About 30 years ago I was lucky enough to land on Balls Pyramid with some park rangers. The landing was really tricky as the sea was pretty choppy and the steep terrain. I was on an assignment filming the seabirds of Lord Howe Island. It was way too steep for my level of skill, basically zero, but I did scale about twenty metres or so before I said "stuff this for a joke" and came down. We, or more like the rangers, were looking for the endemic stick insect but missed out. I got some nice shots of some seabirds like the Brown Noddies and Grey Noddy or Ternlet. An unforgettable experience and the fact people have scaled the Pyramid is astonishing.
@williambarry8015 Жыл бұрын
Going there to film seabirds is super cool also.
@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665 Жыл бұрын
An they bought back the wetta to the main islands .... Lord Howes islands were the last place to be served by a flyingboat service.
@PunaSquirrel Жыл бұрын
Wow!!! That is awesome. Must have been quite the sight🤙🏼🌴
@lornarettig3215 Жыл бұрын
What a lovely story; thank you for sharing 🤗
@kimthreadgold2755 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing your amazing experience. What you did that day, by deciding not to continue, demonstrated the following; Good decision making, respect for expert climbers and most important respect for yourself. Becoming an elite climber takes years. Most, I am sure , have almost died on numerous occasions. Watching a couple of videos on Facebook, buying the best gear and having $75,000 to climb Everest...doesn't mean you can or should.
@davymckeown4577 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for your work, watched a nature program about this unusual island. A large stick-insect called Lord Howe Stick Insect, endemic to the island group but thought extinct since the 1920s, was rediscovered on the pyramid in 2001. A captive breeding program was introduced in Australia, with plans to reintroduce them to the main island.
@eslnoob191 Жыл бұрын
I was hoping someone in the comment section would point this out. A truly incredible story!
@michaelhill6451 Жыл бұрын
Lol. Yeah. That's what the world needs, more stick insects.
@davymckeown4577 Жыл бұрын
@@michaelhill6451 Apparently they taste like chicken.
@big566bunny Жыл бұрын
@@davymckeown4577 Funny!? That’s what the Stickies say about humans.😮😮
@davymckeown4577 Жыл бұрын
@@big566bunny I don't know. Hannibal Lector said we go well with fava beans and a nice chianti. From this I conclude human must resemble red meat.
@oijosh6286 Жыл бұрын
That was a real adventure, it must have been an amazing experience. It was cool seeing this, especially as my first girlfriend's dad was part of the team, John Davis (hope you're going well Sophie!)
@kevindickey6020 Жыл бұрын
This was an excellent video. It was totally engaging, despite the narrator speaking English as a non-native, despite the very limited footage he had to work with, and despite not using the jokey, rapid-fire style that we associate with KZfaq. Great work - my first time on the channel and I’m about to subscribe.
@epicadventurearchives Жыл бұрын
Thanks
@garysheppard4028 Жыл бұрын
We went there last year. It's quite other-worldly as it rises from the ocean. Hundreds of birds circling it and flying fish zooming across the waves. Amazing place.
@fredbloggs4829 Жыл бұрын
Great video. I really enjoyed your presentation style. Makes a change from the stupidly fast pace many presenters seem to think is a good idea.
@mfsperring Жыл бұрын
Appreciated the subtitles. Different type of climbing then I usually watch so it made for a nice change plus not a story I was familiar with. Thanks
@lisadolan689 Жыл бұрын
His English is excellent however the subtitles are cool. I agree. 🙂
@danny26ini Жыл бұрын
While in the US Navy I was stationed aboard the USS Maury AGS 16 (Auxiliary Geographical Survey) from 1960 to 63. During that time the Maury conducted 9 month surveys of the Gulf of Thailand. I was a member of the Hydrographic Division, the division in charge of surveying and charting the data obtained. As we sailed the Pacific and South China Sea to and from the Gulf we stood depth sounding watches. I had the mid-watch the morning we passed over and charted the deepest part of the Marianas Trench, over 6500 fathoms. Navigation Dept. would keep us advised if our charted course would take us near submerged sea mounts, pinnacles such as Balls Pyramid, but that did not reach the surface of the seas. The transducer sonar signals emanating from the Maury's keel would reflect from the sea floor and return, being recorded on a graph that was marked every 5 minutes. The graph paper was a lengthly spool rolling across the face of the device that had to be replaced as the feed spool warned of its end. When a mount was expected the ship would slow and the graph would change from a straight horizontal etched line indicating the ocean floor, as an example 2000 fathoms, to a near vertical line on the graph. The marker would travel from the bottom of the paper to the top then start again, bottom to top over and over again until we sailed over mount's peak. Then the opposite graphing would start, from top to bottom of the paper, over and over until the sonar signal indicated it was again retrieved from the ocean floor. From the graph we could determine the pinnacle's height, depth from the surface and exact location. That information would eventually be implemented to update nautical charts as needed.
@pikiwiki Жыл бұрын
"the team spent the night with hammers raised against the large centipedes which were constantly advancing against them" This was very interesting. Thank you
@terrylandess6072 Жыл бұрын
This came out of nowhere like a real life horror story.
@pikiwiki Жыл бұрын
@@terrylandess6072 real life. that's the interesting part
@MikeBrown-dk7or Жыл бұрын
In Brazil, I was stung by a centipede. It was no joke. I felt hot and in pain for about 8 hours. Centipedes are very aggressive and rear up ready to fight.
@pikiwiki Жыл бұрын
@@MikeBrown-dk7or yes they do!
@stediasse4 ай бұрын
@@pikiwiki I was wondering why the successful party didn't seem to have issues with them. Did the first party make up stories about centipedes as an excuse?
@judyo923 Жыл бұрын
What a UNIQUE climb! How beautiful - and dangerous. Centipedes?! In the night?! That's scary! I love your channel. It's so interesting. Thanks for posting this!
@epicadventurearchives Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it.
@andora2985 Жыл бұрын
I wonder if the “centipedes” were actually the Lord Howe Stick insect, which I believe is the largest insect in the world.
@dukecity7688 Жыл бұрын
@@andora2985 The centipedes!! Yikes- that's terrifying.
@vermicelledecheval5219 Жыл бұрын
@@andora2985 I believe the same. These are actually some sort of local giant prehistoric stick insects thought to be extinct on the main island. Therefore they were collected to reform a new population so to preserve the species.
@studebaker4217 Жыл бұрын
Fascinating rock. Many thanks for an excellent story, very well told, as usual on your channel.
@epicadventurearchives Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
@caillansainsbury6010 Жыл бұрын
I know the current owner of the sailboat Tai Hoa which went on that epic climbing expedition. Infact im heading sailing in Tasmania on it next week! Still has an old pic of the crew inside.
@downtoearth1950 Жыл бұрын
I sailed past this amazing peak in early 1982 and have never forgotten it 😊😊😊😊😊
@MoreliaAustralia Жыл бұрын
Great video and interesting info. In 1980 I climbed Mt Gower, on Lord Howe, with a guide. We had a wonderful view of the Pyramid from the summit and I have some great photos taken with my old telephoto lens. It's fantastic to see your video of the Pyramid close up.
@AvanaVana Жыл бұрын
As a geology nut with a special interest in obscure volcanic provinces, I am surprised that I had never heard of this island before I watched this video!
@georgesheffield1580 Жыл бұрын
Reminds me of shiprock in North west New Mexico
@aquaman7356 Жыл бұрын
Never heard of this place - at 65, and surfer for over half my life. Internet has revealed much. Quite an adventure here for rock climbers. I tried I once, in my early days. Joshua tree, with experienced guys. repelling down was😊 so scary yet, so exhilarating. One time was it for me.
@ananda_miaoyin Жыл бұрын
I am a decent rock climber and a not so shitty sailor but I'll have to keep this one off of the bucket list. Sharks and giant centipedes are enough for me to stay away. I'll keep chillin with the rattlesnakes here in Northern Cali. Joshua Tree is a cool spot.
@spikeyflo Жыл бұрын
Ι remember David Witham back at the time he was chief instructor at the Outward Bound School near Sydney. I was only a small boy back then but I recall him always always joking around. He is still alive.
@rudolfglaser9664 Жыл бұрын
As a child I had read the book "Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver" by Michael Ende and imagined an island described there (where the two found the unipolar magnets) as Ball's Pyramid really looks like. This video has quasi confirmed the pictures in my head (which are there since 1966) ;)
@jc4evur661 Жыл бұрын
Kind of reminds me of Ship Rock in New Mexico
@medea27 Жыл бұрын
Brilliant video… always love hearing about crazy Aussies! 💙 Ball's Pyramid is a spectacular sight, both from the air & the sea... and I can attest to how rough the water gets! I got to enjoy a scenic flight and a boat cruise around it with my family back in the 80's while on holiday on Lord Howe.... the boat was pitching & rolling so much on one side of the Pyramid that everyone onboard - including the crew - got motion sick! That whole area on & around Lord Howe Island is absolutely spectacular… a true nature-lover’s paradise with lots of unique flora, fauna & geology. 👌
@Bando-fx4mf Жыл бұрын
I couldn’t understand the iRabian language he spoke. Do you have English version???
@normar3263 Жыл бұрын
@@Bando-fx4mf He spoke English clearly and better than you probably ever can
@jhors7777 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for posting this interesting video
@dulls8475 Жыл бұрын
I sailed passed it in my boat on 2003. A spectacular rock.
@williambarry8015 Жыл бұрын
Going there on a sailboat sounds like one heck of an adventure.
@dulls8475 Жыл бұрын
@@williambarry8015 I was young and hope to do more. I am between boats! It was fun and in a well built yacht a safe adventure.
@williambarry8015 Жыл бұрын
@@dulls8475 I've only been in a sailboat once. It was my brother's small single mast 30 footer at the most. We went out past the breakwater in San Pedro California. It was then that I realized how big that ocean was. I couldn't imagine going 20 miles in that thing let alone going hundreds. Since then I've had huge respect for people that go long distances in sailboats. I realized
@davidotness6199 Жыл бұрын
A grand story of human achievement against the elements. Thank you for the presentation. G'day from Alaska.
@ripoffrecords Жыл бұрын
I hope to visit it sometime, definitely my sort of travel location, although I don't think I'd be keen to climb it. Thanks for sharing that was very interesting.
@werquantum Жыл бұрын
I was going to add this to my bucket list, but then you briefly mentioned giant centipedes. I’m out.
@billyboyles Жыл бұрын
I enjoyed the story and the presentation .thank you
@fredflorist1682 Жыл бұрын
Closed Caption was excellent and necessary.
@lisadolan689 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for your efforts Narrator 🙏☺️ once again, excellent content.
@epicadventurearchives Жыл бұрын
My pleasure!
@lisadolan689 Жыл бұрын
@@epicadventurearchives 🙏☺️
@ansonlee3714 Жыл бұрын
Extraordinary
@tedfurlo2268 Жыл бұрын
Beautiful, fascinating documentary. Thank you.
@christophers5990 Жыл бұрын
I'm really glad u put the big red arrow in the thumbnail or I wouldn't have been able to see the island. Thanks!
@offshoretomorrow3346 Жыл бұрын
Wow. Never saw it before.
@MoreFormosa Жыл бұрын
your a good narrator, your accent and the music are very relaxing, lulls me to sleep.
@apexxxx10 Жыл бұрын
*Please change narrator and INCLUDE METRIC MEASUREMENT! UNLESS YOUR VIDEOS ARE ONLY FOR US (UNITED STATES) CITIZENS!*
@andrewtannenbaum1 Жыл бұрын
Great story. Imagine drinking alcohol in that situation. Sounds like government overreach, banning mountain climbing because of safety. Perhaps certification is in line though.
@Fomites Жыл бұрын
Great story, well-told :-) Thank you.
@attentiondeficitsquirrel7660 Жыл бұрын
I was listening without reading the subtitles and I thought you were saying “farties” and I was very confused when they had so much gas. But I’m sure your English is better than my ability to speak your language. Great content.
@gabrielplattes6253 Жыл бұрын
Loved it! ✌😄
@johnmacmillan627 Жыл бұрын
Fascinating. Thank you!
@Jyothife Жыл бұрын
Wow great adventure and very good video. More please.
@michaelangelo7511 Жыл бұрын
Very interesting and very well done. 👍🏻🇺🇸
@vilstef6988 Жыл бұрын
What an amazing, vertigo inducing place!
@lawrencet83 Жыл бұрын
Totally different subject...Ball's Pyramid is 1,877 ft. tall. The tallest wave ever recorded was in 1958 in Alaska, 1,720 ft. If you were 157 ft. below the summit, you would be swept away. That's a big wave.
@borgimplant Жыл бұрын
The comment about centipedes got me doing some research. It turns out that there is a giant stick insect that went extinct on Lord Howe Island due to rats. But a small number of the insects were discovered much later on Ball's Pyramid. The Ball's Pyramid insects are being bred in order to bring back the species
@taylorg8509 Жыл бұрын
What a curious structure , climbing it seems like a logistical nightmare
@nzmeateater Жыл бұрын
Interesting vid, thanks for sharing,👍
@crazyhorse5163 Жыл бұрын
Excellent thank you. I never even heard of that place.
@skippywintersАй бұрын
Excellent work here I was so curious on how it was first climbed thank you 🙏
@2011Matz4 ай бұрын
I sailed on Tai Hoa on weekends when Lloyd Williams and others were practicing sun-sights for the trip to the Pyramid.
@Andrew-df1dr Жыл бұрын
Please use the metric system.
@kwd3109 Жыл бұрын
As an American, I appreciated the use of the imperial measurements. It made understanding the distances and heights much easier and therefore this well presented film more interesting.
@Andrew-df1dr Жыл бұрын
@@kwd3109 As an American you should understand the metric system as it's so simple to use. Literally units of ten. As a person not living in Liberia, Myanmar or the USA, I understand the imperial system as we are taught it in school. Indeed here in Australia, we changed from the imperial to the metric system in the 1970s. As the metric system is far superior to the imperial system in every way.
@epg9274 Жыл бұрын
It’s in imperial because this happened in the 60s in/with people from the British commonwealth who used imperial at the time so all the original measurements from the sources would be in imperial if you converted it to metric you get really weird numbers that just don’t sound right as estimated distances and really people should know how to use both oh and I’m not an American my contrary is mostly metric and I would say more or less the same if some American was saying the same about metric measurements
@apexxxx10 Жыл бұрын
@@kwd3109 *Please change narrator and INCLUDE METRIC MEASUREMENT! UNLESS YOUR VIDEOS ARE ONLY FOR US (UNITED STATES) CITIZENS!*
@skcyclist Жыл бұрын
Enjoyed it very much, thank you.
@Nefville Жыл бұрын
Great video, thanks!
@100bgeagle Жыл бұрын
The hell with the rock, the tuna and wahoo fishing must be off the charts!
@TheLucidor Жыл бұрын
Nice work. Interesting story 👍
@kacornish1 Жыл бұрын
I had never heard of this place. Great video.
@clarkg9805 Жыл бұрын
I'm curious how deep is the water in that area? What a beautiful place to visit.
@markjoyce3172 Жыл бұрын
The mess they made with the centipedes was horrific
@frankyjoy222 Жыл бұрын
This story is really adventurous and fun. Advice for the future slow down and annunciate a little more without subtitles its hard to understand at times. As well as share the story with enthusiasm its such a cool story yet its shared in a yawn 'this is boring enjoy' type of mood.
@muumarlin1731 Жыл бұрын
Great video!
@lau_dhondt Жыл бұрын
Awesome adventure. Thank for the enjoyable vid
@stuarthobart6844 Жыл бұрын
Well done👍
@rebeccahylant7695 Жыл бұрын
Amazing.
@JodyRobson-oz8lx Жыл бұрын
Need balls for that one
@robote7679 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for a great story. Giant centipedes...that sounds, ehhh, cool?
@seanmcardle Жыл бұрын
Terrifying
@douglasthompson2740 Жыл бұрын
I can't believe they were still using natural fiber rope in 1965 on their climb. Much heavier and weaker than modern synthetics of the time. I would have thought climbers would have long since gone to the stronger lighter gear by the mid sixties.
@robmarino314 Жыл бұрын
I'd be captured by pirates before I even got to the balls pyramid.
@tedsmith6137 Жыл бұрын
To be correct, Ball's Pyramid is in the Tasman Sea, not the Pacific Ocean.
@dominiclester3232 Жыл бұрын
Debatable! It’s well north of NZ and the Tasman sea is between oz and NZ...
@tedsmith6137 Жыл бұрын
@@dominiclester3232 North of the Tasman Sea is the Coral Sea. Still not the Pacific Ocean.
@warrenolmsted Жыл бұрын
But the Tasman Sea and Coral Sea are simply divisions or sections of the Pacific, in the same way that states or provinces are part of a country. It’s perfectly correct to say Ball’s Pyramid is in the Pacific Ocean.
@86BBUB Жыл бұрын
Semantics. Most seas are considered subdivisions of oceans in general conversation. Nobody cares about the IHO's arbitrary designations.
@dominiclester3232 Жыл бұрын
@@tedsmith6137 Thanks! I didn’t know that and there is probably lots of smaller seas I’m ignorant of.
@zonzeven Жыл бұрын
Thank you for this video, I have a question about the text at 11:53 : "The summit was a small level platform about 30 yards in diameter ..." Are you sure about the size ? On 30 yards one could land a chopper. It looks like a 30 inch platform.
@perrydoig2872 Жыл бұрын
I had the same thought at first, but if you compare a 100ft terrace at the summit to the fact that it’s an almost 1900ft pinnacle, it makes more sense.
@matthewferguson7084 Жыл бұрын
Why do people put forced cc on videos? KZfaq has the option if I need it.
@patricklama898225 күн бұрын
Great content.
@MrInfinitefinality Жыл бұрын
Very nice video ! Its the remnants of a giant petrified tree
@nerdytom6881 Жыл бұрын
How deep is the water around Ball's Pyramid? I take it the cliff continues quite a way.
@terrylandess6072 Жыл бұрын
When he mentioned large numbers of sharks, then it's interesting to visualize the island 'without' water. Like a mountain has different zones depending on altitude, this island does the same thing - in reverse - as one goes deeper. Plus it was also stated it is the tallest caldera rim in the world so yeah, it probably is measured to a point we don't see.
@steveaumann6335 Жыл бұрын
A most excellent video 👍👍.
@epicadventurearchives Жыл бұрын
Many thanks!
@IonianGarden Жыл бұрын
Ball's Pyramid is part of the Australian state of New South Wales.
@KS-hj6xn Жыл бұрын
A similar formation can be found at Pinnacle Rock, south side of St.Mattews Island Alaska. Volcanic.. Very tall sheer cliffs. Rugged and looming. Probably impossible to land safely and dangerous to climb. I thought it looked like Superman's Island. Lol
@Buford_T_Justice1 Жыл бұрын
This was GREAT! Thank you!
@epicadventurearchives Жыл бұрын
You're very welcome!
@monicapushkin3274 Жыл бұрын
This place is so magnificently terrifying !!
@Bird22 Жыл бұрын
After reading the title to this, my first thought was that the uploader mispelled Baal. I guess that's not the case.
@bob456fk6 Жыл бұрын
This is a great video ! Thank you ! Actually, I never heard of this place, it's quite fascinating. 🙂 Some people had a problem with the narrator's accent. (I can read English, I had no problem.)
@phototrap1 Жыл бұрын
It's called Ball's Pyramid because you better have big ones to climb it.
@xenostim Жыл бұрын
Super interesting and excellent narration
@Davemurray2880isaindian Жыл бұрын
So it's, in terms of a continent, it's in New Zealand not Skippyland
@deldridg Жыл бұрын
Well, I've learned something there. Having had years of regular holidays at LHI, now I know it's part of Zealandia, despite being in NSW! Cheers and thanks - Dave
@Davemurray2880isaindian Жыл бұрын
@@deldridg perhaps we could decide these things by, say, rugby tests?
@deldridg Жыл бұрын
@richardmchugh7884 As much as I hate to admit it, I think that would be far too risky for us poor little Skippylanders! Assuming you are a Kiwi, I absolutely love your homeland and we love to travel to your fine shores. Have done Tongariro several times! Cheers, Dave
@beakhammer2638 Жыл бұрын
Great video.Thanks . From Ireland
@markinnes4264 Жыл бұрын
Only crazy people want to climb such dangerous situations like this place. It is a very interesting story to see and learn about, thanks.
@ValensBellator Жыл бұрын
They brought a bottle of champagne but not a cup? 😂
@katgrey6239 Жыл бұрын
This looks like godzilla in hibernation!!!
@eduardobarragan1426 Жыл бұрын
That's the piece missing from half Dome
@stevenmqcueen7576 Жыл бұрын
Very well done.
@sipius22 Жыл бұрын
It takes balls to do that!
@mikegrindstaff Жыл бұрын
You don't supply the leader with supplies...not on a short route like this. One person belays the leader...the team switches off leaders as people become tired or encounter terrain too difficult for them. You often go up and down many times...and its rare that one person put up an entire new challenging route...especially in a place like that.
@ananda_miaoyin Жыл бұрын
Especially in the mid 60's. No climbing shoes, no cams, no dynamic ropes. Good thing they had a bivvy cave.
@Foxyfreedom Жыл бұрын
Was gonna say…no one knows where lord Howe island is. Thanks for saying off of Australia. Makes way more sense
@berilium9730 Жыл бұрын
Use metrics too, please...!! There is an overwhelming majority in the world that uses this system of measurements...
@williambarry8015 Жыл бұрын
Excellent video.
@Dowell318 Жыл бұрын
Omg it has centipedes on it? When I saw my first centipede, I'd be like "Sorry guys, I'm going home." I can't stand those buggers.
@geministar39228 күн бұрын
theyre not centipedes. theyre stick insects. and apparently there were only 24 pairs of them found on the island hiding under a single bush. according to wikipedia
@Dowell31828 күн бұрын
@@geministar392 If there were 24 under a single bush...there are probably like 240,000 on the island as a whole. There's never just one cockroach. Ya know?
@ianobrien3248 Жыл бұрын
I wanna know more about the angry centipedes.
@oldbat2ccats Жыл бұрын
It was sad to hear about the brutal way they drove pins into that ancient rock, just to claim a first ascent. Man's ego knows no bounds. I'm glad to hear that further climbs are regulated and that the wildlife there which had gone unmolested for so many years is safe once again. I hope these men removed all their trash, leaving the environment clean of all traces. Great video as always, thank you.
@filmflour Жыл бұрын
Looked at the tiny screen shot of a mountain in my KZfaq suggestions an thought this was a Minecraft video.
@pup9892 Жыл бұрын
It's crazy how government limits access to select land and activities due to "environmental" and "safety" concerns. This seems to be the growing global trend, with no end in sight.
@willisknapick4405 Жыл бұрын
Surprised Alex didn't try this ascent. Say with Caldwell.