R O C K C L I M B I N G
P H O T O G R A P H Y
Geyikbayiri Games (7b+), Geyikbayiri, Turkey
Simon Tappin, Oratario (E3), Pembroke, Wales (UK)
Sam Whittaker, Rodellar, Spain
Bob Hickish, Swanage, Dorset, England
Katherine Schirrmacker, Not To Be Taken Away (E2), Stanage, England
Jack Geldard working an 8c project on the Tsaranoro Massif, Madagascar
Matt Cox on the first ascent of Shadow Walker (8a+), Cheddar Gorge, England
Gavin Symonds, Pembroke, Wales (UK)
Trev Massiah making the first ascent of Fool’s Gold, Laoliang Island, Thailand
Jack Geldard, Pre Cambrian Wrestler (E7), Gogarth, Wales
Adrian Baxter competing at the 2008 BLCC at Blackpool
James McHaffie abseiling from Mission Impossible (E9), Snowdonia, after the second ascent
Neil Dickson on-sighting Mayan Skies, E7 6b, Lundy, UK
Pete Robins, Pembroke, Wales (UK)
Jordan Buys, Ecstasy (8b), Kilnsey, UK
Mike Robertson, Rodellar, Spain
Charlie Woodburn climbs ‘Supernova’, E5 6a,6b - Lundy Island, (UK)
David Pickford, Tangnag Moraine, Khumbu, Nepal (self portrait)
Bob Hickish, Haka Pereperu (8a), Swanage, UK
Jack Geldard and James McHaffie on Rain Boto (7b+, 450m), Karimbony, Madagascar
Adrian Baxter on the men’s final, British Lead Climbing Championships 2008
Ian Parnell (solo), Shangri-La, Baggy Point, England
Charlie Woodburn, Dun Mingulay, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
David Pickford, Pembroke, UK (photo: James Marshall)
Sarah Garnett, Punta di Capineru, Corsica
Matt Ward climbing Still Waters Run Deep, F7b, Cheddar, UK
Andy Long, Infinite Gravity, Swanage, England
Lowering off from Ghost Kitchen above a midwinter sea, Kalymnos, Greece
David Pickford, Capo Testa, Sardinia, Italy
After the last climb of the day, the rope hangs still from Trebenna West, Geyikbayiri, Turkey
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david pickford
“Do you remember what it was like to be awakened by daylight on your first outdoor mornings?... the bracken will crackle aflame amongst spectrums of heather, the mist will boil and distill, suggestion will resolve into form on this autumn morning of your youth with much of your life before you and the whole day in which, perhaps, to climb.”
Jim Perrin. ‘October’ from ‘The Book of the Climbing Year’ (1987)
“get up early on a saturday morning at the beginning of may... stand there with the sun beginning to warm your back, listen for the noises of the valley as it wakes up, a woodpecker that sounds like a toy gun, a footstep in the dry riverbed. think of all the things you had to do in the week so you could be here now. then slowly reach out and touch the rock with the flat of your hand. let it lead your eye upwards. there. You’re alive again.”
- Ron Fawcett / Mike Harrison, from “Fawcett on Rock”
Was all this effort worthwhile? Why should we go to such lengths to plunge ourselves into a life of discomfort and privation? Every time I start an expedition I feel that I am getting back to a way of living which is now lost.”
Eric Shipton, from ‘Blank on the Map’ (1938)
- ALL PHOTOGRAPHS IN THIS GALLERY ARE FOR SALE -
- RIGHTS-MANAGED OR EXCLUSIVE-USE LICENSES PROVIDED -
- all images copyright david pickford, 2009 -
- all rights reserved -
