Andrew Kirkpatrick (climber)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Kirkpatrick, usually known as Andy Kirkpatrick, is a British
mountaineer
, author
, motivational speaker
and monologist
.
in 1971, where his father Pete Kirkpatrick was based with the RAF (Pete Kirkpatrick was one of the longest-serving team leaders in the RAF mountain rescue). In the years that followed he moved to Sardinia
, Windsor
, Tywyn
and Llanrwst
(North Wales).
At the age of six his parents divorced and Kirkpatrick, together with his brother Robin and sister Joanne, moved with their mother to Hull
, where he lived until he moved to London aged 19. Much of Kirkpatrick's climbing writing reflects on this period of his life, and in his book Psychovertical he wonders whether moving from North Wales - with its mountains and beaches - had more of an effect on him than the separation of his parents.
over 15 times, including two solo
ascents and a one-day ascent. One of these ascents was a 12-day solo of Reticent Wall.
In 2002 he undertook one of the hardest climbs in Europe: a 15-day winter ascent of the west face of the Dru. This 1,000-metre pillar pushed him and his partner to their limits and was featured in the film 'Cold Haul'.
Kirkpatrick has also taken part in four winter expeditions to Patagonia. The stories that he has brought back from these expeditions have become modern classics in the climbing world and have brought new meaning to the words 'epic' and 'cold'.
In 2006 he skied across Greenland
with the paraplegic athlete Karen Darke, a trip of 500 km, taking 27 days.
In 2008 he climbed El Capitan
over 4 days with Karen Darke, a trip that was used to good effect the following year, when Kirkpatrick climbed El Cap with Major Phil Packer
.
In 2009 he made an unsuccessful solo attempt on the John Harlin
route on the north face of the Eiger
.
In 2010 Kirkpatrick attempted a one-day solo ascent of El Capitain, climbing it in 30 hours.
He has spoken at many climbing events, both in the UK and internationally, at events such as the Banff film festival
(Canada) and Gijon film festival (Spain).
He is also a director of Speakers from the Edge a speaking agency and theatre production company that has developed and toured speakers in the UK such as Simon Yates
, Stephen Venables
and Mark Beaumont
.
Metro magazine wrote that Kirkpatrick "makes Ray Mears look like Paris Hilton". Billed as "the only stand-up mountaineer", he has toured his one-man shows Psychovertical (2007), When Hell Freezes Over (2009) and Off The Wall (2010) throughout the UK, mixing dark humour with tales of climbing epics.
with his first book, Psychovertical.
Psychovertical has been translated into German and published in 2010 as Psychovertikal by AS Verlag.
Psychovertical is also being published in Italian and French in 2011.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
mountaineer
Mountaineer
-Sports:*Mountaineering, the sport, hobby or profession of walking, hiking, trekking and climbing up mountains, also known as alpinism-University athletic teams and mascots:*Appalachian State Mountaineers, the athletic teams of Appalachian State University...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
and monologist
Monologist
-Monologist:A monologist is a solo artist who recites or gives dramatic readings from a monologue, soliloquy, poetry or work of literature for the entertainment of an audience...
.
Biography
Kirkpatrick was born in StaffordStafford
Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It lies approximately north of Wolverhampton and south of Stoke-on-Trent, adjacent to the M6 motorway Junction 13 to Junction 14...
in 1971, where his father Pete Kirkpatrick was based with the RAF (Pete Kirkpatrick was one of the longest-serving team leaders in the RAF mountain rescue). In the years that followed he moved to Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
, Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
, Tywyn
Tywyn
Tywyn is a town and seaside resort on the Cardigan Bay coast of southern Gwynedd , in north Wales. The name derives from the Welsh tywyn and the town is sometimes referred to as Tywyn Meirionnydd...
and Llanrwst
Llanrwst
Llanrwst is a small town and community on the A470 road and the River Conwy in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It takes its name from the 5th century to 6th century Saint Grwst, and the original parish church in Cae Llan was replaced by the 12th-century church....
(North Wales).
At the age of six his parents divorced and Kirkpatrick, together with his brother Robin and sister Joanne, moved with their mother to Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, where he lived until he moved to London aged 19. Much of Kirkpatrick's climbing writing reflects on this period of his life, and in his book Psychovertical he wonders whether moving from North Wales - with its mountains and beaches - had more of an effect on him than the separation of his parents.
Climbing
Kirkpatrick's specialty is big wall climbing and winter expeditions. Andy has climbed Yosemite's El CapitanEl Capitan
El Capitan is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith extends about from base to summit along its tallest face, and is one of the world's favorite challenges for rock climbers.The formation was...
over 15 times, including two solo
Solo climbing
Solo climbing or soloing is a style of climbing in which the climber climbs alone, without somebody belaying him. There are three ways to climb solo:* Roped solo climbing:**lead climbing with a self-locking device which is used to arrest a fall...
ascents and a one-day ascent. One of these ascents was a 12-day solo of Reticent Wall.
In 2002 he undertook one of the hardest climbs in Europe: a 15-day winter ascent of the west face of the Dru. This 1,000-metre pillar pushed him and his partner to their limits and was featured in the film 'Cold Haul'.
Kirkpatrick has also taken part in four winter expeditions to Patagonia. The stories that he has brought back from these expeditions have become modern classics in the climbing world and have brought new meaning to the words 'epic' and 'cold'.
In 2006 he skied across Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
with the paraplegic athlete Karen Darke, a trip of 500 km, taking 27 days.
In 2008 he climbed El Capitan
El Capitan
El Capitan is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith extends about from base to summit along its tallest face, and is one of the world's favorite challenges for rock climbers.The formation was...
over 4 days with Karen Darke, a trip that was used to good effect the following year, when Kirkpatrick climbed El Cap with Major Phil Packer
Phil Packer
Phil Packer, MBE is a former British Provost Officer who suffered severe spinal cord injuries whilst on active service in February 2008. Despite being told at the time that he would never walk again, he has since undertaken a number of physical challenges for charity, including walking the London...
.
In 2009 he made an unsuccessful solo attempt on the John Harlin
John Harlin (mountaineer)
John Elvis Harlin II was an American mountaineer and US Air Force pilot who was killed while making an ascent of the north face of the Eiger...
route on the north face of the Eiger
Eiger
The Eiger is a mountain in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland. It is the easternmost peak of a ridge crest that extends across the Mönch to the Jungfrau at 4,158 m...
.
In 2010 Kirkpatrick attempted a one-day solo ascent of El Capitain, climbing it in 30 hours.
Motivational speaker
Kirkpatrick provides motivational talks to business, schools and groups.He has spoken at many climbing events, both in the UK and internationally, at events such as the Banff film festival
Banff Mountain Film Festival
The Banff Mountain Film Festival is an international film competition and an annual presentation of short films and documentaries about mountain culture, sports, and environment. It was launched in 1976 as The Banff Festival of Mountain Films by The Banff Centre and is held every fall in Banff,...
(Canada) and Gijon film festival (Spain).
He is also a director of Speakers from the Edge a speaking agency and theatre production company that has developed and toured speakers in the UK such as Simon Yates
Simon Yates (mountaineer)
Simon Yates is an English mountaineer best known through the book Touching the Void by Joe Simpson, and the film of the same name. Touching the Void recounts the 1985 ascent by Yates and Simpson of the West Face of Siula Grande in the Cordillera Huayhuash in the Peruvian Andes, Simpson's accident...
, Stephen Venables
Stephen Venables
Stephen Venables is a British mountaineer and writer, and is a past president of the South Georgia Association and of the Alpine Club.-Mountaineer:...
and Mark Beaumont
Mark Beaumont (cyclist)
Mark Beaumont is a record-breaking long-distance British cyclist. He held the record for cycling round the world, completing his route on 15 February 2008, having taken 194 days and 17 hours...
.
Metro magazine wrote that Kirkpatrick "makes Ray Mears look like Paris Hilton". Billed as "the only stand-up mountaineer", he has toured his one-man shows Psychovertical (2007), When Hell Freezes Over (2009) and Off The Wall (2010) throughout the UK, mixing dark humour with tales of climbing epics.
Author
Kirkpatrick won the 2008 Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain LiteratureBoardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature
The Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature is an annual prize of £3000 awarded by the Boardman Tasker Charitable Trust to an author or authors for 'an original work which has made an outstanding contribution to mountain literature.' It was established in memory of Peter Boardman and Joe...
with his first book, Psychovertical.
Psychovertical has been translated into German and published in 2010 as Psychovertikal by AS Verlag.
Psychovertical is also being published in Italian and French in 2011.