Climbers

Key figure of Stonemasters era Yosemite climbing who went on to become an Academy Award winning film rigger and camera operator.

References

[1] Obituary on climbing.com, Jan 2025 https://www.climbing.com/people/a-climber-we-lost-mark-chapman

Mark Pugh-Williams is a Christchurch-based rock climber who emerged as one of New Zealand’s early standouts in youth competition climbing, developing his skill through the local Geckos Climbing Club.

He went on to become a central figure in steep sport climbing, repeating many of the testpiece routes at the local caves. Most notably, he established Hydroplaning[1], which stood as New Zealand's first 8c+ (34) in the sequence he climbed it. Pugh-Williams remains active in the local climbing community as the Head Route Setter at Uprising Bouldering Gym in Christchurch.

References

[1] https://climbing-history.org/climb/8136/hydroplaning

Eryri fixture climbing numerous new routes and developing bouldering areas from the 1980s to 2020s.

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/literature/on_and_off_the_road_-_an_extract_from_martin_crooks_blockseeker-15935