Location: Chamonix Mont Blanc, France

Work: IFMGA Guide, Troll Technical Specialist

Play: Climber, Skier.

Best Trip: North West Face of Cerro Kishtwar for 17 days with Brendan Murphy.

Worst Trip: Shopping in Manchester on a Saturday afternoon.

Best Camp Food: Swiss Rosti and fried eggs in the Val d’Herens of Switzerland.

Worst Camp Food: Rice for 2 weeks when we ran out of everything else at the end of our Ogre trip.

Scariest Moment: 36 hours in a waterfall on Sunkist, El Capitan, California.

Ambitions: Carry on getting 110% out of life.

Favourite places: Fontainebleau, Ben Nevis, Yosemite, any alpine ski area on a powder day.

Inspirational books: Games Climbers Play, Yosemite Climber, The Little Prince.

Heroes: Mal Duff, Ian Dury, Iain Banks.

Heaven: In the mountains, any time, any weather, but snow and sun preferred!

Hell: Sat in the M25 car park.

Favourite Lowe Pieces: Event Dryflo T shirt, Ascent Vest, Adrenaline jacket

Additional Information:

My website address is:-
www.climbex.u-net.com

I've been climbing since the late '70's, starting as a student rock climber and progressing through the Scottish winter scene, summer alpine and finally the expedition scene. I've developed a liking and a reputation for climbing big walls, often in a remote setting, with several ascents of El Capitan in Yosemite.

I'm best known for a 17 day ascent of the North West face of Cerro Kishtwar, a 6100m peak in India with Brendan Murphy in the early '90's. I now live for 6 months of the year in Chamonix where I guide on skis in winter and in crampons in the summer.

I spend the other half of the year as a Technical Specialist for Troll, and also have close links with the BMC. I was a BMC Vice President for 3 years, and still sit on the Technical Committee and Youth Advisory Panel.

My links with Lowe Alpine started as a result of presenting the BMC Winter Lectures, which I continue to do, and I also contribute to the running of the Kendal Mountain Film Festival, based within running distance of Lowe Alpine!

I love any aspect of life in the mountains, whether it's pushing the limits on gritstone with Andy Cave, stomping through Scottish blizzards, early Alpine starts or cutting fresh tracks in Chamonix powder. As a guide, being able to pass on that enjoyment doubles the rewards I get from a life in the mountains.