Rolfe Oostra (1970. Australian)

Professional Alpine Climber. International Expedition Leader.

BSc (Ecology/Biology), FRGS, UIMLA (UIAA), UK EML, SPA
First Aid Instructor (Expedition speciality), PADI (Dive-master).

MOUNTAIN

Alpinism/Mountaineering. Grades in French Alpine scale.

Australia 1987- 2000.

• Rock-climbed over 1000 rock routes. leading grade 23 (F6c) in all Australian states.
• Extensively developed Ginninderra Gorge area. 12 first ascents up to grade 23 (F6c).
• Worked as a climbing instructor on weekends.
• Climbed “Ozymandias” (M5 multi-day aid route) and several other hard aid routes at Mt.Buffalo. Victoria.
• Extensive ski touring ,snow camping and ice climbing during four winter seasons in Kosciusko National park

Trekking 1987 - 1990:

• Kangaroo Island trek from Cape Borda to Cape de Quediac.(8 days)
• NSW national parks such as Kosciusko, Morton, Washpool, and Girraween. (All treks more than 5 days in duration.)
• Tasmania: Western and Eastern Arthur’s, Overland, Mt.Anne and Frecinet Peninsula. (All treks longer than 7 days in duration).
• Taught Kayaking and canoeing for two summer seasons on the Murrembidgee River.
• Tasmania: Kayaked Georges river.(5 days) and sea kayaked North west coast (4 days)

New Zealand 1991 - 2002 Southern Alps
Memorable Alpine ascents on:

• Mt. Cook. 3755m. North-West Couloir (AD)
• Mt Cook 3755m. Porters Col route (AD+).
• Mt Cook. 3755m. Attempted South Face twice (TD). Descended due to severe weather.
• Mt. Cook Attempted Earls Ridge (D) descended due to severe weather near summit.
• Mt Cook 3755m. Guided Hooker face route (D)
• Mt Cook.3755m.Guided Linda Glacier route (AD) Descended due to objective danger.
• Mt.Tasman. 3498m. Via silberhorn (AD+)
• Mt Tasman 3498m.Heemskirk face (TD).
• The Footstool. 3279m. East face. (D)
• The Footstool: 3279m. Normal route (AD)
• Mt. Lendenfield: 3199m.Normal route (PD+)
• Mt Lendenfield: 3199m. Peter Hillary route (D)
• Silberhorn. 3279m. Silberhorn ridge (AD)
• Malte-Brun. 3198m. (D) descended due to bad conditions at 3000m.
• Mt.Hadinger. 3066m. West face.(AD+)
• Mt.Dixon. 3022m. (PD+)
• Peak 9914 (PD)
• Hotchetter Dome. 2822m. (PD)
• Augille Rouge (AD)
• Almer (F)
• Mt.Seally (PD)
• Mt.Massey (PD)
• Mt.Wakefield (F)
• Madonna peak (PD)
• Lean Peak (F)
• Bride veil peak (AD)
• Taught 3 x Alpine skills courses at Mt.Cook national park

Trekking 1994:

• Steward Island, 18 days (solo.)
• Crossed Copland Pass in winter (solo).
• Frenchman’s Hut /Mount Aspiring

Bolivia 1995 - 1996. Cordillera Real

• Pico Choss.5000m. (PD)
• Pico Oro.5200m. (PD.Winter. Solo).
• Pico Shultze. 5943m. Southeast face route-variant. (AD)
• Ancohuma. 6427m.West face. (AD).
• Ancohuma. 6427m. Descended from new route at6200m North ridge (D+)
• Illampu. 6368m. South-west ridge. (D). Descended 6100m. Bad weather.
• Illimani Norte. 6403m. Guided South ridge. (D-).
• Guided for eight months in mountains near Sorata village. 6 treks/climbs.

Trekking:

• Guided Camino de Oro trek (alpine and Rain-forest).
• Led Yunga Cruz trek (alpine and cloud forest) three days.
• Guided on various jungle treks including the Mapiri trail and Choro trail (7 days).
• Trekked through very remote Cocoyo region of alto Plano (6 days).

Peru 2000. Cordillera Blanca

• Taught 3 alpine skills courses and ice climbing courses at Pico Pastoruri. 5240m
• Pukaraju. 5346m. Guided South face. (PD).
• Pisco Oeste. 5752m. Guided S-W ridge. 3 clients (PD+).
• Pisco Oeste. 5752m. Guided S-W ridge. 2 clients (PD+).
• Churrua-Chico. 5100m Guided 2 clients. 10 hrs from Huaraz. (PD-)
• Alpamayo. 5947m. Guided Ferrari route. (AD/D).
• Shaqsha. 5703m. Guided North-west face. (AD). Descended 5450m: avalanche danger
• Shaqsha. 5703m. South-ridge. (AD). One day from Hauraz.Descended 5520m: storm.
• Huascaran Norte. 6655m. GuidedS-E ridge. (AD). Descended 6200m: avalanche danger.
• Huascaran Sur. 6768m. Garganta route. (PD). Descended 6400m: storm. Solo.
• Copa. 6188m. South -East face. (AD/D) Descended 5900m: partner alt sick.
• Huandoy. 6395m. North-east face. (D+). Descended 5690m: avalanche danger.
• Bayo/Haupi. 5415m. South-west ridge. (AD).
• Peak 5330. (5330m). Guided west slope. (F)

Trekking 200 - 2008:

• Guided Santa Cruz trek. 4750m. 4 days.
• Guided on the Inca trail on eight occasions.

Argentina 1995 - 2011. CordilleraAconcagua.

• Aconcagua. 6962m. Normal route. (F. Solo)
• Aconcagua. 6962m. Direct-Polish Glacier. Descended 6450m: bad weather. (AD+ solo)
• Aconcagua.6962m.. Guided 4 expeditions. Normal route.All successful.
• Aconcagua. 6962m. Speed ascent C2 to summit in 4 hrs.
• Pico Bonete. 5035m. Two occasions. (F)
• Pico Ameghino. 5860 m. from the Polish glacier route. (PD. solo)
• Pico Castillo. 5300m. N-E colouir (D+)
• Cordillera Tupungato: Tupungato. 6550m. West ridge. (PD)
• Cordillera Ramada: Mercedario. 6770m. North-east ridge. (AD solo)
• Mercedario Sud. 6210 m. North- face. (D).
• High Andes: La Plata. 5955m. Normal route. (F solo.).
• Climbed 14 routes at Los Arenales up to grade F6a+ (multi pitch). 3000m rock spires.

Chile 2007 Patagonia Trekking.

• Guided on the Torres del Paine circuit.
• Worked as a horse riding guide on an across the Andes horse traverse.

Nicaragua 2003: Trekking.

• Volcan Madeira (1394m)
• San Juan peak (865m)
• Selva Negra peak (1457m)
• Mogodon (2438m)
• Guided on a month long multi activity expedition. Climbed Volcan Madeira (1394m), San Juan peak (865m), Selva Negra peak (1457m) and a sub-peak of Mogodon (2438m). Also horse riding and jungle trekking.

Pakistan 1993 Karakoram- Saltoro and Masherbrum

• Ghondogoro Peak. 6000m. (F).
• Peak 5800m rock spire. (D)
• Un-named 6310m Peak. West face. Mixed. (AD+).
• Attempted Masherbrum. 7820m. Failed low down on the mountain due to storms.

Trekking 1993

• Batura glacier. Karakoram. (8 days).

Nepal 2004 - 20011 Himalaya-Mahalungur Himal

• Mera peak. 6476m. Guided 5 Expeditions (F). All successful.
• Lobouche West. 6135m. South ridge.(AD+. Solo.)
• Peak 41. North- Front summit. 6120m. North-West buttress. (D+).
• Island peak. 6189m. Guided successful expedition. (PD).
• Attempted Kussum Kanguru. 6468m. Descended 200m below North summit: serac barrier. (AD+)
• Langtang Himal: Yala peak. 5500m. NE ridge. 3 days return Kathmandu. (AD-)

Trekking:

• Guided Everest base camp trek 4 x (5350m) and Kala Patar 3x (5600m).
• Guided Annapurna trek (4200m)

China 2009 - 2011.

• Muztagh Ata. 7548m. Guided successful expedition. First Australian ski descent.
• Great Wall of China. Guided 6 x 5 day treks.

Tibet 2006 Himalaya-Mahalungur Himal

• Lhakpa Ri7045m. Guided 6 clients. Descended 6600m: extremely heavy snowfall .
• Tridon Peak. 6420m. above Everest BC. solo. (AD+)
• Changtse (Everest North Peak). 7565m. Reached 7415m from North Col (AD+). Retreated due to high avalanche risk.

Trekking:

• Guided Everest Advanced Base camp North side 2x (6300m)
• Guided Shishapangma base camp trek. (5200m)

Bhutan 2007 Trekking:

• Guided Chomolhari BC trek (5000m.)
• Guided Druk path trek. (3800m)

Vietnam 2004 - 2007:

• Guided Mount Fansipan (3143m).
• Pou Long National park. Guided on 2 treks. 6 days each.
• Worked as a bicycle guide on two separate bike challenges from Saigon to Hanoi (8 day)

Kenya 1991 - 2011 Mount Kenya

• Batian 5199m. North-Face route (TD)
• Batian 5199m. Guided Mackinder's Route (D+)
• Nelion 5188m. Guided Shipton Route. (D winter)
• Point John. 4885m. Guided the Italian route. (D)
• Point Thomson 4955m. (AD)
• Point Meluish . 4880m. (AD).
• Point Lenana. 4985m. Guided 15 successful expeditions..
• Extensive rock climbing in Kenya’s prime locations. (leading to F6c)
• Cherrangani mountains (West Kenya):
• Mt.Sekker. 3400m.
• Koh. 3000m. (D+)
• Sondhang. 3211m
• Mt. Kalelaikelat. 3349m
• Mount Longonaut 2800m. volcano)
• Lonely Peak. 1800m. (TD-). Shaba national park.

Trekking:

• Matthew Ranges and climbed numerous peaks (4 weeks, 2500m. +).

Uganda 1992 Ruwenzori Mountains.

• Margarita. 5109m. South East Ridge. (AD. solo)
• Trekking: Kabalega National Park to Murchison Falls (6 days)

Tanzania 2002 to 2011 Kilimanjaro

• Guided over 45 expeditions to Kilimanjaro. 5895m.

Routes: Lemosho, Machembe, Western Breach, Rongai and Umbwe route.
Fast ascent of Umbwe /western Breach route to summit down Mweka route 17hrs

• Meru Peak (4656m.) Guiding 3 successful expeditions.

Morocco 2008Atlas Mountains

• Jebel Toubkal 4200m (F) and 2 other 4000m peaks. Guided 12 clients.

Malawi 1992 - 1994 Mulanje massif.

• Sawpitwa 3002m. Solo.
• Chinzama west face. (AD+. solo).
• Mt. Chambe. East face. Gordon Gully Route. (TD).

Egypt 200 - 2001 Sinai peninsula.

• Started up Sinai’s first and only rock climbing school .
• Guided clients on various climbing safaris to Wadi’s Quanai, Connection, and Kidd.
• Established six first ascents at Wadi Kidd. (Graded up to F6a)
• On-sights routes up to grade F6c: hardest routes climbed (lead) were graded F7a.

Africa Trekking:

Mozambique 1994

• Isla de Mozambique to the Tanzania border. (330 kms. 11 days.)

Zimbabwe 1994

• Chimani-mani Mountains. two separate 5-day treks
• Chimnani-mani range into Mozambique. climbed the rarely climbed ‘5th range’.(6 days)

Ethiopia 1997

• Guiding in the Simian Mountains: Ras Deshen 4700m.

Eritrea 1997:Explored mountain area of Keren region. 2000m peaks.

Greenland2001 Scorcesby sound, Liverpool land and Jameson’s land.

• Kaempehojen. 1200m. New route. South-east face. (AD+).
• Pk.1180m. South Ridge. (F).
• Tvillingerne. 1430m. “Colouir route”. South-east face. (AD).
• Pk.1230m. un-mapped: “Hermione Pk.” (AD).
• “Anita’s temple”. 1245m. First ascent. (D+.)
• Attempted Pk.1364m. (D) Retreated due to high objective danger 200m. from summit.
• Two team members climbed Pk.1364m. New route. East face. (PD+)

Switzerland 2002 - 2011

• Attempted Eiger 3940m. Mittelidge ridge. (AD). Retreated 3850m. Severe weather.
• Matterhorn 4462m.Guided on 5 occasions. Zmuttgard-North west ridge. (D),Hornli Ridge. (AD), Lions ridge.(AD+)
• Matterhorn. 4462m. Hornli Ridge. Solo to 100m from summit. 7 hrs return refuge.(AD)
• Awarded the International Mountain Leader Award. U.I.M.L.A (UIAA)

France 2003 to 2011:Pyrenees.

• Guided numerous ascents on Peak Baum.3194m, Maupa peak 3091m.Spejoiles peak, 3200m and Gordoun peak, 3094m.
• Guided 7 different groups on Haute Route trek: climbing 16 separate peaks.
• Guided 25 separate Aneto ascents. 3404m. (F/PD. two in winter).
• Guided Vignemale. 3300m. (PD winter)

Memorable Alpine ascents on:

• Vignemale. 3100m. North face direct route. (TD).
• Circ de Gavernie: Fluid Glacial. (TD)
• Circ de Gavernie: Freezante (D+)
• Pic de la Pic. 2700m. North face.Failed due to lack of balls. (TD)
• Pic de Albe. 3107m. Arete Gendarmes (D-)
• Pic de Spiggeoles. 3066m. South- East face/Ridge (D-).
• Petit Vignemale. 3050m. “serac route” (AD).
• Maupa peak. 3109m. East-Ridge (AD)
• Crabioules. 3116m) to Pic Lezat(AD+)
• Pic de Portilion (AD-)
• Pic de la Pic.North -East Ridge. Failed due to bad conditions. Winter. (AD+).
• Maldeta. 3308m. traverse North-South (PD+)

• Rock climbing to leading grade F6b+/6c. (Climbed 2 x 7a routes.)
• Extensive Ice Climbing at Val de Aran, Luchon, Bielsa and Cirque De Gavernie. Over 100 routes up to WI 5+ routes (3 x WI4 solo.)
• First ascent of 70m. Grade WI 5 ice route. First ascent of 100m WI 4 ice route.
• Climbing instructor on many rock, ice and Alpine skills development courses.
• Mt Blanc. 4810m. Guided successful ascent. Gouter route.

United Kingdom 1998 - 2009:

• Worked as an outdoor instructor for various adventure companies teaching team building, rock-climbing and preparing groups for overseas expeditions.
• Rock-climbing to grade E1 (F6c leading) 100+ routes. Devon, Wales and the Peak district.
• Awarded Mountain leader awards and Single Pitch climbing instructor award.

Scotland Glencoe.

• Crowberry gully (D).
• Ben Nevis: Moon gully buttress (AD)
• Italian climb (D)
• Curtain route (TD)
• Tower ridge (AD)

Wales Worked as a climbing instructor for 12 weeks total.

Iceland 2003 - 2009:

• Hvanadalshnukur. 2119m. (AD) Retreated1750m due to extremely strong winds.

Trekking:

• Guided on five separate 6 day treks in the central highlands.

Romania 2009:

• Guided 2 treks of 5 days Carpathian Mtns.
• Recognisance for 5 day Fagaras Mtn traverse.

JUNGLE

Zaire 1994 Congo rainforest basin.

• Paddled using local dugout canoes 1100 kms of the Congo and Mawimi rivers. (6 weeks).
• Trekked from Beni to kisingani. (450 kms. 1 month.)

Tanzania 1994:

• Attempted to paddle the previously un-paddled Ifakara River (tributary of the Rufuji River) in the Selous National Park. - Unsuccessful due to hippopotamus attack.

Malawi 1992:

• Paddled using local dugout canoe 170 kms along northwest shore of Lake Malawi.

Brazil 1995 Amazon basin

• Paddled using a local boat 1100 kms of the Rio Madeira 4 weeks. Expedition sponsored by Australian Geographic Society.

Bolivia 1995 and 1996 Amazon basin

• Paddled using local dugout canoe the Rio Beni. (solo. 500 kms. Amazon Basin).
• Paddled using local dugout canoes the Rio Mammore for 1500 kms.Also many tributary rivers. (Bolivia’s Amazon Basin. 5 weeks)
• Paddled using local dugout canoes the Rio Paraguay, Rio Itenez and Rio Mammore for 1700 kms(Bolivia’s and Brazil’s border Amazon Basin. 6 weeks).
• Trekked through remote Noel Kempf Mercardo rainforests. (9 days).

Ecuador 2003 to 2005 Amazon basin

• Recognisance expedition. Set up cultural and naturalist program.2 weeks.
• Worked as a rainforest guide on 2 separate 10 day cultural and naturalist expeditions.

Peru 2000 Amazon basin

• Guided the Rio’s Perene and Tambo (400 km S.E Peru) using balsa rafts, local dug- out canoes and motorised boats. (2 weeks).

Panama 2003:

• Recognisance expedition. Found route to link Pacific Ocean with Caribbean Sea. Coast to coast walk. San Blas region. Jungle walk. (14 days.)

Costa Rica 2005 and 2008:

• Guided on 7 day long jungle/volcano treks.

DESERT

Australia 1989:

• Led treks through remote parts of Mac Donald ranges, Mt.Giles and Olga Wilderness areas of the Australian interior. (All treks more than 7 days in duration.)

Kenya 1992:

• Trekked remote west shore of Lake Turkana to Ethiopia border (10 days).
• Led trek through Matthew range and crossed Chalbi desert (17 days). North Kenya.
• Lived with remote Samburu communities (2 months) and studied tribal customs and partaking in local ceremonies.

Ethiopia 1998:

• Trekked along course of Bako River (140 kms. Western Ethiopia.1 week)
• Trekked along course of the remote Omo River (southern Ethiopia) to Lake Turkana (north Kenya)11 days.
• Blue Nile . 110 kms 3 days.
• Lived with remote Hammar communities and studied tribal traditions. (3 weeks.)

Morocco 2004 to 2009:

• Guided on seven Sahara desert treks. (6 days each trek )

Chile 1995

• Cycled 500 kms across Atacama Desert. (10 days.

OCEAN

Australia 1986

• Obtained scuba license (F.A.U.I) and participated in diving expeditions nationwide.

Egypt 1997 Sinai Peninsula

• Obtained professional scuba diver qualifications (PADI Dive-master) and logged over 300 working dives. (Day check night boat safari and rescue dives).
• Dived extensively in Dahab area as well as leading safari dives to Ras Mohammad, the Straits of Tiran, Gabr el Bint and various other sites in the Red Sea. (110 dives)
• Logged over sixty deep dives (65m+) and set a personal deep diving record of 105m.

Honduras 2003

• Utlila island Logged 10 dives as a dive master.