Faces of Hot Rock
The Expedition OrganiserMy name is Duncan Bell and, having spent much of my youth
commuting from London to crags around the country I decided to take
my climbing further afield. I led an expedition to Aconcagua over the
I spent the next few years cragging around the UK and in the Alps. By then I’d heard of the legendary Hot Rock truck that had completed the first vehicular circumnavigation of the globe, climbing and developing 500 or so crags in 70 countries over the 3 year expedition, and I joined it for a 6 month stint. The experience went way beyond any expectation I had with loads of great climbing, new routes and great times being had as we explored the Dark Continent, repeating old Hot Rock lines and putting up many of our own. |
So much so, indeed, that I took up the
|
The well travelled founder of and inspiration behind Hot Rock, Stiggy is now taking a back seat rather than his customary place in the front. Can take particular credit for organising the global challenge - the first ever vehicular global circumnavigation of the planet. Now into narrowboats! |
 Bob
- was the original driver and mechanic. This Australian legend is never
happier than when welding or wielding a huge spanner. Likes - Coopers
ale and engines. Dislikes - Indian trees and anybody 'messing around'
in his tool locker |
 Dave
- has been Hot Rocking since Kenya in 1999. The 'Gaffer' from London through
Africa and South America until Mexico. He is now organizing one off climbing
trips to develop areas we discovered on the Global challenge. Likes -
anything he can drag his portaledge up. Dislikes - Loose flakes and warm
beer |
 Fi
- was our long standing truck driver and seasoned overlander - poached
by Stuart from one of the commercial overland companies when they met
in a bar in Katmandu. Fi has been running overland trips for more than
7 years and she knows her way around the backroads of numerous dodgy countries.
Likes - tupperware and reading. Dislikes - sudanese auto part shops. |
 Wayne
- a.k.a. the dove of love has been the driver on five continents and has
single handedly and unselfishly propped up the brewing economy of the
third world for the last five years. Likes - changing nappies and Bam.
Dislikes - smoking |
 Tim
- Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it'll be Hot Rock regular and leader
of the last trip, our very own Wu Tan Klan Man. Likes - flying. Dislikes
- Mount Kenya. (see left) |
Mel - The camera woman, producer, sound woman and editor of the fantastic
Hot Rock videos, we found Mel on the silk route expedition when she was
filming the bungee in Nepal at the 'last resort'. She has filmed over
a year and a half of Hot Rocking since. Likes - Fairies and glitter. Dislikes
- Cold weather and tiling. |
Dunc - seen here with Fi in Mexico, uncle Duncan was a Hot Rocker promoted
through the ranks after a long and distinguished career. He was the climbing
leader in North America. Likes - bottle pushing and procrastinating. Dislikes
- working |
 Boud
- the man from the flat land left in search of hills and after an extensive
stint on the trip in South America (and on the Sphyinx in Peru with Dave
and Geoff) he came back to take care of all the climbing as leader from
Bali back to London. Likes - Krabi. Dislikes - Owls. |
 Pia
- Another Hot Rocker that went on to be the climbing leader of the trip
in her native Australia. Has anybody got a photo of her???? Loves - Australia.
Dislikes - Arguing. |
Millennium,
climbing via the beautiful Polish Glacier route, and two years later
led a successful traverse of Denali. 
baton
of organising future Hot Rock expeditions from Stuart “Stig”
Marlow, founder of Hot Rock and inspiration behind what is, quite simply
the best adventure climbing opportunity available in the world.
Stuart
Marlow (Stiggy):
