Tragedy at Bluff Knoll

It was all meant to be just a trip for our athletes to use their fitness to go and climb WA's highest mountain. So a group got together to climb Bluff Knoll, it was cold and snowing but that wasn't going to stop them. This is when things turned ugly - the weather forecast was not looking good. Alpine weather report was going to make the climb increasingly difficult.

At the 12th hour it was decided that the climb (led by coach Dan) be conducted on the Saturday morning, rather than the Sunday Morning as the Alpine weather report for Sunday looked treacherous. ABC reporters gathered at the base of the mountain to get a glimpse of the snow falls for their cameras, another group of climbers (led by Coach Ben) decided to instead attempt the summit on the Sunday morning. ‘To greet the inclement weather, with the same vigor he attempts his workouts with’, jested Coach Ben.

The Saturday climbers made the peak early in the Day and were cheered on by the many other alpinists on the day - some said the top of the mountain looked more like a Bunnings sausage sizzle on a busy Saturday trade, than the top of a mountain. As they got down the mountain and back to the campground, they were met by Ben and his small team of Avid mountaineers , Kris, Archie, Coach Nic and Alby. Surely they were not going to try to attempt the climb on the Sunday?

Ben’s team awoke with sideways rain and darkness. Dan’s team left the Stirling range retreat that same morning, to get back home before the storm cell truly descended - for the comfort of his ugg boots and Jamie Oliver cookbook. At the car park Kris (one of the mountaineers in Ben’s group) and his towering 6 foot 8 inch frame was met by rangers informing Kris of the dicey weather atop the climb. Kris now known as “Knoll”, simply replied with a confident smile - ‘this is the weather we came to experience’ and got back in the car and kept driving.

It is well known that the Stirling Ranges is the place the SAS come to train,and it was highly possible that today we would be hiking in their company. Each step up the mountain was like climbing into the abyss, with no guarantee of return. This is when Tragedy hit, as the snow blanketed the climbers Ben, Alby and Nic decided to turn around, within meters in the summit. Kris and Archie pushed on. At 11.48am , Sunday 1st Aug the duo met the top of the peak. A quick pic was taken and received a hero’s welcome on their return to the campground.

Jokes aside, all the coaches at CFMR were absolutely stoked with everyone who attended the trip and we look forward to many more to come. There is talk of a Stirling Range traverse , led by coach Pete (28km of extreme alpine mountaineering). If you want to join us, send us why we should choose you to join us? ;)

Remember use your fitness - PLAY PLAY PLAY.