1001 Climbing Tips

Andy Kirkpatrick is an award-winning author and climber. With a reputation for seeking out routes where the danger is real and the return questionable, he has pushed himself on some of the hardest walls and faces around the world. He was born and raised on a council estate in Hull, one of the UK’s flattest cities, and suffered from severe dyslexia which went undiagnosed until he was nineteen. Thriving on this apparent adversity, Andy transformed himself into one of the world’s most driven and accomplished climbers and an award-winning writer. In 2001 he undertook an eleven-day solo ascent of the Reticent Wall on El Capitan, Yosemite, one of the hardest solo climbs in the world. This climb was the central theme of his first book Psychovertical, which won the 2008 Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature. His second book, Cold Wars, won the 2012 Boardman Tasker Award. In 2014 he partnered BBC One’s The One Show presenter Alex Jones as she climbed Moonlight Buttress in Zion National Park in aid of Sport Relief. Unknown Pleasures: Collected Writing on Life, Death, Climbing and Everything in Between was published in 2018. Andy lives in Ireland with his wife Vanessa.

'1001 Climbing Tips is a refreshing take on the climbing guide genre. Irreverent, it has a laugh on virtually every page, but also some extremely useful advise and some points of genuine interest. The panel are grateful for tip 974 - "Never drink your own urine."' (Paul Pritchard, 2016 Banff Mountain Book Competition Jury); '1001 Climbing Tips had me laughing out loud in places, which I never thought possible for this genre of book. A tremendous resource that should be an essential addition to every climber's loo-library' (Ian Parnell, Climb magazine).

• IntroductionAcknowledgementsNotesFeedback and updatesThis book sucks1 BasicsLearningPartnershipsRopesPassive protectionActive protectionSlings, quickdraws and cordKarabinersKnotsLeadingHarnessesBuilding a rack on the cheapIndoor climbingRock bootsRock clothingRoute finding2 SafetyHelmetsDescentDealing with heatLoose rockRescueBenightment3 Big wallPegsJumaringHauling and haul bagsSpeed climbingHand boltingHooksFifi hooks and connectors4 IceBasicsProtectionLeading5 MixedLeadingGearFootwork6 MountainCrevassesClothing, boots and equipmentSleeping bags and matsMountain bivviesNavigation and storm tacticsRepair kitSnow sheltersFoodFirst aidStoves, pans and kitchen stuffSnow travelExpedition and mountain tents7 TrainingOvercoming fearStrength trainingFoodEndurance training8 StuffDon’t try this at homeGuiding principles of Andy KirkpatrickChoosing a guide or climbing courseMake your own kitPhotography and videoSponsorship and mediaBodily functionsTrip packing and travel9 Reading list