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• The Dru Derby - A unique three-fer! In 1971, four young Aussie friends go to Chamonix, France to climb the North Face of the Petit Dru (among other things). The Petit Dru is an 800-meter (2,625-feet) mixed rock and ice climb. Keith Bell, John Fantini, Chris Baxter, and Howard Bevan pair up (Keith and John, Chris and Howard) and unknowingly enter into a no-holds-barred race to the top in this challenging terrain with 10+ other parties.  The friends end up losing track of each other while on the mountain and have completely different experiences - each described here in Common Climber in a unique "tale of three climbs" set of stories.  
  • ​Horses for Courses: The Dru Derby 1971 (By Keith Bell) - Keith Bells humorous version of the "Dru Derby."
  • My Drew Derby (By Howard Bevan) - Howard Bevan's light-hearted version of the race to the top - even though he is the one who was injured in the process.
  • The North Face of the Dru: A Reprint from Thrutch (By Chris Baxter) - Chris Baxter's shares a more detailed, more dramatic, account of the story - written not long after it happened. Common Climber is excited to have the originally published version for you here (from the climbing magazine Thrutch in 1971).