In 1997, Andy reached the summit of the notoriously difficult Himalayan mountain, Changabang, by one of the most desperate routes ever recorded. What makes his story even more incredible is the realisation that this ascent began 15 years earlier, 3,000 feet underground.

At 16, Andy followed in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps and became a miner. Enduring the 1984-5 miners’ strikes – the poverty, the division of communities, the broken friendships – Andy turned increasingly to climbing to relieve the drudgery and stress. In 1986, he decided to educate himself, acquiring almost from a standing start, academic qualifications including a PhD in socio-linguistics.During this period, mountaineering became a life-affirming obsession, and saw him climb some of the world's most challenging test pieces, including the infamous north face of the Eiger at just 20 years old. Andy soon became a figurehead for the sport. He had a leading role in the acclaimed BBC 2 series Wild Climbs and has featured regularly on national radio. His best selling book Learning to Breathe has won two literary awards and has been translated into German and Italian.

Some Career Highlights


1986 North Face of the Eiger, aged 20 years

1988 Winter ascent of Croz Spur, North face Grandes Jorrasses

1991 Divine Providence on Mt Blanc; ‘The most difficult alpine route in Europe’

1994 Shishapangma 8008m, 13th highest summit in the world, followed by 8a rock climb

1997 Nominated for Piolet d’Or after audacious North Face Changabang 1st ascent, India

2000 1st alpine-style ascent of ‘much-tried’ North Buttress of Mt Kennedy, Yukon, USA

2001 Bempton 1st ascent, one of most frightening and loosest sea-cliffs in British Isles

2002 Illusiones on Mascara, Torres Del Paine, Patagonia, 1st free ascent in 9 hours

2005 End of the Affair E86c, a major frightening gritstone test piece

2006 Voted one of the top 3 all-round performing climbers in the UK