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Victorian rock climber dead after SA cliff plunge 30-Apr-2014 At 2:36:24 PM Will_P

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This just sucks in every way. I'd assumed it was Pat, but to have it confirmed... my most sincere condolences to family and friends.

I didn't really 'know' Pat - I'd had a couple of conversations with him when I was just getting back into climbing a few years ago, on my first (and last) VCC trip. Too many people, too much d*ck-measuring for me, but it was clear he was there to climb. We'd then see each other over the next few years, at Araps, Buffalo, and (I think) the Grampians, and do that thing that us guys in our 30's do with 'acquaintances' - one of us would raise the eyebrows slightly, with a bit of an upward tilt to the head; the other responds with a nod - kind of a 'hey, I know you, how's it going?' give-and-take.

That said, I always thought he'd be great to climb with. Enthusiastic and adventurous, but safe and sensible, was the impression I got. When I went to do 'Mixed Climb' at Rosea a few weeks ago for the first time, I remembered what he'd said about it in a thread here on Chockstone - 'biggest sandbags' or something like that - that while it wasn't a title contender for 'biggest sandbag', it was very serious for the grade, but a great adventure (or words to that effect). I wanted my partner on that climb to be aware this wasn't your average gr.12, so told him 'a reliable source mentioned this climb on a thread titled 'World's Greatest Sandbags''. Pat sure was right on all counts, and I was glad I'd paid attention.

Again, so very sorry to hear this, and I hope his family and friends are getting the support they need. He'll obviously be sorely missed, even by those of us who didn't know him well.