GET TO KNOW AIDAN HOWES

CLIMB CULTURE ARTIST

A 28 year-old Sydney based illustrator and climber, passionate about capturing the intersect between outdoor culture and visual design.

WHY DO YOU CLIMB?
I’ve often got a lot on my plate (balancing a full time job alongside climbing and design work), which correlates with having a lot on my mind. But I find that climbing is the one thing that cuts through the noise, and gets me in a real single-minded and uncluttered headspace. Plus when you throw in a good group of mates, a beautiful setting, and some tasty crag snacks, it’s about as good a day out as you could hope for.

3 PROUDEST CLIMBING ACHIEVEMENTS

1. Smack My Pitch Up (20) - classic five pitch multi in the Blue Mountains, and one of the best days’ climbing I’ve had.

2. The Heist (21) - one of my first real projects, with a super reachy crux move. 

3. The Lion King (6c+, 22) - gorgeous limestone climbing with big undercling moves at Tonsai Beach (Thailand) at the start of 2020.

MOST MEMORABLE CLIMB
Two Boys One Skyhook (20, five pitch multi at Wollongong) - getting our rope jammed after first rappel and pulling off a gruelling 50 metre prussick ascent through thin air - not ideal. But we still managed to turn the day around, have a great time on the climb, and mantle up through the final moves right as the last bit of afternoon light slipped away.

CURRENT PROJECT / GOAL
Current Project: Arete What (22) - Vaucluse sea cliffs area.
Goal: have a second ascent of Bunny Bucket Buttress (an absolute humdinger of a multipitch), this time taking my girlfriend along for the ride.

BEST ADVICE TO NEW CLIMBERS
Take a few falls. The mental barrier is often just as crippling as the worst cases of arm pump.


FOLLOW AIDAN
Instagram: @aidanmh
Website: www.aidanhowes.com