Illustrious Mountaineer Visits Parr Hall With Extraordinary Tale Of Survival

An explorer who has taken on some of the world's most hostile terrains is making tracks for Warrington to tell the nail-biting tale that catapulted him to fame.

In June 1985, British mountaineer Simon Yates embarked on a trek that would change his life forever.

High up on the remote Siula Grande in Peru, Simon found himself in a desperately unenviable position when his partner and friend Joe Simpson fell and broke his leg - an injury that can have the most serious repercussions for even seasoned climbers.

Determined not to abandon his friend, Simon attached himself to Joe using a rope and painstakingly lowered him thousands of feet down the mountain through blistering conditions.

However, just when it seemed things couldn't get worse, Simon lowered Joe over an unseen cliff, meaning the injured climber was suspended above a deep crevasse, with Simon bearing all of his partner's dead weight.

Stuck in a catch 22 as Joe's weight threatened to pull both climbers off the cliff, Simon took the decision to cut the rope, causing Joe to plummet into the crevasse.

In an extraordinary tale of survival, both climbers returned to base camp, and this epic story was later penned in the book Touching The Void, which was also made into a film of the same name - a move that turned both climbers into household names.

This gruelling experience is one that would have put many climbers off the idea of mountaineering - but not Simon. More than 30 years later, he is still a very active climber and guide, making several expeditions to all corners of the world each year.

From the Arctic to the Antarctic, Alaska to Central Asia, there is hardly a significant range Simon has not visited, and now he is heading to Warrington this November to share some of his very best stories.

So come along to Pyramid on Friday 23 November for My Mountain Life, as Simon recounts his staggering career, from that mountain in Peru to some of the most remote locations on the planet, and invites you to share with him the drama, excitement and beauty of modern alpinism.

Delivered with wit and dry humour, and lavishly illustrated with images and film collected on his great climbs, this is set to be an inspiring evening for all.

Tickets are on sale now at www.pyramidparrhall.com or by calling Box Office on 01925 442345.

To post a comment, you must register and login.