The Flame of Adventure

I haven't read Simon Yates first book, but having read this book I am determined to find a copy. Yates writes well and without pathos or ego. This is an account of his various climbs and adventures as well as misadventures along the way. Throughout he talks about the various people he knows or has climbed with along the way, and philosophises about what drives climbers and him. The individuality of climbing, the ability to manage risk, and the risks you can and cannot manage. His prose is sparring of superlative and emotion, and yet at times it is haunting. When he writes of watching other climbers falling off the mountain I couldn't help but be moved. His writing is also very graphic, he describes his climbs and the routes he followed, even the bivvy's he makes and how they succeeded (or didn't in his early climbs). I can't help but think that he bags Joe Simpson a bit in the early days - talking about Joes legendary escapes from two close disasters in France, and then Joe wanting to be helicoptered out of a climb they were on. He doesn't really discuss the Peru climb where Joe Simpson famously came back from death but I imagine that might be discussed in his earlier book. Yate's later account of he and simpson filming in Canada is a nice conclusion to the story. Although this isn't quite the conclusion. Yates discusses the job he had on a building site in London where he earned the nickname 'slasher' for his role in cutting Simpson off the rope. This is a compelling read, well written and deeply satisfying - I read it through once and then went back and read it again. This is more than just a climbing book, or memoir book - it is about the nature of humanity.

I enjoyed reading Simon's book. He writes about that "Flame Of Adventure" burning deep within his soul. This guy is never boring. The middle of the book somewhat focuses off the mountain but indeed its still an adventure. Parts of this book will make you laugh out loud (humourous). The PICS in this book are breath taking. After reading this book you'll will want to watch "Touching the Void" DVD and you will truly understand where this man is coming from (I know I do)..from the name calling "slasher" (cutting the rope)..Simone takes it all in stide!! A true adventurer!! I recommend this read for any mountaineering buff.