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Specializes
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Rock
Climbing |
Bouldering |
Mountaineering |
Motivational |
Other |
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| Biography Born in Leicestershire in 1963 Simon Yates studied Biochemistry before abandoning a conventional life to pursue climbing. In a career spanning twenty years Simon’s climbing and travelling has taken him from Alaska in the west to Australia in the east, from the Canadian Arctic in the north to the tip of South America. During this time he has been fortunate enough to climb with some of Britain’s leading contemporary mountaineers including among many Andy Cave, Mick Fowler, Andy Parkin, Paul Pritchard, Doug Scott, Sean Smith and Steve Sustad. He first came to prominence as a mountaineer in 1985 after the first ascent of the West Face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes and the ensuing epic descent described in Joe Simpson’s book ‘Touching the Void’ and the 2003 BAFTA wining docu-drama film. However, this event has actually been a relatively small, if dramatic, part of a hugely enjoyable climbing career. |
 Siula Grande 1985 |
Simon
has made ten visits to the Pakistani Karakoram, climbing numerous
peaks. These have included first ascents of Leyla Peak (6300m) and
Nemeka (6400m) in Hushe, a second ascent of Lobsang 2 on the Baltoro
and various 6000m peaks on the Hispar glacier. In other parts of
the world, Simon has succeeded with a team making the first British
ascents of Khan Tengri (6995m) in Kazakhstan and for a time concentrated
on big wall climbing in Patagonia and Baffin Island - the most notable
achievement, a new route on the Central Tower of Paine in Chilean
Patagonia. Most recently (2001 and 2003) Simon has made two sailing
and mountaineering trips to Chilean Tierra del Fuego resulting in
the first ascent of Monte Ada (2100m) and the third ascent of Monte
Frances (2200m). |
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Monte Frances, Chilean Tierra del Fuego in 2003 |
In addition to climbing for himself, Simon has successfully guided clients to the summits of peaks such as Ama Dablam (6856m) in Nepal, Aconcagua (6960m) in Argentina and Khan Tengri (6995m) in Kazakhstan. Simon's first book - 'Against The Wall' was published to critical acclaim in 1997 and was runner up in The Boardman Tasker Award for mountain literature. His second book ‘The Flame of Adventure’ was published in 2001 and was short-listed for a prize in the prestigious Banff Mountain Book Festival. Concluding his review for the American Alpine Journal Jeff McCarthy noted, ‘In The Flame of Adventure we look back across one mountaineer’s wild times, desperate effort, joy and uncertainty. We are privileged to watch him wrestle that variety of experience into a philosophy that explains, excuses and inspires.’ Simon lives in Cumbria with his wife and young daughter. He works as a writer and lecturer, while also running his own commercial expedition company – Mountain Dream. Simon has lectured to both general and outdoor enthusiast audiences here in the UK and abroad in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Holland, Italy, India and Sweden. His lectures are characterised by a dry, humorous and philosophical style with an emphasis on the more bizarre experiences of a mountaineer’s life. They are all accompanied by stunning images collected during his travels. |
His Talks:
Simon is currently offering four lectures (click titles for more details):
‘Beyond
the Void’
A popular life and times presentation. Edited highlights from twenty years
of global mountaineering and travel.
‘Karakoram
Special’
Lightweight mountaineering during the course of ten expeditions to the
world’s greatest mountain range – The Pakistani Karakoram.
‘South
American Special’
From the snowy mountains of Peru in the north to the big granite walls
of Patagonia, continuing right down to the continents most southerly mountain
range –The Cordillera Darwin – so remote it can only be accessed
by ocean going yacht.
‘The
Uttermost Part of the Earth’
Sailing and climbing in one of the world’s most remote mountain
ranges outside of the polar regions – The Cordillera Darwin in Chilean
Tierra del Fuego.
Simon also offers
corporate presentations and after dinner speeches specially tailored to
individual clients needs. There will be copies of both Simon’s books
and posters available to buy at lectures.
To arrange for Simon to give a lecture Contact Heason Events