Climbers

Derek grew up in the UK and started climbing in the Peak DIstrict. In 1983 he moved to the US where he spent the rest of his life.

Derek was a prolific solo climber. He was particularly well known for soloing routes close to his lead grade.

He died in 1993 in a solo fall from the Steck / Salathé (E2) in Yosemite, a route well within his capability. It has been speculated that he may have been caught in a rain shower. [2]

Steve 'Crusher' Bartlett:

Regularly he’d have the kind of day the rest of us only dream about. Thumbing through his copy of Boulder Climbs South guide fosters a sense of humility. It’s all there: “The Naked Edge - solo;” “Le Toit - solo;” “Climb of the Century - solo;” “Jules Verne - solo;” “Neon Lights - solo." This list could get monotonous—‘solo’ adjoins climb after climb, most of the routes in the book. Once, he figured he’d soloed Outer Space probably 100 times. Another time he told me he’d done the second through seventh free ascents of Night (5.11b/c vs [very serious]). [3]

References

[1] Obituary: Derek Hersey from The Independent newspaper https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-derek-hersey-1494003.html

[2] https://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/13199403102/Fall-on-Rock-Climbing-Alone-and-Unroped-WeatherProbably-California-Yosemite-Valley-Sentinel-Rock

[3] https://www.deserttowersbook.com/derek-hersey-obituary2019

Big wall climber, author and professional photographer.

Erica Gatland has been a big player in the Aotearoa New Zealand bouldering scene since she was 12 yrs old and started competing in NIBS, a competition she went on to win seven or eight times in a row (she can’t remember exactly how many). Then in 2018, with an ascent of Moby Dick (V12) at Flock Hill, she cemented her place as perhaps Aotearoa New Zealand’s GOAT female boulderer—both indoors and outdoors. [1]

References

[1] Rachel Musgrave https://alpineclub.org.nz/feature/interview-erica-gatland-aka-project-gatland-aka-mini-gat-aka-goat

Welsh parachutist, BASE jumper, solo rock climber, alpinist and cafe proprietor. 'Eric's' (cafe) and barn accommodation at Tremadog were focal points of the one of the most important climbing areas in the UK in the early 1980s.

References

[1] Moffatt, J and Grimes, N (2010) Revelations. United Kingdom: Vertebrate Publishing