Change Log for Don Whillans

Overview

Total Changes

81

First Change

27th Feb 2021

Last Change

17th Feb 2025

Log

Date Time User Type Name Attribute
1 17th February 2025 18:53:09 remus ascent Cemetry Gates Partner
Before
None
After
612
2 17th February 2025 18:52:59 remus ascent Cemetry Gates ascent_type_id
Before
1
After
5
3 17th February 2025 17:56:32 remus ascent Valkyrie Direct Partner
Before
None
After
612
4 17th February 2025 17:56:19 remus ascent Valkyrie Direct ascent_dt_end
Before
None
After
1952-01-01
5 17th February 2025 17:56:19 remus ascent Valkyrie Direct ascent_type_id
Before
None
After
11
6 17th February 2025 17:56:19 remus ascent Valkyrie Direct ascent_dt_start
Before
None
After
1951-01-01
7 17th February 2025 17:56:19 remus ascent Valkyrie Direct ascent_style_id
Before
None
After
7
8 17th February 2025 17:56:19 remus ascent Valkyrie Direct climb_id
Before
None
After
4783
9 17th February 2025 17:56:19 remus ascent Valkyrie Direct climber_id
Before
None
After
730
10 17th February 2025 17:46:54 remus - - notes_pretty
Before
<p><a href="/climber/1099/pat-ament">Pat Ament</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>I loved Don. I never saw him be mean-spirited, though I did know he drank and had his frustrations. He was especially intolerant of people who overrated themselves or simply did not know what they were talking about. I respected that quality in him, although he could have tempered his opinions, certainly, at times. I don't think I ever saw him get wrankled with someone who didn't deserve it. </p> <p>He was incredibly funny, incredibly brilliant, not -- in my opinion -- a tragic figure. I saw greatness. I mean, think of all he achieved, the successes run through memory, glimpses of deep winter with Haston on the Eiger Direct, or on various mountains of the Himalaya, such as Annapurna. </p> <p>He was like <a href="/climber/612/joe-brown">Joe [Brown]</a> in that, coming from a rock climbing background, it was astonishing he could switch to mountaineering as though it were nothing. In younger years, he and Joe were in their element and climbed so beautifully, so boldly, with such limited gear they mostly invented as they went along. Sure, like all of us, he had his challenges and his imperfections, had some personal trials. He wasn't about to be pushed around. </p> <p>Not so many will deserve a wonderful biography by a wonderful author. I climbed with Don in Eldorado in 1966, when Royal brought him to America. He ran out one difficult pitch on sight, nothing to it.... We hit it off. After his visit to Yosemite, where he walked up the Crack of Doom with Pratt, followed the difficult off-width on Crack of Despair, and showed that, even out of shape, he could climb with the best of them, Don returned to see me in Colorado. He gave me the small gift of some British coins that were of no use in America. I still have those, still cherish them and his memory. Some 18 years later, when I was guest speaker at the Buxton conference, I was sitting at a mirror backstage, and he suddenly was standing behind me. He took me for a shandy, and we talked and laughed. He was, by the way, one of the stars of that conference, dressing up like a woman. </p> <p>He could have fun. Life is short. Few, at least in the climbing world (but perhaps in any world) will -- at the end -- be able to say they did as much with their time and accomplished as much as Don Whillans. [2]</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="/climber/984/bernard-tamworth">Bernard Tamworth</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>I went to the Dolomites with Don in July 1985. We climbed a pinnacle near Lecco called 'Il sigaro' which was a grade 5.8 on UIAA scale - about HVS. This was a 4 pitch climb with an abseil off the top. The crux was 10 feet from the summit - a sloping ledge with a bulge pushing you onto your left foot. Don lead this part and overcame the obstacle with a bit of puffing and panting. It was a honour to be the last person to climb with Don. We spent over 2 weeks together in the Dolomites, travelling down on motor bikes. unlike some of the stories, I found Don easy to get on with as long as you were upfront with him and gave him no bulls**t!!! I think I was the only person to ever owe money to Don. He lent me 100 french francs for petrol on the way back, but unfortunately he died before I could pay him back!! [1]</p> </blockquote> <h3>References</h3> <p>[1] <a href="/climber/984/bernard-tamworth">Bernard Tamworth</a>, comment on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m_P_RzrQu4">Don Whillains' Last Climb</a></p> <p>[2] <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4384744478304277&amp;set=a.230171883761578">https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4384744478304277&amp;set=a.230171883761578</a></p> <p>[3] <a href="https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/948094701923372">https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/948094701923372</a></p> <p>[4] With <a href="/climber/729/chris-bonnington">Chris Bonnington</a> on the Central Pillar of Freney <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CO5502uDiQU/">https://www.instagram.com/p/CO5502uDiQU/</a></p> <p>[5] With <a href="/climber/698/joe-brown">Joe Brown</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_a_U0Rjqgs/">https://www.instagram.com/p/B_a_U0Rjqgs/</a></p> <p>[6] Interview with <a href="/climber/1012/ken-wilson">Ken Wilson</a> 1972, <em>Mountain</em> Issue 20, page 24 <a href="/file/eaff6c84-b054-0d0c-220a-a00119bdff3a/whillans%20wilson%20interview.html">https://climbing-history.org/file/eaff6c84-b054-0d0c-220a-a00119bdff3a/whillans%20wilson%20interview.html</a></p>
After
<p><a href="/climber/1099/pat-ament">Pat Ament</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>I loved Don. I never saw him be mean-spirited, though I did know he drank and had his frustrations. He was especially intolerant of people who overrated themselves or simply did not know what they were talking about. I respected that quality in him, although he could have tempered his opinions, certainly, at times. I don't think I ever saw him get wrankled with someone who didn't deserve it. </p> <p>He was incredibly funny, incredibly brilliant, not -- in my opinion -- a tragic figure. I saw greatness. I mean, think of all he achieved, the successes run through memory, glimpses of deep winter with Haston on the Eiger Direct, or on various mountains of the Himalaya, such as Annapurna. </p> <p>He was like <a href="/climber/612/joe-brown">Joe [Brown]</a> in that, coming from a rock climbing background, it was astonishing he could switch to mountaineering as though it were nothing. In younger years, he and Joe were in their element and climbed so beautifully, so boldly, with such limited gear they mostly invented as they went along. Sure, like all of us, he had his challenges and his imperfections, had some personal trials. He wasn't about to be pushed around. </p> <p>Not so many will deserve a wonderful biography by a wonderful author. I climbed with Don in Eldorado in 1966, when Royal brought him to America. He ran out one difficult pitch on sight, nothing to it.... We hit it off. After his visit to Yosemite, where he walked up the Crack of Doom with Pratt, followed the difficult off-width on Crack of Despair, and showed that, even out of shape, he could climb with the best of them, Don returned to see me in Colorado. He gave me the small gift of some British coins that were of no use in America. I still have those, still cherish them and his memory. Some 18 years later, when I was guest speaker at the Buxton conference, I was sitting at a mirror backstage, and he suddenly was standing behind me. He took me for a shandy, and we talked and laughed. He was, by the way, one of the stars of that conference, dressing up like a woman. </p> <p>He could have fun. Life is short. Few, at least in the climbing world (but perhaps in any world) will -- at the end -- be able to say they did as much with their time and accomplished as much as Don Whillans. [2]</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="/climber/984/bernard-tamworth">Bernard Tamworth</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>I went to the Dolomites with Don in July 1985. We climbed a pinnacle near Lecco called 'Il sigaro' which was a grade 5.8 on UIAA scale - about HVS. This was a 4 pitch climb with an abseil off the top. The crux was 10 feet from the summit - a sloping ledge with a bulge pushing you onto your left foot. Don lead this part and overcame the obstacle with a bit of puffing and panting. It was a honour to be the last person to climb with Don. We spent over 2 weeks together in the Dolomites, travelling down on motor bikes. unlike some of the stories, I found Don easy to get on with as long as you were upfront with him and gave him no bulls**t!!! I think I was the only person to ever owe money to Don. He lent me 100 french francs for petrol on the way back, but unfortunately he died before I could pay him back!! [1]</p> </blockquote> <h3>References</h3> <p>[1] <a href="/climber/984/bernard-tamworth">Bernard Tamworth</a>, comment on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m_P_RzrQu4">Don Whillains' Last Climb</a></p> <p>[2] <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4384744478304277&amp;set=a.230171883761578">https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4384744478304277&amp;set=a.230171883761578</a></p> <p>[3] <a href="https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/948094701923372">https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/948094701923372</a></p> <p>[4] With <a href="/climber/729/chris-bonnington">Chris Bonnington</a> on the Central Pillar of Freney <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CO5502uDiQU/">https://www.instagram.com/p/CO5502uDiQU/</a></p> <p>[5] With <a href="/climber/698/joe-brown">Joe Brown</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_a_U0Rjqgs/">https://www.instagram.com/p/B_a_U0Rjqgs/</a></p> <p>[6] Interview with <a href="/climber/1012/ken-wilson">Ken Wilson</a> 1972, <em>Mountain</em> Issue 20, page 24 <a href="/file/eaff6c84-b054-0d0c-220a-a00119bdff3a/whillans%20wilson%20interview.html">https://climbing-history.org/file/eaff6c84-b054-0d0c-220a-a00119bdff3a/whillans%20wilson%20interview.html</a></p> <p>[7] Obituary by <a href="/climber/1722/paul-nunn">Paul Nunn</a> in <em>Mountain</em> Issue 105, page 16</p>
11 17th February 2025 17:46:54 remus - - notes
Before
[Pat Ament](/climber/1099/pat-ament): > I loved Don. I never saw him be mean-spirited, though I did know he drank and had his frustrations. He was especially intolerant of people who overrated themselves or simply did not know what they were talking about. I respected that quality in him, although he could have tempered his opinions, certainly, at times. I don't think I ever saw him get wrankled with someone who didn't deserve it. > He was incredibly funny, incredibly brilliant, not -- in my opinion -- a tragic figure. I saw greatness. I mean, think of all he achieved, the successes run through memory, glimpses of deep winter with Haston on the Eiger Direct, or on various mountains of the Himalaya, such as Annapurna. > He was like [Joe [Brown]](/climber/612/joe-brown) in that, coming from a rock climbing background, it was astonishing he could switch to mountaineering as though it were nothing. In younger years, he and Joe were in their element and climbed so beautifully, so boldly, with such limited gear they mostly invented as they went along. Sure, like all of us, he had his challenges and his imperfections, had some personal trials. He wasn't about to be pushed around. > Not so many will deserve a wonderful biography by a wonderful author. I climbed with Don in Eldorado in 1966, when Royal brought him to America. He ran out one difficult pitch on sight, nothing to it.... We hit it off. After his visit to Yosemite, where he walked up the Crack of Doom with Pratt, followed the difficult off-width on Crack of Despair, and showed that, even out of shape, he could climb with the best of them, Don returned to see me in Colorado. He gave me the small gift of some British coins that were of no use in America. I still have those, still cherish them and his memory. Some 18 years later, when I was guest speaker at the Buxton conference, I was sitting at a mirror backstage, and he suddenly was standing behind me. He took me for a shandy, and we talked and laughed. He was, by the way, one of the stars of that conference, dressing up like a woman. >He could have fun. Life is short. Few, at least in the climbing world (but perhaps in any world) will -- at the end -- be able to say they did as much with their time and accomplished as much as Don Whillans. [2] [Bernard Tamworth](/climber/984/bernard-tamworth): > I went to the Dolomites with Don in July 1985. We climbed a pinnacle near Lecco called 'Il sigaro' which was a grade 5.8 on UIAA scale - about HVS. This was a 4 pitch climb with an abseil off the top. The crux was 10 feet from the summit - a sloping ledge with a bulge pushing you onto your left foot. Don lead this part and overcame the obstacle with a bit of puffing and panting. It was a honour to be the last person to climb with Don. We spent over 2 weeks together in the Dolomites, travelling down on motor bikes. unlike some of the stories, I found Don easy to get on with as long as you were upfront with him and gave him no bulls**t!!! I think I was the only person to ever owe money to Don. He lent me 100 french francs for petrol on the way back, but unfortunately he died before I could pay him back!! [1] ### References [1] [Bernard Tamworth](/climber/984/bernard-tamworth), comment on [Don Whillains' Last Climb](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m_P_RzrQu4) [2] [https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4384744478304277&set=a.230171883761578](https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4384744478304277&set=a.230171883761578) [3] [https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/948094701923372](https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/948094701923372) [4] With [Chris Bonnington](/climber/729/chris-bonnington) on the Central Pillar of Freney [https://www.instagram.com/p/CO5502uDiQU/](https://www.instagram.com/p/CO5502uDiQU/) [5] With [Joe Brown](/climber/698/joe-brown) [https://www.instagram.com/p/B_a_U0Rjqgs/](https://www.instagram.com/p/B_a_U0Rjqgs/) [6] Interview with [Ken Wilson](/climber/1012/ken-wilson) 1972, *Mountain* Issue 20, page 24 [https://climbing-history.org/file/eaff6c84-b054-0d0c-220a-a00119bdff3a/whillans%20wilson%20interview.html](/file/eaff6c84-b054-0d0c-220a-a00119bdff3a/whillans%20wilson%20interview.html)
After
[Pat Ament](/climber/1099/pat-ament): > I loved Don. I never saw him be mean-spirited, though I did know he drank and had his frustrations. He was especially intolerant of people who overrated themselves or simply did not know what they were talking about. I respected that quality in him, although he could have tempered his opinions, certainly, at times. I don't think I ever saw him get wrankled with someone who didn't deserve it. > He was incredibly funny, incredibly brilliant, not -- in my opinion -- a tragic figure. I saw greatness. I mean, think of all he achieved, the successes run through memory, glimpses of deep winter with Haston on the Eiger Direct, or on various mountains of the Himalaya, such as Annapurna. > He was like [Joe [Brown]](/climber/612/joe-brown) in that, coming from a rock climbing background, it was astonishing he could switch to mountaineering as though it were nothing. In younger years, he and Joe were in their element and climbed so beautifully, so boldly, with such limited gear they mostly invented as they went along. Sure, like all of us, he had his challenges and his imperfections, had some personal trials. He wasn't about to be pushed around. > Not so many will deserve a wonderful biography by a wonderful author. I climbed with Don in Eldorado in 1966, when Royal brought him to America. He ran out one difficult pitch on sight, nothing to it.... We hit it off. After his visit to Yosemite, where he walked up the Crack of Doom with Pratt, followed the difficult off-width on Crack of Despair, and showed that, even out of shape, he could climb with the best of them, Don returned to see me in Colorado. He gave me the small gift of some British coins that were of no use in America. I still have those, still cherish them and his memory. Some 18 years later, when I was guest speaker at the Buxton conference, I was sitting at a mirror backstage, and he suddenly was standing behind me. He took me for a shandy, and we talked and laughed. He was, by the way, one of the stars of that conference, dressing up like a woman. >He could have fun. Life is short. Few, at least in the climbing world (but perhaps in any world) will -- at the end -- be able to say they did as much with their time and accomplished as much as Don Whillans. [2] [Bernard Tamworth](/climber/984/bernard-tamworth): > I went to the Dolomites with Don in July 1985. We climbed a pinnacle near Lecco called 'Il sigaro' which was a grade 5.8 on UIAA scale - about HVS. This was a 4 pitch climb with an abseil off the top. The crux was 10 feet from the summit - a sloping ledge with a bulge pushing you onto your left foot. Don lead this part and overcame the obstacle with a bit of puffing and panting. It was a honour to be the last person to climb with Don. We spent over 2 weeks together in the Dolomites, travelling down on motor bikes. unlike some of the stories, I found Don easy to get on with as long as you were upfront with him and gave him no bulls**t!!! I think I was the only person to ever owe money to Don. He lent me 100 french francs for petrol on the way back, but unfortunately he died before I could pay him back!! [1] ### References [1] [Bernard Tamworth](/climber/984/bernard-tamworth), comment on [Don Whillains' Last Climb](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m_P_RzrQu4) [2] [https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4384744478304277&set=a.230171883761578](https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4384744478304277&set=a.230171883761578) [3] [https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/948094701923372](https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/948094701923372) [4] With [Chris Bonnington](/climber/729/chris-bonnington) on the Central Pillar of Freney [https://www.instagram.com/p/CO5502uDiQU/](https://www.instagram.com/p/CO5502uDiQU/) [5] With [Joe Brown](/climber/698/joe-brown) [https://www.instagram.com/p/B_a_U0Rjqgs/](https://www.instagram.com/p/B_a_U0Rjqgs/) [6] Interview with [Ken Wilson](/climber/1012/ken-wilson) 1972, *Mountain* Issue 20, page 24 [https://climbing-history.org/file/eaff6c84-b054-0d0c-220a-a00119bdff3a/whillans%20wilson%20interview.html](/file/eaff6c84-b054-0d0c-220a-a00119bdff3a/whillans%20wilson%20interview.html) [7] Obituary by [Paul Nunn](/climber/1722/paul-nunn) in *Mountain* Issue 105, page 16
Diff
--- before

+++ after

@@ -26,4 +26,6 @@


[5] With [Joe Brown](/climber/698/joe-brown) [https://www.instagram.com/p/B_a_U0Rjqgs/](https://www.instagram.com/p/B_a_U0Rjqgs/)

-[6] Interview with [Ken Wilson](/climber/1012/ken-wilson) 1972, *Mountain* Issue 20, page 24 [https://climbing-history.org/file/eaff6c84-b054-0d0c-220a-a00119bdff3a/whillans%20wilson%20interview.html](/file/eaff6c84-b054-0d0c-220a-a00119bdff3a/whillans%20wilson%20interview.html)
+[6] Interview with [Ken Wilson](/climber/1012/ken-wilson) 1972, *Mountain* Issue 20, page 24 [https://climbing-history.org/file/eaff6c84-b054-0d0c-220a-a00119bdff3a/whillans%20wilson%20interview.html](/file/eaff6c84-b054-0d0c-220a-a00119bdff3a/whillans%20wilson%20interview.html)
+
+[7] Obituary by [Paul Nunn](/climber/1722/paul-nunn) in *Mountain* Issue 105, page 16
12 4th February 2025 18:38:37 remus ascent The File notes
Before
None
After
Don made the first ascent of this while he and [Joe Brown](/climber/612/joe-brown) were vying for the first ascent of the nearby [The Rasp](/climb/3369/the-rasp).
Diff
--- before

+++ after

@@ -1 +1 @@

-
+Don made the first ascent of this while he and [Joe Brown](/climber/612/joe-brown) were vying for the first ascent of the nearby [The Rasp](/climb/3369/the-rasp).
13 4th February 2025 18:38:37 remus ascent The File notes_pretty
Before
None
After
<p>Don made the first ascent of this while he and <a href="/climber/612/joe-brown">Joe Brown</a> were vying for the first ascent of the nearby <a href="/climb/3369/the-rasp">The Rasp</a>.</p>
14 4th February 2025 18:37:30 remus ascent The File Ascent #
Before
None
After
1
15 4th February 2025 18:37:29 remus ascent The File ascent_dt_end
Before
None
After
1957-01-01
16 4th February 2025 18:37:29 remus ascent The File ascent_dt_start
Before
None
After
1956-01-01
17 4th February 2025 18:37:29 remus ascent The File ascent_type_id
Before
None
After
1
18 4th February 2025 18:37:29 remus ascent The File ascent_style_id
Before
None
After
7
19 4th February 2025 18:37:29 remus ascent The File climber_id
Before
None
After
730
20 4th February 2025 18:37:29 remus ascent The File climb_id
Before
None
After
4696

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