Richard Galloway belays speed climber son Felix. Photo: Kathy Ombler

A brave new wall

Features, Wild Climbing

A long-time Wilderness contributor and freelance author, Kathy writes about outdoor recreation, natural history and conservation.

By Kathy Ombler

If you’ve been tested on a climb of late, consider the brave kids taking on Wellington’s new adaptive climbing course.

Felix Galloway just broke his personal speed record for a 12-metre climb. “Write it down, 59.88 seconds,” he urges, pointing to the notes I’m writing. Very soon he’s back with a huge grin. “You have to change it, I just did 58.95 seconds.” Later that evening, it takes me several minutes to climb a similar […]

About the author

Kathy Ombler

Freelance author Kathy Ombler mostly writes about outdoor recreation, natural history and conservation, and has contributed to Wilderness for many years. She has also written and edited for other publications and websites, most recently Federated Mountain Club’s Backcountry, Forest & Bird, and the Backcountry Trust. Books she has authored include Where to Watch Birds in New Zealand, Walking Wellington and New Zealand National Parks and Other Wild Places. She is currently a trustee for Wellington’s Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Trust.