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| Name: |
Pete Benson |
| Age: |
26 |
| Occupation: |
Safety Engineer |
| Base: |
Aberdeen |
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| Description: |
Pete began climbing on the local crags around Glasgow with his twin Andy. By age 16 he was leading E5 and red-pointing 7a+..."then I found the Alps". In his first alpine season they bagged numerous good routes, including the Fendo Spur and the Bonatti Pillar. Since then he has mainly concentrated on Scottish winters and gets away on at least one big trip a year.
These "big" trips have included visits to Eastern Greenland where he made first ascents of Red or Dead, a stunning 12 pitch rock climb (at ED1), and a new line up the 6139m Arwa Spire in India. These unexplored areas (including Scotland) definitely hold his attention, as he says, "there really is an overwhelming sense of wonder, climbing on a face or even a mountain where no-one else has been".
Pete believes winter is where the challenge is at its greatest, and this is where he wants to take his climbing. Already he has climbed many testing lines, including the first ascents of Footloose (VII,7) and Fool's Rib (VII,7) in Lochnagar, and second ascents of Neanderthal (VIII,7) in Glen Coe and Darth Vader (VII,8) on Ben Nevis.
He comments "whatever I am up to in winter, enjoyment plays a major part; if I'm not having fun there is no point. Grades are not important, they only massage egos and start bickering". He admits to getting really excited by thin ephemeral mixed lines with ice on them - "these are the real winter lines; they cannot be forced when not in condition and require you to be a jedi master on ice, mixed, turf and rock".
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| Finest Moment: |
"There have been many, but soloing the North Face of the Courts in winter stands out. Being on the summit with only the views for company was quite inspirational". |
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