Ascents and Descents

An Alpinists Memoir

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Ascents and Descents is the autobiography of Peter Allison: civil engineer, rock climber, ski-mountaineer and mountain guide. Starting out on the crags of north-east England as a young boy, Peter soon became immersed in the emerging climbing scene of the 1950s, when harnesses were a thing of the future, and hemp rope and plimsolls were the staple climbing gear.
More Information
Cordee Code: CNA222
Page Size: 156 x 234 mm
No of Pages: 144
Publisher: Baton Wicks Publications
ISBN13: 9781898573845
Published Date: November 2019
Edition: 1st, Nov 2019
Binding: Paperback
Weight: 260g
Product Type: Book
I personally have always been quite comfortable either halfway up or halfway down a steep, snowy mountainside.

Ascents and Descents is the autobiography of Peter Allison: civil engineer, rock climber, ski-mountaineer and mountain guide. Starting out on the crags of north-east England as a young boy, Peter soon became immersed in the emerging climbing scene of the 1950s, when harnesses were a thing of the future, and hemp rope and plimsolls were the staple climbing gear. He soon began to explore ice climbing and mixed climbing, progressing to crags in the Lake District and then the Alps, and claiming several first British ascents. Over the course of an impressive sixty-five-year climbing
career, he climbed hard lines on the high mountains, including the North Face of the Eiger and the H?rnli Ridge on the Matterhorn.

Having initially juggled climbing with a thriving and extremely busy quarrying business, Peter decided it was time to dedicate more time to his love of the hills, and qualified as a mountain guide, subsequently specialising in routes on the Chamonix Aiguilles, the Aiguille du Chardonnet and the Aiguille d'Argenti?re. He built an excellent reputation, balancing fun and risk with safety and prudence, and always
putting his clients first.

Ascents and Descents tells of the highs and lows of climbing, from standing on a summit in perfect conditions to the frustration of years of rehabilitation from a broken pelvis. Peter Allison recounts his colourful story with honesty, humour and frank detail, leaving you in no doubt
about his true passion for the mountains.
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