In January 2015, Bill Wilkinson asked me to make a list of people who had completed, or nearly completed, the Abels. We agreed that ’20 or fewer to go’ was the male cut off point. I have decided that making it to 75 gave a good representation of the top female Abelists, so that is the female cut-off; he agreed we did not want “Abelling” to look as if it was a game only for the boys. He was going to publish the List in his book.
Since his request, a certain faction has done some campaigning, and now the presence of such a list in his book was cancelled. I have done a lot of work on his behalf getting the list together, and encouraging people to climb, so do not want my requested homework wasted. Here is the List as it now stands. If any information there is incorrect, please let me know, and if anyone has made it onto the list, please let me know so I can add them. Thanks so much to those on the List who have encouraged me in my stats keeping. Well done all on the List for knowing our beautiful mountains in such variety and for undertaking the expeditions that are required if one is to be here. You are all great bush people who deserve respect.
Completed all Abels, in order of completion:
07 John Carswell Record: longest time to complete: 54 years.
08 Brian O’Byrne Aged 68 on completion.
09 Martin Doran
11 Dale Lisson
12 Maureen Martin Record: First woman
13 David Walker
15 Shelly Napier Second female. Second fastest overall to complete. (7 yrs, 5 months, 18 days). Records: Fastest female completer. Youngest female completer; second youngest completer overall. Age at completion: 36 yrs.
16 Geoff O’Hara
17 Graeme Pennicott
18 Terry Brain First Supervet. 73 yrs 10 months and 6 days old on completion.
19 David Griffiths Record for oldest completer. Aged 76 (2021). No exact data for a record supplied.
20 Louise Fairfax Third woman to complete. Record: First person to climb all the English Wainwrights as well as the Tasmanian Abels. 10 years to complete.
21 Stuart Bowling Aged 50. 15 yrs to complete.
22 Lewi Taylor Record: fastest completer. 158 days.
=23 Emma-Jane Budarick Emma and William are the first couple to complete the Abels together, having done them all together. Bravo you two! (Done in 4.6 years). Emma 35, Will 37.
=23 William Gregory. (See above)
25 Becca Lunnon Aged 36. 11 years to complete. 5th woman.
26 John Whiteley
27 Steve Griffin
= 28 Nitya Malhotra Second Couple to complete all Abels together. Nitya and Alex are the first couple to take their baby to their final summit: The Needles no less. Adi is 9 months old. He climbed Feder in utero.
= 28 Alex Willows (See above.)
30 Kathy Cotton
=31 Ben Wells
=31 Tracey Orr
Steve Jacobs (1)
Nick Morgan (1)
Lee Evans (F) (2) Abelling 50 years so far (2022). Aged 63 (2022)
Harris, Dave (2)
Mark Hallam (3) Aged 45 (2022)
David Tongs (4)
11-20 left:
Rohan Hutchinson (18)
David Seaton (19)
Brendan Young (19)
Gregory Eade (20)
Female completers.
1 Maureen Martin
2 Shelly Napier Youngest, fastest female to complete. (35)
3 Louise Fairfax
4 Emma-Jane Budarick
5 Becca Lunnon 36 on completion. 2nd youngest female to complete
6 Nitya Malhotra
7 Kathy Cotton
8 Tracey Orr
Females with 75 or more Abels:
Lee Evans (156)
Carolyn Farrar (132)
Helen Thyne (124)
Sally Coltheart (118)
Jess McDonald (115)
Suellen Jones (107) Aged 72 (2021).
Vonda Kerrison (100)
Amanda Lennard (88)
Tess Kendrick (83) Aged 15. Go Tess. A Junior record.
Sue McKinnon (83)
Sally-Anne Richter (83)
Pamela Tabor (75)
awesome!
I have only 2 to go. Tramontane and Eldon crag
Hi Louise,
Just to keep the list up to date, I’m down to three (Fedders, Needles & Millers). Hoping to finish them next summer.
Oh, and Mark Wright finished last summer. Had a lot of interruptions but finally knocked off the last few in Jan.
Thanks so much for your input Lee, and congratulations on only having three to go. I hope to get there one day – it seems a distant one.I only managed 7 last summer.
Good article. I certainly love this site. Continue the good work!
I rеallу like it whenever peopⅼe get together and ѕhare opinions.
Great website, continue the good work!
Hi Louise,
My daughter Tess Kendrick, aged 14 years has 69 Abels climbed as of August 2019.
Hope you’re keeping well.
Simon
Fantastic effort Tess Kendrik!!! 69 at only 14 is brill. Once you have eleven more, you will make “The List”, and will also set a record. Good Luck.
Hey, btw, Tess is a great name. My Tess bags waterfalls rather than mountains, as she’s not allowed in National Parks, but she still loves the bush.
Tess now 81 Abels climbed as of March ’20, now aged 15. Hoping for a few more this year 🙂
Hi,
Is there any evidence needed to prove you’ve climbed each abel?
It’s an honour system Adam. There are no sheep stations as prizes; the only prize is your own sense of marvel and fulfilment that you have done this thing. If you are so dishonourable as to pretend to what you don’t actually have, well, you have to live with yourself. The Tasmanian bushwalking community is small enough such that “pretenders to the throne” would soon be found out, I reckon. I have found most people to be scrupulously honest. Most of us have photos or gps routes by which we can “tell the story” of each mountain.
I have photos at each summit,currently on 80 with 76 solo climbs.
Hi Louise,
Just to help keep things up-to-date, Tess now on 82 Abels and Jess McDonald (from Pandani Bushwalking Club is on 83 Abels. Loving your Instagram photographs 🙂
Great page
Hi Louise,
As of March 22nd 2021, Tracey Orr is at 101 Abels (age 47, climbing since 2018).
(I’m also at 101, though obviously in far greater company :-p)
Cheers, Ben.
Thanks so much for the update Ben, and congratulations to both. It is such a fun goal to be pursuing. I have added Tracey to the females’ list, and look forward to adding your name when you have twenty to go. Keep it up.
Hi Louise
I’m sending this on behalf of Brendan Young (age 56?) in Launceston.
He has been walking for almost 40years, and has only 19 Ables to go.
I’m only half way…but who knows…
Hi Louise ,
Thanks for posting Brendan Young on the Ables list…..but it’s been spelt wrong
Well done Louise on adding your name to the list!
Thanks so much Ben. I am very happy. Now, bring on more mountains, just for the heck of it. 🙂
You’ll have to do them all again, in snow… walking backwards, wearing sandals 😉
One of the best ‘lists’ in the world on which to see your name; congratulations Louise!
I wonder how many waterfalls are on your other ‘list’?
403 Adrian, and counting. 🙂 I have loved the ones I have done with you, and am looking forward to more.
Congratulations on making the list Louise and thank you for being generous enough to share your adventures via your blog. Tracey ?
As of mid-April 2022, Tracey Orr is now at 123 Abels complete, and a little birdy told me Jess McDonald has cracked the triple figures at 100. (The Little Eldons were tough but magnificent!)
Thanks so much for the update Ben. I have changed Tracey’s tally (congrats Tracey!!) – but I already have Jess McDonald on 103. Maybe she now has even more?
Definitely only on 100, but getting a few more this week 😉
Dear Louise
I am at 132 Abels at the present so if would be lovely if you could please update your list.
Kind regards
Carolyn
Hi Louise,
Malcolm Waterston has now completed all of the Munros in Scotland as well as the Abels in Tassie. I believe he is the first person to do so.
Sal ?
Hi Louise,
I’m on 83 Abels now, female 35years old. ?
Sal ?
Congratulations Sal. It’s a great achievement to get on the list. And isn’t it fun getting there!
Hello Louise
I would like to request that my Abels be updated to 138.
Happy New Year!
Carolyn
Hi Louise
I have climbed 141 Abels over 43 years. I am 63 years old.
17 Abels to go are: Sorell , Tramontane, Eldon Crag, Dome Hill, Hobhouse, West Portal, Bobs, Wylly, Victoria Cross, Clytemnestra, Chimera, Marriot, Shining Mountain, Pokana, Castle Mountain, High Dome, Nereus
Not sure how you need me to vouch for the ones climbed? Many different parties over many years – some solo. I know Stuart Bowling who may vouch for me?
kind regards
Greg