EP 258: Louise Shepherd — “The Lynn Hill of Australia” on Her Dirtbag Days, Flying Breasts, & How to Save Arapiles Climbing

Louise Shepherd is a living legend, and has been called “The Lynn Hill of Australia”. We talked about climbing in the late 70s, her formative experiences, dirtbagging in Arapiles, onsighting some of the first 5.12s in Yosemite, access issues threatening Aralipes climbing, putting cultural heritage into context, and how climbers can help save Arapiles climbing.

How You Can Help:

https://www.climbingvictoria.com/arapiles

Revival Climbing Coalition:

revivalclimbing.com

EP 225: Tony Bell & David Bress (my episode with the founders of Revival)

Learn more about Revival’s adjustable climbing walls and landing systems.

Crimpd:

crimpd.com

Or download the Crimpd app.

Become a Patron:

patreon.com/thenuggetclimbing

We are supported by these amazing BIG GIVERS:

• Michael Roy and Mark and Julie Calhoun

Show Notes:  

thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/louis-shepherd

Nuggets:

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:01:26) – Fahrenheit

(00:03:09) – Australian bolting system

(00:05:49) – Louise’s intro to climbing in 1978

(00:16:46) – Dealing with health issues

(00:18:36) – Formative experiences

(00:24:34) – Flying breasts & Kim Carrigan

(00:29:34) – Yosemite & yoyo style

(00:36:16) – Living in Arapiles

(00:49:09) – Guiding & The Millennium Draught

(00:58:35) – Cultural heritage & closures in Arapiles

(01:20:00) – How we can help

(01:27:29) – Endangered species & preservation

(01:34:15) – Potential outcomes & complexities

(01:41:53) – Recap & wrap up