The Greatest Himalayan Mountaineer you’ve never ever heard of…!
Well who exactly could this be?
By definition I don't know. Do share.
Well it may not be that familiar a name, but he certainly deserves to be better known. I will let on later when I see all the guesses!
Norah Batty?
Roger Marshall?
Cliff Bergschrund
Sir Hugeley Havering?
I should perhaps add that this is not a spoof post. I'm serious.
Brian Blessed.
DJ Viper
I would second Roger Marshall.
Binder, surely?
Frank Smythe.
Dunno...but I imagine they're Nepalese not Western; and certainly not British
Probably right, but status counts...
Well done for perfectly inverting the sentiment of the OP!!
I would have a guess but I can't name anyone that I've never heard.
The one having the most fun?
Viscount Archibald Terrence-Grifter-Smythe??
Alister Crowley.
Bill Tilman
Last 3 names posted are very well known.
Is it me?
Come on Sean, do tell us please. Harish Kapadia?
Problem is that once named, you have heard of them so the answer becomes someone else.
Well if it’s not Binder is it Renata Casarotto?
http://www.nicolas-jaeger.com/nicolas-jaeger-eng.html
Roger Marshall was also a very good call
> Brian Blessed.
Please be aware his name is only correctly spelled when written entirely in capital letters
Presumably it's a lady? Because there are a few but they rarely get publicity
Nobody even remotely close, but keep the suggestions coming.
> Presumably it's a lady? Because there are a few but they rarely get publicity
The OP says "he certainly deserves to be better known" so I guess that narrows it down a bit. Going to be disappointed when it turns out to be someone I have heard of!
I'd make a pitch for Alexander Kellas, but then I've heard of him, which in terms of the OP means it can't be him. Which just shows how daft the original question was.
The yeti?
> Nobody even remotely close, but keep the suggestions coming.
Nah. Pointless game and bored now
Kami Rita Sherpa has summited Everest 19 times I think, so surely must be in the running.
Sean Villanueva o'Driscoll
Understated, under reported, has the craic while scalping peaks, f*ucking legend, also plays the tin whistle
Mmm quite well known, there's been a video on here
> I'd make a pitch for Alexander Kellas, but then I've heard of him, which in terms of the OP means it can't be him. Which just shows how daft the original question was.
Well done Bob. We eventually got there. Well unless you have encountered his biography by Mitchell & Rodway from 2011 his achievements have slipped under the radar. Article to follow when my research is finished. A short synopsis below...
1907 - Kashmir: Pir-Panjal range; Sikkim: Zemu glacier, Grunsee, Simvu (6816 m, unsuccessful) (Alpine Journal 34, 408)
1909 - Sikkim: Pauhunri (7125 m, unsuccessful), Jongsang la (6120 m), Langpo (6950 m), Jongsang peak (7459 m, unsuccessful) (Alpine Journal 34, 408)
1911 - Sikkim: Sentinel peak (6470 m), Pauhunri (7125 m), Chomoyummo (6829 m), Dhanarau peak (5790 m) (Alpine Journal 26, 52, 113; Geographical Journal 40, 241)
1912 - Sikkim: Kangchenjhau (6920 m) (Alpine Journal 27, 125)
1913 - Kashmir: explored access to Nanga Parbat via branch of Ganalo peak (little information available)
1914 - Garhwal: approaches to Kamet (little information available)
1920 - Garhwal: Kamet (7756 m, unsuccessful by 500 m) Sikkim: Kang la (Alpine Journal 33,312; Geographical Journal 57, 124, 213)
1921 - Sikkim: Kabru (7338 m, unsuccessful) Start of Everest Reconnaissance Expedition
All that, and he was a member of the SMC too ...
For UKCers who haven't come across him, Kellas also gets a very fair assessment in Wade Davis' Everest tome, Into the Silence.
Glad to help draw a line under your teasingly provocative thread -
Bob
Sorry Sean, even as someone who has no pretensions about being an expert in Himalayan mountaineering, I’ve read mentions of Kellas is several books.
9 references in The Mystery of Mallory & Irvine (Tom Holzel and Audrey Salkeld). Best part of a page in Colin Wells' Who's Who in British Climbing. 4 references in George Band's Everest book.
> The Greatest Himalayan Mountaineer you’ve never ever heard of…!
Kellas?!
You should have entitled this thread 'The Greatest Himalayan Mountaineer _I've_ Never Heard Of.'.
Kellas gets his due in Unworth's 'Everest', among other references.
Not to mention the Press & Journal last year...
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/3183715/aberdonian-alexander...
Ai Sclymba.
Mountain Spirit?
Well, Scottish climber Bruce Normand has made more first ascents and new routes on 6000m peaks than anyone alive (many of them solo), summited K2 w/o O2 or Sherpas, and won the Piolet d'Or.
Gianluigi Lentini, the greatest winger you've never heard of.
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