hiː stˈʌdid zuːˈɑːlədʒi æt ðɪ ɔːstɹˈeɪliən nˈæʃənəl jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ænd lˈɜːnd tə klˈaɪm æt klˈaɪmɪŋ kɹˈæɡz ɪnðɪ ɔːstɹˈeɪliən kˈæpɪɾəl tˈɛɹɪtˌoːɹi, mˈoʊst nˈoʊɾəbli boːɹˈuːmbɚ ɹˈɑːks wˌɛɹ hiː paɪənˈɪɹd ɐ nˈʌmbɚɹ ʌv klˈæsɪk ɹˈaʊts.
He studied Zoology at the Australian National University and learned to climb at climbing crags in the Australian Capital Territory, most notably Booroomba Rocks (where he pioneered a number of classic routes).