Peter Croft


Quick Info

From: Canada 🇨🇦
Date of birth: 18th May 1958
Age: 67 years old
Gender: Male
Hardest Trad (Worked): E7
Hardest Trad (Onsight): E7
Notable Partnerships
Dave Schultz

Cameron Burns: Why do you go climbing? What's your motivation?

I don't think there really a concrete definition of motivation. It’s just fun. Sometimes I've woken up hours before dawn and Just have to go climbing - and I'll go out and climb all day long. What's most important to me is tne really big day when I can't help but go out climbing. On a big soloing day, I often find myself trying not to run up to the base of the cliff, but then I’ll just take off running up to the base of the cliff. I remember reading in Herman Buhl's book, Nanga Parbat Pilgrimage about how he was driven to do stuff and he didn’t really know why. I don’t have concrete goals in that if I do such and such then I'll be able to climb Everest or if I do this and this and this, then I'll be able to climb 5.14. The things I’m most pleased with are days when I've really pushed hard and seen how far I can go. [1]

References

[1] Mountain 143 (1992), page 19 /library/11327/mountain-143

Contributors
37 contributions since 18th May 2021.
TdG
12 contributions since 10th September 2025.
2 contributions since 15th July 2025.

Quick Info

From: Canada 🇨🇦
Date of birth: 18th May 1958
Age: 67 years old
Gender: Male
Hardest Trad (Worked): E7
Hardest Trad (Onsight): E7
Notable Partnerships
Dave Schultz

Cameron Burns: Why do you go climbing? What's your motivation?

I don't think there really a concrete definition of motivation. It’s just fun. Sometimes I've woken up hours before dawn and Just have to go climbing - and I'll go out and climb all day long. What's most important to me is tne really big day when I can't help but go out climbing. On a big soloing day, I often find myself trying not to run up to the base of the cliff, but then I’ll just take off running up to the base of the cliff. I remember reading in Herman Buhl's book, Nanga Parbat Pilgrimage about how he was driven to do stuff and he didn’t really know why. I don’t have concrete goals in that if I do such and such then I'll be able to climb Everest or if I do this and this and this, then I'll be able to climb 5.14. The things I’m most pleased with are days when I've really pushed hard and seen how far I can go. [1]

References

[1] Mountain 143 (1992), page 19 /library/11327/mountain-143

Contributors
37 contributions since 18th May 2021.
TdG
12 contributions since 10th September 2025.
2 contributions since 15th July 2025.

Podcasts


Library


Pics + Vids

No pics or vids yet.


Ascents

11 recorded ascents.

This timeline is missing some ascents where the date of the ascent is unknown.
Sort
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Cobra Crack E9 Aid 1980s
First ascent. With some points of aid.
The Phoenix E7 Lead | onsight 1980s

First onsight ascent

The Excellent Adventure E7 Lead | worked 1987
First ascent.
The Shadow E7 Lead | onsight 1988
First ascent.

Peter onsighted the crux pitch, though having done pitches nearby previously there is some discussion about how onsight it was [1]. On balance, it seems likely that he had little to no knowledge of the pitch before setting off.

References

[1] http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/3002969/Peter-Crofts-Shadow-Onsight

[2] https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/4627017627364376/

Zombie Roof E6 Lead | worked 1982
First ascent.
University Wall E6 Alternate Leads 1982
Moonlight Buttress E6 Alternate Leads | worked 1992 E7
First free ascent.
Zombie Roof E6 Solo | worked
Astroman E5 Solo | worked 1987

An incredible solo ascent for it's time.

The same year Peter also soloed Astroman and The Rostrum in the same day.

The Regular North Face E4 Solo | worked 1985
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
The Nose A2 Aid | worked 1986
With John Bachar. 10hrs 05mins.

And the Regular NW Face route on Half Dome the same day.