author, mountaineering writer – books, blog, opinion
K2’s history has been covered in depth in a number of well-known books, so why another one? The reason I wanted to read this one was because I very much enjoyed reading Mick Conefrey’s other mountaineering history about the 1953 Everest expedition.
Read more
On 24 September 1975, Doug Scott and Dougal Haston became the first two Brits to reach the summit of Everest, by a new route on the Southwest Face. Forty years later, on 24 September 2015, I had the privilege of hearing all about it from members of their team.
Read more
There are many great routes up Snowdon, but for hill walkers the Snowdon Horseshoe is the very best, crossing three of the Welsh 3000ers in three ridge scrambles of varying difficulty. Our circuit of it last month included a little bit of drama.
Read more
I completed a long-held ambition when I stayed at the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel, at the foot of the Pen-y-Pass on the flanks of Snowdon. Staying for a couple of nights in a hotel may not sound like much of an achievement, but this one is extra special.
Read more
Responding to reports that Everest has become too easy to climb, the government of Nepal has announced a new set of arbitrary criteria in an effort to limit the numbers and produce a better quality of climber.
Read more
The journal of my expedition to climb Everest from the north side in 2012 is currently available COMPLETELY FREE in most of the main online bookstores. It’s a no-brainer – download it while you can!
Read more
They’ve just released a big-budget film about the 1996 Everest tragedy, which I went to see at the BFI IMAX in London earlier this week. I was expecting to hate it, but although I had some reservations, I ended up really enjoying it.
Read more
The ascent of Monte Amaro in the Italian Apennines is a magnificent skyline walk in a moonlike landscape over peaks and along ridges, but could it be that the mountain is named after an alcoholic beverage?
Read more
I now have a cover for my book, and as some of you have played an important part in shaping the design, in the course of unveiling it I thought it would be interesting to share some of the journey which led to the final version.
Read more
Not only do nearly all mountaineering book covers look the same, but they limit their audience with designs which are far too serious, and off-putting to readers not into mountaineering who might otherwise enjoy the book.
Read more