Steffan Rolfe Adventure Challenge: Rock

2022 Rock Log:

Rock Personal:

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17/06/2022.

Resistance Climbing Gym, Moray Place – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe, and Merekara Henare.

Fine.

Bouldering Session at the Resistance Climbing Gym, Dunedin. (1 hour).

I went bouldering with a friend at the Resistance Climbing Gym at Moray Place in Dunedin. We mostly stuck to easy climbs on the slab walls, as it was my friends first time bouldering.

2020 Rock Log:

Rock Personal:

01/01/2020.

Canyon Explorers Queenstown.

Gorge Road Climbing Crags.

Justin, Rachel, Jackie, and Steffan.

Foggy – due to smoke from the Australian Bush Fires.

Canyon Explorers Via Ferrata Tour. (4 hours).

I did a Via Ferrata Tour with Canyon Explorers on the Gorge Road Crags. We started at the bottom of the cliffs beside Matakauri Park, and followed the Via Ferrata route to link up with the Queenstown Hill Track.

Canyon Explorers Via Ferrata Tour - January 2020.
Steffan Climbing the Wall.

Canyon Explorers Via Ferrata Tour - January 2020.
Carabiner Shapes at the top of the climb.

2019 Rock Log

Rock Training (NZAC):

13/10/19.

Logan Park High School Climbing Wall – Dunedin.

Tim, Ryan, Steffan, and 12 Students.

Light Rain.

New Zealand Alpine Club Intro to Rock Climbing Course. (2 hours).

I attended an Intro to Rock Climbing course run by the Otago Section of the NZAC. We covered top roping and belaying. I then got a quick refresher on changing to a lower or abseil for Sport Climbing.

2018 Rock Log

Rock Instructing:

12/06/18.

Outward Bound Anakiwa Rock Crag.

Steffan Rolfe, Carly, Two Outward Bound Instructors, and 14 Outward Bound Students.

Light Rain.

Observing an Outward Bound Rock Climbing Session. (4 hours).

As part of an Outward Bound Instructor Selection Course I observed a rock climbing session facilitated by two Outward Bound Instructors. They ran through a basic climbing and belaying instruction session, and then managed safety on the crag, while providing students with their challenges. These challenges ranged from just getting to the top, climbing blind-folded, or climbing with one hand.

2017 Rock Log

Rock Personal:

09/02/17.

Pukaki Boulders, Lake Pukaki, Mackenzie Country.

Steffan Rolfe, Tara Brooke Klimech.

Fine.

Bouldering – VM, V0, V3.

Bouldering at Pukaki Boulders. (2 hours).

I went bouldering with Tara on a Thursday evening. We climbed on the Memorial Boulder, Pukaki Boulder, and another boulder closer to the lake. We completed a VM on the memorial boulder, and attempted a couple of new routes, as well as a V0 and V3 traverse on the Pukaki Boulder.

Lavender Fields and Pukaki Boulders
February 2017
The moon coming up over the boulder

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12/01/17

Pukaki Boulders, Lake Pukaki, Mackenzie Country.

Steffan Rolfe, Tara Brooke Klimech.

Fine.

Bouldering – VE, VM, V0.

Bouldering at Pukaki Boulders. (2 hours).

I went bouldering at the Pukaki Boulders with Tara on a summers evening. We climbed on the Memorial Boulder, and the Pukaki Boulder. We succeeded on a V0 on the Pukaki Boulder, and a VE and two VMs on the Memorial Boulder. We also spent some time working on two V1 problems on the Pukaki Boulder.

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2016 Rock Log

Rock Personal:

19/04/16.

Sebastopol Bluffs – Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park.

Steffan Rolfe, Tom Witt, Zach Isler.

Fine

Two pitches at Grade 14.

Multi-pitch sport route on Sebastopol Bluffs. (3 hours).

We went climbing at Sebastopol Bluffs on the Red Arete route. We did the climb with 3 people, which was two 40m pitches, and two abseils with a two joined ropes. The climb took a while with 3 people, but it was an awesome afternoon out.

04/02/16.

Twizel Events Centre Climbing Wall – Twizel.

Steffan Rolfe, Pancho Saucedo.

Fine, Cloudy.

Two Grade 12’s, one Grade 15, and one Grade 16.

Climbed at the Twizel Events Centre Climbing Wall in Twizel. (2 hours).

I went climbing at the Twizel Events Centre with a workmate. We top roped a number of different routes. Two grade 12s, a grade 15, and a grade 16.

2015 Rock Log

Rock Personal:

08/12/15.

Alpine Guides Wall – Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park.

Steffan Rolfe, Roddy Wyness, Olivia Harries.

Fine.

Bouldering at the Alpine Guides Wall. (2 hours).

I went for an afternoon climbing session with a couple of friends at the Alpine Guides Wall behind the Glacier Explorers office. We attempted three different problems on the wall, as well as a traverse of the wall – with varying degrees of success.

Alpine Guides Wall - December 2015
Hanging out at the wall.

Alpine Guides Wall - December 2015
Plaque

Alpine Guides Wall - December 2015
Tricky route on the wall.

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26/11/15.

Twizel Events Centre Climbing Wall – Twizel.

Steffan Rolfe, Henry Smith.

Fine, Strong NW Winds.

Two Grade 12’s, Two Grade 14’s, and one Grade 15.

Climbed at the Twizel Events Centre Climbing Wall in Twizel. (2 hours).

I went to the climbing wall at the Twizel Events Centre for the first time. I top roped several climbs, after a short warm-up on the bouldering wall. I climbed two grade 12’s, two grade 14’s, and one grade 15 climb.

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10/11/15.

Pukaki Boulders – Lake Pukaki.

Steffan Rolfe, Zach Isler.

Fine.

Bouldering at the Pukaki Boulders. (3 hours).

I went bouldering at the Pukaki boulders with another guy from the Mt Cook Village. We climbed on the Pukaki Boulder and the Memorial Boulder. We climbed one VE, three VMs, and attempted a V0 on the Memorial Boulder, and climbed a VE, and attempted a V0 and V3 on the Pukaki Boulder.

Pukaki Boulders - November 2015
Steffan on the Memorial Boulder

Pukaki Boulders - November 2015
Zach squeezing under the overhang on
the Memorial Boulder.

Pukaki Boulders - November 2015
Anchor Points on the Pukaki Boulders.

Pukaki Boulders - November 2015
Steffan attempting the traverse on the
Pukaki Boulder.

Pukaki Boulders - November 2015
Zach on the slab.

Pukaki Boulders - November 2015
The Pukaki Boulders with the Ben Ohau Range in the background.

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26/09/15.
Charleston - West Coast.

Steffan Rolfe, Eigill Wahlberg, Hazel McAlister, Simon Burgess, Henry Norcross, Raymond Ohrenschall.

Fine.

Top Rope Anchor setup practise. (5 hours).

Myself and a few other students from Tai Poutini Polytechnic did a day trip to Charleston to practice setting up top rope anchor setups on Sunset Rib and Ushers Rock in the lead up to our rock climbing assessment resits. I worked primarily on 7 different top rope locations on sunset rib using natural protection.

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08/09/15.
Charleston - West Coast.

Eigil Wahlberg, Steffan Rolfe.

Fine.

Two Grade 10’s at Charleston, and a Grade 16 and Grade 17 at the Climbing Wall.

Setup Top Rope Anchors at Charleston, and climbed at the Civic Centre Climbing Wall in Greymouth (6 hours).

Spent a day at Charleston setting up top-rope anchors on Sunset Rib, as well as setting up safety lines to access the sides of the rib. We setup top-ropes on 4^th form alley (Grade 10, 17m), and Aid in the line (Grade 10, 14m), then we climbed them. In the evening I climbed at the Civic Centre. I practised a top rope rescue, and top-roped a Grade 16 and Grade 17 climb.

Charleston - September 2015
Sunset Rib

Charleston - September 2015
Eigill on the top of 4th Form Alley

Charleston - September 2015
Doctor Bay

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18/08/15.

Greymouth Civic Centre Climbing Wall.
Sarwan Chand, Steffan Rolfe.

Fine.

Two Grade 15’s, Grade 16, Grade 17, and a Grade 18. (2 hours).

Did a climbing session at the Civic Centre in Greymouth. I top roped a Grade 15, and Grade 17, then lead a Grade 15, and then top roped a Grade 16, and Grade 18.

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11/08/15.

Greymouth Civic Centre Climbing Wall.
Steffan Rolfe, Sonja de Koster.

Fine

Two Grade 15s, Grade 17, and Grade 18.

Climbed at the Civic Centre in Greymouth. (2 hours).

Did a climbing session at the Civic Centre in Greymouth. I top roped two Grade 15s, a Grade 17, and a Grade 18.

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16/06/15.

Greymouth Civic Centre Climbing Wall.
Steffan Rolfe, Christine Borland.

Rain.

Grade 14, Two Grade 17s, and Grade 18.

Climbed at the Civic Centre in Greymouth. (2 hours).

Did a climbing session at the Civic Centre in Greymouth. I top roped a Grade 14, two Grade 17s, and a Grade 18. I then belayed my climbing partner on lead, while she attempted to climb the overhang.

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13/06/15.

Albert Terrace, St. Martins, Christchurch.

Steffan Rolfe, Caroline Salazzo.

Fine, with cloud developing to an Overcast day.

Grade 14, Grade 13, and Grade 14.

Rock-climbed at the Albert Terrace Crag in Christchurch. (4 hours).

Went climbing at the Albert Terrace Crag in St. Martins, Christchurch with a friend from Christchurch. I did some basic instruction on how to setup a change-over to a lower. I climbed Quacker (Grade 14, 11m), Defenced (Grade 13, 11m), and Kinny (Grade 14, 11m).

Albert Terrace Crag - June 2015
Caroline at Albert Terrace

Albert Terrace Crag - June 2015
Steffan at the top of Defenced

Albert Terrace Crag - June 2015
Aoraki Students Chilling out in the
cave on Albert Terrace

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02/06/15.

Greymouth Civic Centre Climbing Wall.

Steffan Rolfe, Michelle Heslop.

Fine.

Grade 15, two Grade 17s, a Grade 14, and a Grade 16.

Climbed at the Civic Centre in Greymouth. (2 hours).

Did a climbing session at the Civic Centre in Greymouth. I top roped a Grade 15, and two Grade 17s. Then I led a Grade 14, and a Grade 16, as well as taking an intentional fall on lead to help one of the girls on my course get her lead belay sign-off. I also belayed a climber on the a Grade 22 on the overhang.

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31/05/15.

Punakaiki Valley, West Coast.

Steffan Rolfe, Michelle Heslop, Caroline Salazzo, Eigil Wahlberg, Raymond Ohrenschall, Simon Burgess.

Fine, with rain developing in the late afternoon.

Grade 13, and Grade 15.

Rock-climbed at the Weka Wall in the Punakaiki Valley. (4 hours).

Spent an afternoon climbing at the Weka Wall in the Punakaiki Valley on the West Coast. I lead climbed Gretel (Grade 13, 8m) twice, and Weka Watch (Grade 15, 10m). I also setup a top rope anchor on Gretel and Weka Watch, did some instruction on lead climbing, and retrieved some gear from the top of Weka Watch that had been left behind by a couple of the other climbers.

Punakaiki Valley Weka Watch
May 2015
Caroline climbing View to the Sea

Punakaiki Valley Weka Watch
May 2015
Steffan at the top of Hansell

Punakaiki Valley Weka Watch
May 2015
Michelle Belaying Ray
on View to the Sea

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26/05/15.

Greymouth Civic Centre Climbing Wall.

Steffan Rolfe, Michelle Heslop.

Fine.

Grade 15, Grade 16, and two Grade 17 Climbs.

Climbed at the Civic Centre in Greymouth. (2 hours).

Did a climbing session at the Civic Centre in Greymouth. I top roped a Grade 15, two Grade 17s, and a Grade 16 Climb.

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19/05/15.

Greymouth Civic Centre Climbing Wall.

Steffan Rolfe, Michelle Heslop, Hazel McAlister, James McLean, Arianna Andrews.

Fine.

Grade 14, Grade 17, and Grade 14.

Climbed at the Civic Centre in Greymouth. (2 hours).

Did a climbing session at the Civic Centre in Greymouth. I top roped a Grade 14 and Grade 17, and then Lead Climbed a Grade 14.

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16/05/15.

Punakaiki Valley, West Coast.

Steffan Rolfe, Eigil Wahlberg

Fine.

Grade 13, Grade 14, and two Grade 15 climbs.

Rock-climbed at the Weka Wall in the Punakaiki Valley. (5 hours).

Spent a few hours climbing at the Weka Wall in the Punakaiki Valley on the West Coast. I lead climbed Gretel (Grade 13, 8m), Eehaw (Grade 14, 10m), and Hansel (Grade 15, 9m), with an Abseil Changeover at the top rings. Also top-roped View to the Sea (Grade 15, 18m).

Punakaiki Weka Wall - May 2015
The Weka Wall

Punakaiki Weka Wall - May 2015
Eigil at the top of the Weka Wall

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05/05/15.

Greymouth Civic Centre Climbing Wall.

Steffan Rolfe, Sarah Chadderton.

Raining.

Grade 14, Grade 15, and two Grade 17 Climbs.

Climbed at the Civic Centre in Greymouth. (2 hours).

Did a top rope climbing session at the Civic Centre in Greymouth. I top roped a Grade 14, a Grade 15, and then two Grade 17 climbs.

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28/04/15.

Greymouth Civic Centre Climbing Wall.

Johanna Molitor, Steffan Rolfe.

Raining.

Grade 17. 3 Grade 16 Climbs. One Grade 14 Climb.

Climbed at the Civic Centre in Greymouth. (2 hours).

Did another climbing session at the Civic Centre in Greymouth. I Top Roped a Grade 17, and then 3 Grade 16’s. Then I lead climbed at Grade 14, and got signed off for my Lead Climbing ticket.

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19/04/15.

Punakaiki Valley, West Coast.

Steffan Rolfe, Johanna Molitor, Hazel MacAlister, Simon Burgess.

Fine, but Overcast.

Grade 13.

Rockclimbing at the Weka Wall in Punakaiki Valley. (2 hours).

Travelled up to Punakaiki to spend a few hours climbing. I Lead Climbed Gretel (Grade 13, 8m), with an Abseil Changeover at the top. I used this climb to test out the new gear and rope that I purchased in Wanaka, and in Christchurch.

Punakaiki Weka Wall - April 2015
Steffan at the top of Weka Wal

Punakaiki Weka Wall - April 2015
Steffan at the top of Gretel

Punakaiki Weka Wall - April 2015
Weka Wall

Punakaiki Weka Wall - April 2015
Johanna climbing the Weka Wall

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13/04/15.

Roxx YMCA Adventure Centre, Christchurch.

Steffan Rolfe, Johanna Molitor, Caroline Salazzo.

Cold and Windy.

Grade 13. Grade 15. Grade 16. Two Grade 17 Climbs.

Climbed at the Roxx Climbing Wall at the YMCA Adventure Centre in Christchurch. (3 hours).

Climbed at the Roxx YMCA Adventure Centre in Christchurch. The original plan had been to climb at either Cattlestop Crag, or Albert Terrace, however the weather looked like it was deteriorating, so we went indoors instead. I climbed a Grade 13, a Grade 14, a Grade 15, a Grade 16, and two Grade 17 Climbs.

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07/04/15.

Greymouth Civic Centre Climbing Wall.

Steffan Rolfe, Johanna Molitor.

Raining.

Grade 13. Grade 14. Grade 15. Grade 16.

Climbing session at the Indoor Climbing Wall. (2 hours).

I did my first climbing session at the Civic Centre Climbing Gym since the TPP Session. I got signed off for my top rope belay license and Climbed a Grade 13, Grade 14, Grade 15, and a Grade 16 climb.
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Rock Training (TPP):

06/10/15.

Charleston – West Coast.

Instructors: Paula Roberts; Rebecca Dryland; Zac Shaw.

Students: Steffan Rolfe, Eigill Wahlberg, Hazel McAlister, Simon Burgess, Henry Norcross, Raymond Ohrenschall, Mac Beamish, Sean Stinton, Ryan Morris, Sam MacTaggart, Demi Barr, Zhane Harvey, Arianna Andrews, Alex Hill, Kit Blackwood, Katrina Nelson, Thomas Campbell, Sarah Chadderton, Sarah Hardstone, Ryan O’Connor, Kate Sheehy.

Rock Assessment Resits – Top Rope Anchors at Charleston – West Coast. (4 hours).

I spent a half-day at Charleston on the West Coast doing a rock assessment resit. The resit focused primarily on top rope anchors. We had to setup a top rope anchor with three pieces of natural protection in 30 minutes. I completed this on Sunset Rib.

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15/09/15 & 16/09/15.

Tai Poutini Polytechnic – Certificate in Outdoor Education.

Charleston – West Coast, and the Hokitika High School Climbing Wall.

Instructors: Rebecca Dryland, Simon Middlemass, Shaz.

Students: Mac, Sean, Ryan, Steffan, Sam, Demi, James, Eigill, Ray, Zhane, Arianna, Alex, Wade, Kit, Katrina.

Rain Showers, and fine.

I sat a rock climbing assessment as part of the TPP COE Programme. We spent one day at Charleston setting up top rope anchors, and then one day at the Hokitika High School lead climbing, doing top rope rescues, and unjamming prussic. The weather wasn’t great at Charleston – so I needed to do a resit on sunset rib. (2 days).

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11/09/15.

Tai Poutini Polytechnic – Certificate in Outdoor Education.

Greymouth Civic Centre Climbing Wall.

Instructors: Shaz, Paula Roberts.

Students: Mac, Zach, Sean, Ryan, Steffan, Sam, Demi, James, Eigil, Ray, Zhane, Arianna, Alex, Wade, Kit, Katrina.

Raining.

I attended an Assessment Preparation day at the Greymouth Civic Centre Climbing Wall, as part of the TPP Certificate in Outdoor Education’s Rock Programme. We focussed on: Lead Climbing and Abseil Changeovers; Top Rope Rescues; and Releasing jammed prussic. (1 day).

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17/03/15 to 20/03/15.

Tai Poutini Polytechnic – Certificate in Outdoor Education.

Charleston, Nile River, 14 Mile Beach, Greymouth Civic Centre Climbing Wall.

Instructors: Keith Riley, Rebecca Dryland, Mike.

Students: Mac, Zach, Sean, Ryan, Steffan, Sam, Demi, James, Eigil, Ray, Zhane, Arianna, Alex, Wade, Kit, Katrina.

Fine Weather all Week.

Charleston: Nut & Cam Placement; Creating Top Rope Anchors using Natural Pro, Top Rope Climbing – 4^th Form Alley (Grade 12), and Abseil Wall (unknown Grade). Extending Focal Points of Anchors, practical setting up two top rope anchors on Sunset Rib, Climbed, cleaned, and abseiled Grunt, Grip, and Grasp (Grade 16), learnt Top Rope Rescue. Nile River and 14 Mile Beach – Bouldering. Greymouth Civic Centre – Indoor Top Rope and Lead Climbing. Practised Top Rope Rescue. (4 days).

This was our second week of rockclimbing with TPP. We spent it mostly at Charleston on the Sunset Rib, Ushers Cove, and Cathedral Cove. We learnt about placing Natural Pro, using Nuts and Cams, about how to setup top rope anchors using natural protection, and about top rope climbing. I climbed 4^th form Alley (Grade 12), and a climb on the abseil Wall. The following day we learnt about extending the focal points of our anchors and I practised setting up top rope anchors on Sunset Rib. Then I was asked to climb, clean, and abseil back down Grunt, Grip, and Grasp (Grade 16). The next day we learnt how to carry out a top rope rescue, and then packed up to head back to Greymouth. On the way back to Greymouth we stopped at Nile River and 14 Mile Beach, where we practised some bouldering. The last day we were climbing at the Greymouth Civic Centre wall practising indoor climbing on top rope, and lead, and also practising our top rope rescues.

Rock Module Week 2 - March 2015
Walking the road to Charleston

Rock Module Week 2 - March 2015
Waves crashing in at Cathedral Cove

Rock Module Week 2 - March 2015
Katrina admiring the ocean in Usher's Cove

Rock Module Week 2 - March 2015
Mac Belaying Steffan

Rock Module Week 2 - March 2015
Steffan at the safety line on Sunset Rib

Rock Module Week 2 - March 2015
Top Rope Setup on the Abseil Wall

Rock Module Week 2 - March 2015
Bouldering at Nile River Mouth

Rock Module Week 2 - March 2015
Sam on top of the Boulder at 14 Mile

Rock Module Week 2 - March 2015
Civic Centre Climbing Wall

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10/03/15 to 13/03/15.

Tai Poutini Polytechnic – Certificate in Outdoor Education.

Wanaka – Diamond Lake Conservation Area, Motatapu Valley, Hospital Flat.

Instructors: Paula, Keith Riley, Zac Shaw, Dave.

Students: Mac, Zach, Sean, Ryan, Steffan, Sam, Demi, James, Eigil, Ray, Zhane, Arianna, Alex, Wade, Kit, Katrina.

Fine Weather all Week.

Wanaka. The Bakehouse: Top Rope Climbing. Riverside: Climbing Technique, Leading Climbing and Belaying, Progression to Lead, Changeover to Lowering down from Lead. Hospital Flat: Changeover to Abseil. Kai Whaka Pai – Top Rope Anchor Setup. (4 days).

Spent the week at Wanaka with TPP learning how to lead climb. We spent the first day at the Bake House at the Diamond Lake Conservation Area learning Top Rope Climbing. I climbed Milk and Cookies (Grade 13), Get Off that Cow (Grade 16), and Curiously Sheepish (Grade 14). The next day we were at Riverside Crag where we were learning Climbing techniques, Lead-Climbing progression, Belaying on lead, and Lead Climbing as well as setting up for being lowered down. I climbed Dog Leg (Grade 12) and Zoftig (Grade 12) on lead. The next day we were at Hospital Flat on the Main Cliff. We learnt and practised changing over to abseil. I climbed Do I have to? (Grade 13) and Wasted on the Wing (Grade 14) on lead. I was TL for this day. At Kai Whaka Pai we learnt how to setup Top Rope Anchors on bolts.