Author: Andy Kirkpatrick
Description
WINNER, BEST GUIDEBOOK, 2016 BANFF MOUNTAIN BOOK FESTIVAL
Kirkpatrick's collection of climbing tips is based on the author's three decades of obsession with climbing. The book features eight primary categories: basics, safety, big wall, ice, mixed, mountain, training, and "stuff."
This is no regular instruction manual—it’s much more useful than that. This is a massive collection of all those little tips that make a real difference when at the crag, in the mountains, or when you’re planning your next big trip. Tips are organized by eight primary categories:
BASICS (tips 1–240) – From how best to rope up and the importance of climbing partnerships, to racking your gear correctly and how to sleep in a harness.
SAFETY (tips 241–327) – The name of the game in climbing is staying alive and coming home in one piece. This section covers loose rock, rescue, dealing with heat and what to do if you get caught out.
BIG WALL (tips 328–434) – Knowledge on tackling large multi-pitch climbs, with advanced topics such as pegging, jumaring, hauling and speed climbing. These tips will be an aid both to those new to multi-pitch climbing, as well as more experienced climbers.
ICE (tips 435–481) – Tips on all aspects of ice climbing, including movement, protection, looking after your gear, mental strength and—of course—not falling off.
MIXED (tips 482–503) – With a focus on alpine winter skills, these essential tips focus on leading, gear and footwork on mixed ground, and how to use your tools on snowed-up rock.
MOUNTAIN (tips 504–802) – This section has almost 300 tips on living and staying alive in the mountains.
TRAINING (tips 803–876) – A range of tips on how to overcome fear, improve strength and endurance, as well as diet and nutrition advice.
STUFF (tips 877–1001) – A mix of esoterica, such as how to rap off a fifi hook, what books to read, how to make your own kit, how to get sponsored, how to take great photos and videos, and how to go to the toilet in tricky spots.
Reviews
"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
About the Author
Andy Kirkpatrick has a reputation for seeking out routes where the danger is real and the return is questionable, pushing himself on some of the hardest walls and faces in the Alps and beyond. 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 19.
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 a 12-day solo ascent of the Reticent Wall on El Capitan, 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 Prize for Mountain Literature.
Cold Wars is his second book. Andy lives in Sheffield with his two children. Learn more at his website, andy-kirkpatrick.com.