UKC

Am doing some research into excentric climbers for a project I'm working on. Am looking for factual and fictional excentric climbers and mountaineers. Obviously Rum Doodle is way up there and Brian Blessed. Any more ideas would be most welcome.

Many thanks

In reply to Monkeyrock:

Maurice Wilson. Taught himself to fly so he could get to Everest in 1934. Had no permission to go to Everest but went anyway, in disguise, I think, with a couple of Sherpas. Had no climbing or mountaineering experience, but believed that strength of will would get him up the mountain. He died somewhere around the North Col and his body was found by Shipton in 1935.

In reply to Monkeyrock: Eccentric

In reply to Monkeyrock: Hexcentric?

In reply to Monkeyrock: There was a guy based in/around Borrowdale who lived in a cave & worked as a guide at times, not sure of his name, Milton something or maybe something Milton -anyone remember more ?

In reply to Monkeyrock: Felice Benuzzi?

In reply to Doug: Millican Dalton http://www.brannan.co.uk/millican_dalton/

In reply to John2: that's the guy! - thanks

In reply to Monkeyrock: What about "The Wickedest Man In the World." Aleister Crowley?

In reply to Monkeyrock:

I suggesat you look out for the recently published book "Strange and Dangerous Dreams: The Fine Line Between Adventure and Madness" by Geoff Powter, published by Mountaineers Books.

Should be just the ticket. I expect the Author will be at the Kendal book fest as he's judging the writing competition.

In reply to Monkeyrock:

John Redhead (check out some of his artwork and painting/route names), and Johnny Dawes must surely qualify for inclusion in any project concerned with eccentric climbers.

In reply to Monkeyrock: Many thanks, will check out sugestions. Mate of mine worked on a theatre show and Mr Dawes gave some technical advice, he ended up going climbing with Johnny, said he was great, but a little on the mad side!!!!

reply-Tom R
Esssentric
Excenticcccccceasentris
Pedantic...ah thats the one I was looking for

In reply to Monkeyrock:
No, I think incorrect is the word.

In reply to Alison Stockwell:

I was a bit underwhelmed by that book, Alison. Have you read it?

In reply to Monkeyrock: Edwin Ward Drummond.

In reply to Monkeyrock:

Have you got Aleister Crowley ? about as eccentric as they come, I'd have thought.

In reply to GrahamD:

Hmm, I often wonder if I'm related to him, and therefore do I have a name/reputation to live up to?

In reply to mike swann:

Thank you!

Mick

In reply to Monkeyrock: learn to f**king spell.

In reply to Monkeyrock:



Hardly, if you are purportedly doing research!

And it's pedantix.

In reply to tony:

Aye, very strange. Allegations of his high altitude cross-dressing weren't taken seriously until a Chinese expedition found a ladies high-heeled shoe (is there any other kind?) of that era, quite close to the North Col.
Have you read The Ice Chimney by Barry Collins?

sherlock

In reply to (marktomlinson): to busy f**king climbing :-o

In reply to Monkeyrock:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6ran_Kropp

One of my heroes.

In reply to Monkeyrock:

Okay, I'll point it out first: you mean 'too'.

In reply to Yorkspud: >


Hardly, if you are purportedly doing research!

And it's pedantix.



No I'm making it all up to sound interesting!

And pedantic was exactly what I was looking for, but tw@t covers it.

In reply to Monkeyrock: Thanks for the inteligent replies, very helpfull.

In reply to Monkeyrock:

Alister Crowley has to be up there!

In reply to Monkeyrock: Damn, all my suggestions have already been suggested, but Millican thingy is an interesting chap, and Aleister Crowley is probably the most eccentric of all-so I definately second those.
Sam

In reply to reidyold boy:

He already is !

In reply to Monkeyrock:
Colin Kirkus and the things he'd eat are fairly out there.
Bread fried in Vaseline anyone?!

In reply to Monkeyrock:

The guy who soloed Little Chamonix wearing roller skates and boxing gloves is probably worth a mention... can't remember his name now...

In reply to Monkeyrock: found this earlier.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.Channel&ChannelID=196...

In reply to Monkeyrock:

Apparently there is some eccentric american guy who can solo a long 5.7 in less than 4mins .. I would Google for him, Dan something I think

In reply to Monkeyrock:

Ya can't get more outside than Aliester Crowley.
Excentric, hmm.....
What about our own Al Evans?
Some of the newer climbers think Al is a spook story.
The mountaineer in the thong is a tale we tell to frighten them well No Sir, Al is real!

.....isn't he?

In reply to pog100: Dan Osman.

In reply to pog100: Not excentric, just plain mental!

In reply to pog100:

Me mum can solo a long 5.7 in less than 4 minutes.

What's the fuss?

In reply to Monkeyrock:

Bill Tilman and his memorable bathes.

Not mental, just plain dead R.I.P

In reply to Monkeyrock:
The guy who soloed Little Chamonix in roller skates and boxing gloves was the late Ray McHaffie. A real Lakeland character.

In reply to pillar: Anyone remember Tony Booth? In Memoriam is named after him. Started climbing in his 40s, went to live in Blaenau with an ambition to lead Vector on his 50th birthday, sold balloons for a living. Made his own gear including a fantastic collection of pre-stopper stoppers - he could stitch any route with them. Didn't help him when he was soloing, sadly.

In reply to Monkeyrock:

what about jon msuhgttty, amazing !!

In reply to Monkeyrock: Thanks so much for these names. Have found info on few, but any links or book titles, articles would be great.

Once again thanks

In reply to Monkeyrock:
Ray McHaffie is in a book called Keswick Characters volume one. Here is a link to a book about Millican Dalton the Borrowdale Caveman.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/matthew.entwistle/
Hope this is of some help.

In reply to pillar: Thanks mate, thats great.