An Introduction

Dave, 27, has been climbing for 10 years and in that time, has been able to achieve over 37 months of expeditions to 53 different countries. His drive for climbing is not just for the remote nature of first ascents but also for the adventures experienced in finding the climb.

Dave has been able to achieve hundreds of new routes and help others achieve hundreds more. From big walls in Greenland, to the opium fields of Egypt. From the sandstone walls of India, to the Vulture infested walls of Sudan.

So as to feed his addiction of climbing in some of the most far flung corners of the globe Dave has now created his own company, The Vertical World, to lead expeditions back to some of his favourite venues.

With experience in presentations behind him, Dave can take his great images annotated with bizarre stories and can present talks that will inspire you to pack up your bags and leave your job in search of adventure...

Here are a few anecdotes from expeditions that Dave can lecture on:

“I was about to pull myself onto the ledge, when suddenly two very shocked vultures made me think otherwise. As they leaped towards me I shot down the chimney that I had been struggling up. Having just escaped their beaks and talons I sat panting trying to calm down. I shouted down to the lad following me, that the climb had finished and we needed to get down, and explained why. At that point the vultures made their second attack. One flew off the higher ledge circled around and faced his enemy. We began to hand-drill in the two bolts needed to abseil off. While one hammered and twisted the other sat ready with the only available weapon, a twig, ready to fend off irate birds. 1:0 win to the vultures.” Sudan 2002

“I could just hear Max screaming above the howl of the wind and the roar of the soaring vultures. “Don’t fall off!” Whatever he meant by that it couldn’t be good. I tied the rucksack off and let it swing into the void 400m above the desert floor. I managed to climb the pitch well although the flakes of granite appeared only to be held to the rock with cobwebs; I did not fall off. I got to the belay to find it was a peg pushed into a tussock with a bottom ‘firmly’ planted on top.” Kenya 1999

“I approached the gentleman that had arranged the beer. He seemed to be a Del Boy character, one that could arrange for us to try out an AK47 out in the desert. He could, it would cost £5 to shoot off a magazine of 30 rounds. I asked him if he could throw in some watermelons to aim at. The man looked confused. I explained further. The man’s eyes lit up and he seemed to be relieved, he said, “Practice not people, that’s only £2!” I thought it best to leave the arrangement and walk away.” Pakistan 2000

“I slumped into the small hollow that would form our bed for the night 600m above the Iranian desert floor. 100m below our friends arrived onto theirs as night fell around us all. Shots rang out from the desert and ricochets bounced around the team below. “ Iran 2000

“A man had stripped down naked and was running down the hill towards us. He reached a spot 20m away stopped and started whipping him self while dancing in a style of a religious "stomp" after one had just licked the cane toad. Our guide, Mike, translated his cries and told us that he is upset, because we will steal the Ark of the Covenant that is on top of the peak!!! The local priests took this seriously. After an hour or two they approached us and said that before we climb we had to have our bags checked so when we returned they would know what treasures we had stolen from the summit. This gave us a buzz, as they really had no idea of what was on the summit. “ Ethiopia 2002

“About 60m from the summit we passed through the doorway of the guard house and from there I could see the rest was just a scramble. The very last move was to squeeze past the enormous olive wood door that blocked the entrance to the prison. We had done it. We had completed the dream of so many explorers and were about to join the vultures in knowing what secrets lay on top.” Ethiopia 2002

“We had reached the top of a small rise in the valley, and Mohammed stood still staring up at the ridge high above us; something had caught his attention. At first I did not see anything but then a man moved and his position was revealed. In one hand was his AK-47 and in his other he began to wave a white scarf. We followed his stare and to our amazement on the other side of the valley another guard acknowledged his scarf by a wave of his own. We counted four guards completing the procedure until Mohammed told me it was safe to continue.” Sinai, Egypt 2004

“The next afternoon exactly at one I was met and escorted back to the plantation where we saw the first part of the opium harvesting process.” Sinai, Egypt 2004

“We had left the police station in Mutoko with the two heads of police from the village, and were waiting for a bus to arrive to take us back to the crag 62km from the Mozambique border. The awkward silence was interrupted
“You can get a girl here all night if you want" informed the head of police pointing at the bar we had just left.
"Oh" I exclaimed, not really knowing the reply he was after. Not wanting to feel rude I extended the conversation; "So how much would it cost".
"700 Zimbabwe dollars for the night." If you are unsure of the exchange rate. The money you would spend in London buying a pint, here would get you two girls two pieces of chicken and a couple of beers to wash it all down with!!!!! We caught the bus and as it drove off the policeman shouted to me that Alice (his favourite) was also very good to change money with on the black market. I’m sure she was great but even if I did take his advice to be wise we had far better things to be getting on with......” Zimbabwe 2002