Ian has been climbing obsessively since 2005. They have done big wall first ascents and repeats around the world from the Karavshin region of Kyrgyzstan, Sella dos Orgaos in Brazil, and Cochamo in Patagonia. In Cochamo they equipped the La Junta Project with Robbie Phillips – at 27 pitches up to 9a, this is potentially one of the hardest big walls in the world. They’re now training hard to hopefully be able to free it one day!
One of their most memorable climbing experiences was the second free ascent of the giant 1500m Mirror Route in Kyrgyzstan, which was first freed by Lynn Hill in 1995 at 5.12+ (E6 6b in UK grades). This involved 10 days on the wall (three of which were spent battling intense food poisoning), one midnight portaledge collapse and 10 hours of abseiling through a snowstorm to get back down!
Other highlights include the first ascent of Midnight Special, a 5.13+ trad line in Desolation Wilderness, team free ascents of Quarryman (E8 6c) and Space Cadets (E8 7a, first ascent) with Robbie Phillips, E8 first ascents, and sport climbs up to 8c.