Simon Yates is a legend in mountaineering circles. His desperate decision to cut the rope and allow his climbing partner, Joe Simpson, to fall to what seemed certain death has propelled him into mountaineering history. Ultimately cutting the rope saved both their lives. In this interview Simon talks about how that event changed his life. He also talks about the love of climbing he still has and his dreams for the future.

Simon is about to begin a speaking tour of the UK.

AUTUMN TOUR

SEPTEMBER 

15th CHESTERFIELD 7.30pm  The Winding Wheel  01246 345222

16th SALE 7.30pm Waterside  0161 9125616 

18th HARTFORD 7.30pm The Grange  01606 539040 

OCTOBER

7th THETFORD 7.30pm The Carnegie  01842 754247  

8th SALTBURN 7.30pm  Arts Centre 01287 624997

11th  BURTON-UPON-TRENT 7.30pm Brewhouse   01283 508100 

13th CIRENCESTER 8.00pm Sundial Theatre  01285 654228

14th TAUNTON 7.30pm Brewhouse  01823 283244

18th WHITLEY BAY 7.30pm Playhouse  0844 2481588

NOVEMBER

5th SALISBURY  7.30pm Salisbury Playhouse

Simon Yates is a veteran of over seventy expeditions to high and remote mountains around the globe. During a career spanning more than thirty five years his travels have taken him from Alaska in the west to New Zealand in the east and from Greenland to the Antarctic.

Highlights include;

The first ascent of the West face of Siula Grande (6356m) in the Peruvian Andes in 1985 – documented in the book, film and play ‘Touching the Void’.

The first ascents of Leyla Peak (6300m) and Nemeka (6400m) in the Pakistani Karakoram in 1987.

Reached summit with team making the first British ascents of Khan Tengri (6995m) in Kazakhstan in 1991.

Part of a team making a new route on the Central Tower of Paine in Chilean Patagonia in 1992.

The first ascent of Monte Ada (2100m) in Chilean Tierra del Fuego, 2001.

The first ascent of the S.W.Face of Hispar Sar (6400m), Pakistan, in 2004

A new route on the West Face of Mount Alverstone (4439m) in the remote Wrangell – St Elias Ranges on the Alaskan – Yukon border in 2005.

Eight first ascents of peaks in Milne Land, Greenland, 2008.

The first alpine-style ascent of the massive 3km SW Ridge of Good Neighbor Peak in the Wrangell in 2009.

Thirteen first ascents in the Saven Range, Eastern Greenland, 2011.

Highest 3 peaks of the Arctic – Gunnbjorn Fjeld (3693m) Dome (3683m) and Cone (3669m). Watkins Mountains, Greenland 2011/2014.

Numerous first ascents of mountains in Northern Liverpool Land, Eastern Greenland, 2014 & 2015.

First ascents in The Stauning Alps – Greenland – in 2016.

In addition to climbing for himself, Simon has successfully guided clients to the summits of peaks such as Ama Dablam (6856m) and Baruntse (7124m) in Nepal, Denali (6145m) in Alaska, Aconcagua (6960m) in Argentina, Khan Tengri (6995m) in Kazakhstan, Spantik (7027m) in Pakistan, Peak Lenin (7134m) in Kyrgyzstan and Peak Korzhenevskaya (7120m) in Tajikistan. He is a pioneer of exploratory guiding in Greenland and Tierra del Fuego.

Simon has written three books – ‘Against the Wall’, ‘The Flame of Adventure’, and ‘The Wild Within’, which have all been shortlisted for mountain literature prizes.

He is also a popular public speaker, regularly touring theatres in the UK and has talked to outdoor, general and business audiences worldwide.