Australia, Sunshine Coast, Woman's naked mountain climb

[Danee]

From: http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/03/04/woman-nude-sunshine-coast-mountain-climb-naked/

CONQUERING one of the Sunshine Coast’s most treacherous mountains is not enough for some.

Take Jess Kelley, a 24-year-old Brisbane archaeologist, for instance.

She decided to take on the challenge while utterly starkers.

Jess ventured onward and upward armed with experience, a mobile phone and a pair of “cat ears” to keep her fringe under control.

A gentleman named Jeremiah also took on the challenge and shed his clothes – aside from a dapper pork-pie hat.

They reached the summit and posed as though she had conquered Europe.

The photo memento was taken on the mobile phone.

So the question becomes, why?

“A couple of weeks earlier I’d climbed Tibrogargan,” she said.

“After I saw the last person leaving I thought, ‘It would be great to strip off, in fact, it would be great to do the whole thing naked’.”

There was little awkwardness between the pair as they prepared at the mountain’s base.

“We were quite comfortable to strip off and do the climb totally
starkers.”

Ms Kelley said she climbed early in the morning before rock heated up
– keeping in mind she wore no shoes.

“It was very physical and a tribal type of adventure.

“It was a great view, it was releasing, it was fun.”

She was confident in her mountain scaling skill and remembers having
her sixth birthday on one of the mountains.

A number of friends were told when she was heading up, when she would
return and what she had planned.

Even the threat of injuries were not enough to discourage the bare
pair.

“There was the odd mud and sliding – I have a few grazes and cuts,”
she said.

“I’m very comfortable with climbing and we were both very confident in
our abilities.

“We did discuss having to be airlifted in the nude and how awkward it
might be.”

The mountains are notorious troublespots for climbers with the AGL
Action Rescue Helicopter regularly called to airlift the naive or
unprepared.

SES Caloundra controller Janet Scott said after 20 years in the role,
she had never heard of such a thing.

“(Someone climbing nude) has never been brought to my attention,” she
said. “If they slip or hurt themselves, there is no protection.

“We would not advise anyone to do this again.

“They should only go up with shoes, protection and a bit of food.

“I wouldn’t like to attempt a climb without shoes, let alone without
clothes.”

[AndrewH]

I have a feeling that if Stuart and Karla met this woman, they would be very good friends :)

[Stuart]

I have a feeling that if Stuart and Karla met this woman, they would be very good friends :)

If anyone knows her, tell her we'd be happy to take her on a highland climb 

[Dario Western]

I have just become friends with this woman on Facebook tonight after swapping several messages on her Nude Adventure Club webpage on Facebook.  She's definitely onto a good thing, and I am planning to meet her in real life for the Brisbane World Naked Bike Ride on Saturday morning.

[HelicopterBob]

I have just become friends with this woman on Facebook tonight after swapping several messages on her Nude Adventure Club webpage on Facebook.  She's definitely onto a good thing, and I am planning to meet her in real life for the Brisbane World Naked Bike Ride on Saturday morning.

Good job Dario!
Can she sing too?

[Dario Western]

I don't know as I've never met her, sadly.  She's also disappeared from Facebook and there's no way that I can contact her.  :-(

[HelicopterBob]

Well thats a shame.  not to suprise that she deleted her account after the story.

[Mike2518]

This follow-up article is a little disturbing...

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/03/05/gubbi-gubbi-elder-says-naked-climber-in-danger/

Naked climber in danger says elder

Bill Hoffman | 5th March 2011

A YOUNG Brisbane archaeologist who climbed one of the Glasshouse Mountains naked should fear for her future, a Gubbi Gubbi elder warned yesterday.

Eve Fesl said the woman, 24-year-old Jess Kelley, had desecrated a sacred place, committing the equivalent of walking naked into a Christian church.

“It's disgusting,'' Ms Fesl said.

“What a stupid thing to do.

“She may find out in the future that it was not a wise thing to do.

“Something may happen to her.

“This woman has put herself in a very dangerous place.''

Ms Fesl (pictured left) said the Glasshouse Mountains were sacred places to the Gubbi Gubbi who had never climbed them.

Respect was shown by looking up, she said, not standing on top and looking down.

She said the mountains were sacred and spiritual places always addressed in native language when approached by members of the tribe.

The Gubbi Gubbi have been working with National Parks and Wildlife and state and federal ministers for the past 15 years to bring tighter control to access to the mountains.

Ms Fesl said climbers were creating tracks that widened with rain creating pathways which were leaving them streaked with erosion.

The mountains are also a constant source of trouble for local SES groups that are frequently called to rescue climbers stuck on their slopes.

Ms Fesl said at Uluru in central Australia there were huge mounds of stones that had been taken by tourists from Australia and overseas only to be returned with apologies when they began to suffer misfortune and illness.

The Gubbi Gubbi will next month launch an educational website about local indigenous Aboriginal culture.

Ms Kelley said late yesterday afternoon that she did not mean to offend anyone. “Of course I wasn't, and never have, climbed the mountains to be disrespectful or cause offence,” Ms Kelley said.

“The Glasshouse Mountains hold a very special place in my soul, which is why I love climbing them. “Climbing them naked was a way to reinforce my connection with the natural world. However, I am sorry for anyone who has perceived something offensive in this – it was never intended.”

[Dario Western]

I was also told by a girl who did the WNBR who is friends with her ex-boyfriend that she lost her job over the climb after her boss saw the article in the paper (like, what business is it of his to fire her over it?  It's not like she was going starkers at her workplace!)

Anyway, I think I've managed to track her down on linkedin.com and she's also responsible for helping to organise the Medieval Festival in Brisbane and is also a member of the MENSA organisation.  :)

[HelicopterBob]

wait, there's a Medieval Festival in Brisbane?!  When?

[Cabding]

People get offended if you fart the wrong way. Boohoo, she climbed a mountain naked. I'm pretty sure it happened back in the day before clothes existed.

[nudetrail]

well done very brave shame there are some who arent appreciative of her efforts

[Dario Western]

This is Jess' linkedin site.  It doesn't make any mention of naturism or nudism though.

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jessica-j-kelley/5/702/970

[das_adam]

Wow! I just read this thread for the first time this morning.  Nude climb = awesome. 
Losing your job and having your life-threatened = crazy overreaction.

Anyways, so when is the next climb!? Let's go! haha