Andy Clarke
Came to climbing late and got hooked. Gave up job as Headteacher of successful secondary school to indulge in it for a few years while still reasonably fit/not yet dead. Aiming to write bestselling haiku about adventures and live off huge profits.
Location
Walsall
Best Climbing Experience
Seeing the sun rise on a bitterly cold ascent of Mont Blanc: my first alpine peak & I've been hooked since. My first extreme lead one summer evening at the Roaches. Three days at the CIC Hut as winter turned into spring. Looking down on a firework display over Zermatt, having climbed the Matterhorn on Swiss National Day. Traverse of La Meije: from crepes flambes to poulet au citron. Watching a peregrine falcon soar above the Roaches on my first day back bouldering after a potentially fatal fall. Lost in a lonely and thrilling lead on the East Buttress of El Cap.
Favourite Climbing-Related Discussion Topic
The zen of grit; soft touches & easy rides; comparative injury scar analysis; height/grade adjustment calculus.
Recent Postings
Logbooks Volunteer
Moderator for 1 crag, checking missing climbs added to the logbooks: China Crag
Interests Outside Climbing
Education. Literature. Writing mutant haiku. Film. Cycling. Pop Music trivia.
Photo Gallery
Andy Clarke on Grindulator (5.11b), Pratt's Crack Canyon, near Bishop, Eastern Sierra, California
© Andy Clarke
Working hard on the HVS variation start to Doorway.
© Andy Clarke
Andy Clarke above the crux overhang of Awaken (VS 5a) at Pontesford Rocks
© Andy Clarke
Wolverhampton MC on summit of Ailefroide Oriental
© Andy Clarke
Andy Clarke on X-Wing (5.9), Murphy Creek, Tuolumne, California
© Andy Clarke
Andy Clarke
© Andy Clarke
Click to search for photos of climbers called Andy Clarke.
Click to list photo comments written by me. (3 comments)
Anything Else We Should Know
Speaking as a teacher: no, things weren't better in the past & the exams haven't got easier.