"Touching the Void" mountaineer giving presentation in Skipton

[mikem]

20 years ago would be just after the film was made, siuli grande climb was 1985

Joe Simpson: The man who came back from his icy grave

"Well," said Joe Simpson, on seeing for the first time in 18 years the mountain down which he had crawled for three days with a broken leg, close to death. "The f*****'s still there."

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Badlad]

I had a drink with Simon many years ago when he was working as a rope access guy with a caving friend in London. He had his site helmet with him, on which was written, in large capital letters, the word SLASHER. Fortunately he never had to cut any ropes on tall buildings, at least so far as I know.

He was nicknamed 'slasher' by his fellow workmates. Worked with him on ropes a couple of times way back then. Simon also did a talk at one of the BCRA conferences, Bradford was it, which was quite controversial at the time for having a climber talk at a caving event.

More recently, a year or two ago, I went to see the play of Touching the Void in London. It was surprisingly good. A lot of the technical climbing stuff was explained by the actor playing his sister back at home as the audience would not have been climber types in the main. They did a test climb up the side of the stage on bolted together tables and chairs for example. The only other actors were Simon, Joe and the guy they met who came to their base camp with them. The mountain scenes were conducted on what looked like the roof of a greenhouse, actually very effective.

The epic itself, and the great writing that brought it to us, has allowed Simon to dine out on it for decades. Be good to read a review of his talk in Skipton if anyone does go.

 

[Fatman]

Met Simon many moons ago at Shivling base camp. I was trekking with Sue and he was leading a trip up the mountain. Chatted for hours about roped access etc.but didnt feel the need to bring up the 'big one'. Came across as a decent bloke and wished them well with their ascent.

 

[mikem]

REVIEW: Simon Yates: My Mountain Life at the Georgian Theatre Royal - Richmondshire Today

What makes someone go up some of the highest mountains in the world knowing that the slightest misjudgement could lead to their death and perhaps those of others too? That question and many others was [...]

www.richmondshiretoday.co.uk