Sooji Clarkson may have started climbing late, but now the mountains and New Zealand’s crags are her happy place. We are delighted to welcome her as our newest Black Diamond Brand Ambassador.
Sooji Clarkson | Climber & Guide
Love Mountaineering
I discovered snow. Then somewhat inevitably I moved back to the South Island and learned to ski.
I learned to climb with ice axes and crampons, rapidly steepening into ice and mixed.
I scrubbed boulders at Flock Hill. And I found the joy of forging into areas less travelled, in seeking and developing unclimbed lines. Not to mention the unique experience of swimming upwards through viscous vertical Fiordland bush.
I found a love of moving fast and light through the mountains – trail runners, microspikes and light alloy axes. But also the satisfaction in hauling heavy packs and good honest uphill hours.
Finding the balance in gear that is light but durable, functional but not over-engineered, has always been a challenge. Even more so when there’s such a variety of adventures to be had, which requires such a variety of gear.
Route Development
Starting in 2024 I will be rock climbing and doing route development, mainly in Fiordland. My focus is on more remote, longer routes – sometimes involving more “big wall” tactics eg hauling and tagging gear, fixing lines, sleeping up on the wall.
Big wall climbing is a space Black Diamond is well known for but NZ definitely isn’t!
With glacial recession and global warming our alpine routes become inaccessible earlier and earlier in the season, and we rely more heavily on helicopters for access. A more sustainable long-term solution is to pivot and use the warmer seasons and less snow cover to head south instead. New route development in the more accessible grades is needed.
