a long move to positive crimps and then even longer moves to eventually gain the lip. The arête to the left is off route.
3) Staring at the Sun * V1
Climb the obvious diagonal crack.
4) Offspring ** V2
Start matched at the bace of the scooped groove. Move up to the break above (staying out of the crack) and then continue up the rounded arete above this until you are forced to use the top part of the crack to top o.ut