This is one of my most personally meaningful images. Not because it took several false pre-dawn starts before we got a sufficiently good cloud inversion for the image I had in mind, but because of the memories this brings me of one of my dearest friends. The climber pictured is John “Crunch” Smoothy, a true Blue Mountains climbing legend. This is him, in his element, it’s an image that will always remind me of him.⠀
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Some days I think climbing photography is trivial and somewhat meaningless but when I look at this image… it feels rather more invaluable.⠀
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I posted this image previously, when John passed away three years ago, this time I’m delighted to say I have positive news. ⠀
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Yesterday, a memorial seat and plaque was unveiled in John’s honour. You’ll find it as you walk around to Shipley Upper, in a beautiful setting, the last corner just before you get to the first routes at the Equaliser end. This corner is now known as Crunch’s Corner.⠀
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This will now be a very special place for those of us who knew lucky enough to know John. You are not forgotten mate.⠀
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Many thanks indeed to the Blue Mountains City Council for fully supporting this memorial, Glenn Short for organising this and Henryk Topelnicki for constructing the seat.
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Prints of this image are available –> here.
