Climbing History
A selected history of climbing and mountaineering through the climbers, climbs and media.
3562 Climbers
7063 Climbs
18315 Ascents
Featured
Ron Fawcett
Ron Fawcett was at the top of the UK climbing scene in the mid 70s and early 80s and one of the first professional climbers in the UK. He took up the mantel from climbers such as Pete Livesey and helped cement the E5 and E6 grade in the UK. He also put up some of the early hard sport routes in the UK with lines such as Sardine, Body Machine and The Prow at Raven Tor.
Ron famously climbed 100 extremes (i.e. routes graded E1 or harder on the British Trad grading scale) in a day in 1986 starting at Froggatt then going on to Stanage, Burbage and finishing at Curbar. This feat is even more impressive when you consider that Ron was not just picking the easiest routes available: Downhill Racer (E4), Heartless Hare (E5) and Ulysses or Bust (E5) feature among the hard routes that he climbed. See [3] for a full list.
References
[1] Rock Athlete, by Sid Perou https://youtu.be/tdRfqD125-g?t=1522
[2] Interview with Andy Pollitt https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/andy_pollitt+big_ron_fawcett-9483.
[3] Ticklist of Ron's 100 extremes in a day https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/set.php?id=548
[4] https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/282305001835682
Ron Fawcett was at the top of the UK climbing scene in the mid 70s and early 80s and one of the first professional climbers in the UK. He took up the mantel from climbers such as Pete Livesey and helped cement the E5 and E6 grade in the UK. He also put up some of the early hard sport routes in the UK with lines such as Sardine, Body Machine and The Prow at Raven Tor.
Ron famously climbed 100 extremes (i.e. routes graded E1 or harder on the British Trad grading scale) in a day in 1986 starting at Froggatt then going on to Stanage, Burbage and finishing at Curbar. This feat is even more impressive when you consider that Ron was not just picking the easiest routes available: Downhill Racer (E4), Heartless Hare (E5) and Ulysses or Bust (E5) feature among the hard routes that he climbed. See [3] for a full list.
References
[1] Rock Athlete, by Sid Perou https://youtu.be/tdRfqD125-g?t=1522
[2] Interview with Andy Pollitt https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/andy_pollitt+big_ron_fawcett-9483.
[3] Ticklist of Ron's 100 extremes in a day https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/set.php?id=548
[4] https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/282305001835682
Pics + Vids
Featuring 8868 pictures and videos. Try searching for a climber, climb or summit to see pics and videos.
Nalle Hukkataival on Sisu Project (~9B project)
Anak Verhoeven on Joe Mama (9a+)
Alberto Rocasolano Jaudenes on Independencia (8B+)
Tom Randall on Orange Piranha (8A+)
Support
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You may also be interested in the Mountain Heritage Trust, a charity dedicated to preserving the rich history of climbing and mountaineering. Their collection includes many unique and valuable items, from rare guidebooks through to the boots worn by Doug Scott on the 1977 Ogre expedition.
Explore
Fancy a look around? You can browse by climber or by climbs, or you can check out some lists. For example
- All sport ascents of 9b or above
- British women who have climbed 7C or above
- British men who have climbed 8c or above
Podcasts
Featuring 3955 podcasts. Try searching for a climber to see podcasts with them, or check out some of these podcasts:
- Tommy Caldwell on The Struggle Climbing Show, April 2024
- Steve McClure on Written in Stone, November 2023
- Kyra Condie on Lattice Training, March 2021
- April Davidson on First Ascent, March 2025
Library
Featuring 11022 items in the library. Try a search to see what you can find, or check out these library items:
- Between the Trees (2009) Film
- Alpine Tragedy (1949) Journal
- Doe Crag (1922) Guidebook
Recent updates
Nalle Hukkataival is a Finnish boulderer. He made his name with first ascents and repeats of many of the hardest problems in the world in the period 2010-2020, including repeats of Gioia and Sleepwalker and the first ascents of Livin' Large and The Finnish Line.
In 2016 he established Burden of Dreams, the first 9A in the world.
Having been in the limelight for many years he has subsequently become more reclusive (by the standards of professional climbers).
References
The Never Ending Story (Part 1+2) (8B+) ] http://nalle-hukkataival.blogspot.com/
References
A dream come true... to Jerry the legend.
References
A newer name in the British climbing landscape, however his reputation speaks for itself with the third ascent of Isles of Wonder SDS (8C+) and the first ascent of The Trident (8C+).
Sollys YouTube channel also boasts a wealth of esoteric climbing content. Although he has moved from the South West of England he remains one of the most prolific developers of that area.