Like majority of the climbing mob, I first met Krish at the PCYC around 8 years ago now. My initial contact was through the CAWA networking forum where Krish reached out and invited myself, husband Jake and daughter Ella to jump on the PCYC top ropes in a freezing gymnasium. We had only really climbed at Arapiles, as beginners and enjoyed it. After moving west, climbing was a great way to meet new people. It’s been 8 years of great mateship with this crew now.

Krish wouldn’t be the first to take me outdoors in the South West, the introduction to coastal climbing came from PK, who was the first to throw me on trad. Terrified, I loved it and soon after, I nagged my way onto the great traditional climbing crags of the South West with Krish as teacher, who would really show me how trad climbing could open up a great form of competitive, mindful sport.

Krish is right, I love my sport and the physical challenge, I’m competitive regardless of whether I appear or sound confident, and with Krish pushing limits, I quickly fell in love with hardware… all except cams! Krish’s excitement is hilarious. He really gets excited by climbing, you can really see how energised climbing makes Krish. Its motivating.

My favourite trad climbing session was an outing to Wilyabrup, where I mastered Sirius. Not a high trad grade but a gnarly traversing route, I remember Krish being all like, ‘you’ll be right just get on with it girl an do it…’ and I did. He likely used other pom vernacular, which I likely didn’t understand, followed by dad jokes about farts… There’s always dad jokes.

But I climb less and less, with study occupying a great deal of my free time, and my other passion of rugby union following a close second, I haven’t spent much time on the rock. When I do head out, it is with Krish and often his wife and dear friend Lisa, as one can sit in a good space of being challenged and enjoy the climbing, but also climb safe; it feels very much like going back to basics with each fleeting opportunity I get now.

When I first met Krish I recall he was not accustom to group climbing, or social anything! But I’ve seen him soften over time and really enjoy the shared loved of climbing in a social context, be it bouldering or a session at Welly Dam for a celebration with plenty of tea, plenty of food and a lot of banter. Its pretty neat to be able to just rock up with this mob and climb and just enjoy the challenge, the company and Krish’s bad dad jokes…

If you are keen click on this link to find out what Mikey said about me.  While not essential reading to find out about Mikey, there may be some cross referencing in my words about him.

Mikey moved over to Queensland soon after we really got to know him, and it took an age before I headed out on rock with him again.  That all changed when I happened to luck on a trip for a conference to Brisbane.  I tagged on an extra few days allowing me to be taken to Frog by Mikey and Helen.  It was lovely for me to be able to rock up to their place and for them to organise all the camping and climbing gear!  We headed to Frog and he promptly suggested climbs for me to try, again an unusual situation for me.  It was a great trip and cemented our friendship:

On the first day at Frog I did my usual of maximising the time there, encouraging Mikey to bag one more route before we packed up.  On a couple of routes Mikey looked like he was going to give up and sit in his harness, which I simply couldn’t allow.  Each time with lots of encouragement he pushed through and bagged the clean ascent.  This probably stems from the people he had been climbing with not being very strong or confident.  Mikey however is a very good and safe climber and has many of the traits his brother Howsie has.  In those days a little encouragement proved that.  The second day he was sore but we still soldiered on for half a day:

After this trip we would catch up every time he came back to visit family.  I’ve never seen Mikey rattled, and he always seems happy.  Days out with him are often filled with laughs.  He has an air of being relaxed and carefree about climbing, and there isn’t quite the same intensity about him as there is with Howsie.  He did however set himself the 10,000m challenge, and as such was keen to find as many lines as possible to lead cleanly.  This meant our trips out had a slightly greater sense of urgency about them, with the challenge set to be completed by the time he turned 30.  In taking this challenge he got to see more of the south west crags than many a local climber has, always in search of leads he hadn’t attempted or led clean before:

He certainly has a lot of stamina, I would belay him up the routes and often start seconding up before I was on belay.  There was no dilly-dallying on these days.  Once I got to the top he would be heading back down as soon as possible to jump on the next lead.  His drive and energy seemed endless and there were only a couple of routes that spat him off, and I’m willing to guess that it was more from fatigue than ability.  Mikey was also the one to find the best way to top out on Savage Sausage Sniffer at Welly Dam, above, and the hold is still called the Mikey pinch to this day.  It did however surprise me to find out after the every last route of his challenge that the grade 18 line was the hardest trad line he had climbed:

It must be something in the Howe blood but Mikey and Helen have also had two boys, Rupert and Bryn.  So these days he doesn’t get out climbing quite as much, either back home or over here, but whenever he pops over for a visits we still try to get out at least once.  I think he has got used to me offering up the leads and even on the last trip out I got him to lead everything.  Without a mission to drive him and having a young family to spend more time with, he must have lost a bit of his stamina as he had to down climb the last route of the day to shake out before polishing it off.  That said he is always good value when you head out, and I feel lucky that the Howe boys still invite me to tag along:

Krish and I met first at the PCYC when I was back in Bunbury in 2011. The first time I really got to have a proper climb with him was when he came over to Queensland and we ventured down to Frog Buttress.

Since then I have since been climbing with Krish just about every time I get back to WA. When I was attempting my 10,000m challenge Krish was an ideal belayer. He was almost always available, keen for many early starts, knew the climbs like the back of his hand (so had the itinerary planned out before we got there) and had climbed them all before (so was happy for me to lead everything).

Krish has been pivotal in getting me up my hardest leads on trad. He has any inherent ability to convince me that a climb is within my abilities when I myself am not so sure.

I am sure many will agree that his desire for the perfect photo can sometimes go a bit far. For me this was most notable on the final 8m of my 10,000m challenge when he rerouted and extended the belay by about 12m to a ledge that was higher than the climb I was doing. While I still sent the climb the rope drag made the crux a bit more intense.

If you are keen click on this link to find out what Nana said about me.  While not essential reading to find out about them, there may be some cross referencing in my words about these four people.

Gav and Moni used to come down the PCYC, and it was a while before we got to meet the other half of the Stewart Clan, Geoff and Nana.  While I have climbed with just two of the four at times, in most cases the four will arrive as a car load.  They all have busy lives with many other interests and climbing is just one.  After the PCYC closed we did on occasion cram into a single car and head to the wall that used to be in Dunsborough.  But the preference, when possible, is always to be outside.  They have all had a go at leading, although Moni (above) is probably the least drawn to climbing.  I’ve never pushed these guys too hard, well maybe Gav once or twice.  With them it is best to just go with the flow and enjoy being out there:

They live a stone throw away from each other in Peppy Beach, and when we moved to Peppy ourselves I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Geoff and Nana (above and below) had a boulder wall.  I would pop over there and be greeted by Angus’s howling and bowled over by Maverick (their dogs).  Short and fun routes are the go for this crew, while they have climbed at numerous places Castle Rock or the Bookshelf offer the most social and chilled climbing locations.  Below Nana is popping her leading cherry and did so with a bang as she took a lead fall.  Geoff and Nana were there when Lou took her bad fall, and we had many a chat about this and in showing their character it didn’t put them off and they still get out:

Gav (below) is strong and has a lot of stamina, he can pull through the hard parts as long as there is some good gear nearby.  He is probably the most fearless at leading, going in all serious and concentrated but when he pulls off “the move” you can see a grin start to emerge across his face and he relaxes into it.  I have at times pushed him close to the edge, but I’m pleased to say he has always come out unscathed.  I reckon Nana comes in second for determination.  She gets super intense and focused.  More so during out boulder sessions, but on occasion on rock too.  This can get to a point where she gets frustrated if she can’t do something, and while she realises it doesn’t help it is a hard trait to shake.  Funnily enough she is also the person most likely to go for the worse possible handhold available:

Moni will be happy to do a couple of climbs and then kick back enjoy the surroundings and company, she’s like Lisa in that regard.  Very chilled and easy going and she brings a relaxed feel to the group.  Geoff enjoys the challenge but I’ve never seen him go hard, in part as he has to be careful as he unfortunately stuffed his shoulder while building his boulder wall!  It’s a great mix of personalities, strengths and weaknesses.  Get them together and there is always a fun time to be had.  They are happy for early starts and going to new places.  Being a social bunch they can easily be swayed by the suggestion, usually by Glen, of a pit stop on the way back.  Although that is probably more the boys, at the thought of a cold one, than the girls:

While we don’t get out climbing too much these days we do keep in touch a lot.  While they are busy people with plenty of other things to distract them, what with living in Peppy, one of those distractions is the deep blue.  This summer has been particularly impressive out in the ocean and they have taken Lisa and I to some new spots on our local beach that have blown our minds.  So with this crew it is not just the climbing and bouldering that bring us together, it is also the snorkelling, gardening, Moni’s massages and of course general socials and catch-ups to check in and see how we are going, nearly always with a pot of tea on the go:

This is what Nana had to say:

Well the first thing I would like to say, is my life would not have been very satisfactory if it weren’t for the likes of Gav and Moni introducing us to the mysterious and exciting world of climbing.

There are two stages in the timeline but I can’t say which came first. But we met you through Gav and Moni either at the indoor gym or outdoors. First impressions never really tell you much about a person, but when I met you, I felt that I was privileged to have met “The Guru” of the climbing world in the south west.

I remember a time, that I stupidly failed to advise you that you had back clipped and then mentioned it later. Well that day I learned from the guru that You Must Always Speak Up!! I let my lack of experience get the better of me and thought I was probably not experienced enough to warn such an avid climber that he had made a boo boo!! Lesson learned!!

Although we have not been out on the real rock much of late, we have loved hanging out with you and Lisa in your shed. Hanging precariously from a terrible hold that I notoriously seem to pick every time we play the follow game.

You have also managed to succeeded in the fine art of colour correction for my perfect cup of tea, and that’s what true friendship really is.

I will finish this with one fond memory out at Castle Rock. My first lead and I took a fall and didn’t find it scary at all. I knew with you encouraging me from above I had the ability to power on. This was a wonderful experience I will forever be grateful for, so thank you.

From meeting you, I then met your beautiful wife whom is one of my bestest friends in the world… so you deliver full package of awesomeness.

If you are keen click on this link to find out what Rongy said about me.  While not essential reading to find out about Rongy, there may be some cross referencing in my words about him.

Rongy is the person that I have probably had some of my more my epic adventures.  For example, it was with Rongy that we got to climb in the zawn at Moses rocks with a beach at our feet as shown above.  The only time in fifteen years of going there that I have seen that.  He is the first person to build a boulder wall to keep fit, it was insanely steep and felt punishing to most of us.  Not surprisingly he became and still is very strong and climbs in an extremely solid and confident manner.  While he will at times need to assess what lies ahead, usually once he starts moving you know he has a plan.  He’s analysed the situation and figured out what he needs to do to break through:

While I have been to Bluff Knoll on several occasions it is only with him that I have actually succeeded in getting up it.  Although admittedly on other occasions the weather had beaten us back.  With such confidence on rock and an ability to work things out relatively quickly and safely he became unafraid of pushing limits.  Both in difficulty of climbing and also exposure, he has a mantra that you only give up when you fall off, there is no sitting back in the harness if you haven’t tried.  Not surprisingly by the time we went on our South Coast trip, unlike Andrew, he already had a load of leading experience under his belt and it showed in some of the leads he pulled off:

Being single at the time and with a lust for big adventures it was easy for him to focus on climbing and pursued that with a relentless passion.  He planned to travel and climb, it took a number of false starts but he eventually fulfilled his dreams and visited epic spots in Australia, China and Europe.  His diversity of climbing skills were boosted and he clocked up impressive numbers.  All this worldly travel gave him a new perspective on life, as all true travel should, he was however still single and very focused.  During this time we hatched a plan to head to the Blue Mountains:

This trip was jam packed with climbing, we scoured numerous locations and climbed and climbed and climbed.  Quite literally until my fingers bleed.  Rongy however hardily showed a scratch!  Compared to me he has these thick fingers with pads that hardly sweat and never wear out.  I’ve yet to find out his secret.  Hardly ever using chalk he is still able to stick small smeary holds on sweaty days.  You might now be surprised to hear that Rongy does have a couple of other passions. One being marine life, he’s always had aquariums both through work and personally.  Every so often a tank would need a shake up and he would have us collect rocks to create new underwater habitats and haul them out with tired legs after a trips out:

His other passion was rally driving, not something that I’ve personally witnessed although he did show off a few skills on some of the dirt roads we have had to use.  However, life changes and Rongy found Alana, Katie and Ben.  Since these days the trips out still occur only less frequently.  He’s finding a balance that works, but like me climbing is important to maintaining a healthy mind and outlook on life.  As such Alana has come to realise that if Rongy doesn’t get out climbing a shadow starts to creep over his general mood.  For Rongy he’s got it bad, climbing is in his blood and once it gets in there it is near impossible to shake:

Well…. where do I start? Truthfully there can only be one place, the PCYC Bunbury.

I didn’t know it then but my very first indoor climbing experience, tho in a tiny location, was the catalyst of a turning point in my life. It was also the day I met Sensei, Obi Wan, Guru, Master and more importantly my good friend Krish.

Anyway that’s enough of that, well not exactly. Some perspective is probably needed.

Wiggins has the credit of introducing me to climbing, but Krish is the one to teach me, amongst others the ART of climbing. I’m not sure when the gentle bullying, giving of penalty slack or photographic belaying started… but on only my first or second night at the PCYC Krish invited us outdoors for a climb. What better place than Wilyabrup and I think maybe Setting Sun or Tom Thumb as my first routes.

Right from the start I tried to dance or perhaps flow is the better term, up the rock in the style Krish effortlessly does (did ha ha). Knowing that if someone as slight of build as him could climb that well, then so could I if I just learnt the right techniques. The rest, as they say is history (and mostly, faithfully recorded in his stories).

Now thirteen or so years later I still look to Krish as the leader of the gang, the master. And if I’m able to continue climbing as good as him, as long as him, I’ll be pretty darn happy with myself.

If you are keen click on this link to find out what Steve said about me.  While not essential reading to find out about Steve, there may be some cross referencing in my words about him.

My memory of Steve walking into the PCYC was that it was busy, we had a bunch of newbies and that required more paperwork, training and supervision to make sure they were tying in and belaying safely.  I said a quick hello and carried on, some twenty minutes later I looked round and he and Andrew were still chatting away.  Both of them like a chat.  He came across as someone with a joyful nature, his face expressed a sense of fun but also just a slight sense of something else.  Going out with Steve was nearly always fun, he would make light of most situations:

The only time I can say that he really got serious was when we went to Peak Charles, it was the second big multi-day trip for me since being in Western Australia.  Steve and I went ahead and he was the kid in the candy shop as we drove out and set up camp.  Rongy and Wiggins drove out the next day, as Steve and I hit the big walls.  I could feel he was on edge, I thought it was the long runouts and big walls that spooked him but it was something else.  That sense I had about him before was peeking through a few cracks.  Since then I have learnt that at times Steve will get “on edge”, but not in a bad way and it is just something he needs to, and does,  work through:

That aside Steve loves adventure and we have been out there in some of the most extreme conditions that I have climbed in.  Gale force winds, monster waves and big dark looming clouds that burst open have failed to dampen and have in fact heightened that joy in Steve.  He loves it!  In life he can be erratic, as his mind never sits still and he can drift off on a tangent quite quickly.  That said when he is climbing he keeps focused and he is very safe.  He likes good gear, and will at times really make sure it is good.  A single tug to check it is seated is often not enough for Steve and he can be seen really working that gear hard before moving on:

I don’t think he always concentrates on what has been said, his mind may be drifting off on other thoughts maybe.  A classic example being when we were climbing at Cosy Corner, and I told him the route Crystal Corner went up the wide corner.  As the image above shows he climbed the arête and wondered why the route didn’t match the description.  This is how Bad Directions was established, a route Dan and I led straight after them claiming it was only a grade 9.  More on that if you read about Glen.  Steve’s mind is wired for knowledge and searching for that something new to consider, work out or even create.  These sand shoes to make it easier to walk to Moses Rocks is one example of what he can quite literally pull out of his bag:

No surprisingly he has a wide range of interests and mixes and matches them, often down at the crag he’ll have his fishing gear.  But he does love climbing and while life has been a tad up and down for him over the last few years we have still managed to get out and have a great time.  Climbing with Steve you need to be prepared for moments of intensity as he works a new project hard, and on the flip side be prepared to kick back and take things really slowly.  I reckon that my tea kit has had most use on our trips out.  After we have got some climbing in it is then time for a chat, ponder life and come to the conclusion that life is what you make it and realise just how good we have got it:

I met Krish in 2012. I came to the PCYC and I was newly relocated to Bunbury from the UK. I recall a warm welcome.

Eight years on a much valued friendship has evolved.

Krish maximises his and our enjoyment of the great outdoors, regardless of conditions. I mean regardless – only the very extremes will stop Krish.

It’s a rare quality.

Great company. Capable of irony, sensible intellectual and nonsensical conversation in the same sentence.

He’s very tolerant with people but also asserts himself when his patience does run out (very occasionally appears to display mild symptoms of road rage) – unless climbing: in this space he’s 100% persistent, which makes it feel safe to climb with him. 

He is inclined to push us close to our limits mentally and physically but knows when to back off.

Brings out the best in us on many levels; a natural leader.

Over the past few years I’ve had Krish’s support through life’s turns. He’s always been there when it counted regardless of the time that required and I’m grateful.

Speaks his mind in a very diplomatic and thought out fashion.  And is also frank – seeks balance in all positions, which is very helpful for those of us that sometimes fail to view the bigger picture.

If you are keen click on this link to find out what Wiggins said about me.  While not essential reading to find out about Wiggins, there may be some cross referencing in my words about him.

Wiggins is Mr Nice Guy, he is the gentleman and the sort of person I aspire to be.  He holds values and morals high and is respectful to family and friend alike.  I have never seen him cast a stone and he assesses every situation objectively and responds in a controlled and balanced way.  It’s very impressive.  When it comes to climbing he is systematic, he was the one that trained most with Rongy, on that steep hard boulder wall.  Eventually he built his own, not quite as steep but he used the MoonBoard design and built his wall round it.  Allowing him to develop his skills through a set program:

He is the one that will see a situation and make reference to a book he has read that dissects it, provides ways to manage, control or avoid it.  He has approached climbing as a challenge to be met face on, he will take big falls and will set himself targets.  Through his reading he has made use of various training systems, and has stuck to them proving that that can yield results.  He has however on occasion proven that these system can result in injury, and his training has on occasion prevented him from climbing real rock.  That is not a big issue for Wiggins, he is a man of many talents and is happy to pursue his other interests while maintaining a good social relationship with the climbing folk:

I have a vague memory that it was Wiggins that installed a sense of moral obligation, or was it just basic common sense, that we should always wear a helmet when climbing.  For years I had climbed fearlessly without one, only resorting to the “tin pot” when I knew the territory demanded it.  Such as the big mountain routes in Scotland or loose crumble rock, which I have been known to actually enjoy.  However now I, like so many others in our crew, don’t climb without one.  He definitely likes to aspire to and have a goal, and once it is fixed he will pursue it hard and with a passion.  In this way he has climbed some sustained and bold lines, and once conquered walks away feeling quite simply satisfied and not needing to look back.  He always seems to look forward:

Ever since I have known Wiggins he has had been a collector of gear, he has more gear than he could possible use on any route.  At times he will seek out the obscure and he managed to catch me out at least once when he found some whacky camming wires that were horrendous to place and even worse to get out.  He placed them on lead, after hiding them from me, and I only came across them when I had to get the damn things out!  They never got used again, but I bet they are prized amongst his collection.  He is also well known for his filming and is damn good at it.  Trips out with Wiggins are now more about capturing the spirit of the day, which I can relate to as I am in a way similar with my photography:

We have had some really good trips away, and on each of these he will bring along some of his homebrew.  As with everything Wiggins does he does it well, it is not a sense of pride that he has it is just the way he sees life.  If you are going to do something you make sure you try your best to do it right.  From an early time something else I liked was that he too would want to get back home and not spend the whole day out.  He doesn’t have kids, but valued time with his partner Tara.  This suited me but also proved from an early time that Wiggins is someone that you can trust not just to hold your rope, but also to help you out and treat you with honesty and fairness: