First Ascent

PROPHETS, PILGRIMS AND KINGS Mt Sinai Peruvian and Bolivian Andes Ascents to summits of over 20,000 feet for sacrificial rituals Hannibal and Napoleon crossing the Alps China and Japan Mont Aiguille MONT BLANC GOLDEN AGE OF ALPINISM Jungfrau Matterhorn Bietschorn NEW FRONTIERS Mt McKinley Grand Teton Ancohuma Mt Kenya Mt Cook BRITISH ROCK PIONEERS Napes Needle One of the rock climbs pioneered by Everester George Mallory. Lliwedd Cloggy HIMALAYA Siniolchu Kamet THE BIG ALPINE WALLS - INTO THE SIXTH GRADE Matterhorn Zmutt Ridge Mont Blanc Route Major Cima Grande North Face Grandes Jorasses North Face - Walker Spur Eiger North Face EIGHT THOUSAND METRES Annapurna 1950 Everest 1953 Nanga Parbat 1953 Broad Peak 1957 YOSEMITE The Nose Salathe Wall NEW WAVE ALPINISM Dru Bonatti Pillar 1954 Central Pillar of Freney 1961 Super Couloir 1976 A NEW DIMENSION IN THE HIMALAYA Annapurna South Face Trango Tower Gasherbrum III Gauri Sankar Golden Pillar of Spantik UNTOUCHED SUMMITS OF THE AMERICAS Beautiful spire near Mt McKinley, in Alaska Huntingdon Yerupaja Cerro Torre FREE ROCK Joe Brown's Cenotaph Corner, North Wales, 1 Eroica, Cornwall India Face, Cloggy, North Wales Australia Poi, Kenya Gorge de Verdon, Provenc

One of the best-known mountaineers of his generation, Stephen Venables was the first Briton to climb Everest without oxygen, pioneering a new route at the same time. His first book Painted Mountains won the Boardman Tasker Award; reviewing his most recent book, A Slender Thread, the Observer praised his 'novelist's sense of dramatic punch'. As well as eight books, he has written for all the major national newspapers and appeared in numerous television programmes, including the recent BBC Mountain Men series, for which he climbed the Matterhorn in Victorian tweeds and nailed boots, and the BBC's Race for Everest. His most recent project was retracing Shackleton's steps across South Georgia for the IMAX movie Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure. A master storyteller and skilful photographer, he is also a motivational speaker whose illustrated lectures have inspired audiences all around the world. Sir Chris Bonington is one of the world's most renowned and successful mountaineers. He has experienced much of our planet's extreme weather during his distinguished career, which includes climbing Everest four times