BONINGTON.COM - Key Persons
Ang Pemba and Les Brown - first pair: Dennis Davis and Tashi) -expedition led by Joe Walmsley; Central Pillar of Freney, Mt Blanc * (Don Whillans, Ian Clough and Jan Djuglosz). Trango Castell Cidwm * (Joe Brown); Ichabod Scafell (Mike Thompson) -second ascent; Schmid/Krebs Route Karwendal t (Don Whillans); Walker Spur of Grandes Jorasses (Ian Clough); North Wall of the Eiger t (Ian Clough).
Job Titles:
- Brand President of Berghaus
Job Titles:
- Brand President of Berghaus
- CVO, CBE, DL
Chris also climbed Mont Blanc by Mont Blanc de Tacul and Mont Maudit with Richard Cotter, Brand President of Berghaus, and Dave Cummins.
In 2010 he joined his son Joe once again on a trek to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Chris's ascent of Annapurna II. [more info] The party included the son and grandson of Dick Grant, with whom Chris had made the first ascent. For Chris it was an emotional journey. They visited the Base Camp and ended by crossing the Tilicho Pass which he had crossed with Sherpa Tachei all those years ago.
In 2011 he had an expedition with Charlie Clarke to the Sorang Valley in the Kinnaur range of the Indian Himalaya, making the first ascent of Ram Chukor Basera (5084m).
Chris Bonington born on 6 Aug 1934 in Hampstead, London. Educated at University College School, London, Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Army career, Royal Tank Regiment 1956-59; Instructor, Army Outward Bound School, 1959-61. Management Trainee Unilever. Freelance mountaineer, writer, photographer 1961-. Married, Wendy Marchant, in 1962 and has 2 sons.
Britain's best known mountaineer, he has led and been on 19 Himalayan expeditions, including 4 to Everest which he climbed in 1985 at the age of fifty, and has made many first ascents in the Alps and greater ranges of the world.
His most important climbs are:
1st ascent Annapurna II (26,041 ft) 1960
1st ascent Nuptse (25,850 ft) 1961
1st ascent Central Pillar of Freney 1961
1st ascent Central Tower of Paine (8760 ft), Patagonia 1963
1st ascent Old Man of Hoy 1966
Leader of successful Annapurna South Face Expedition 1970
1st ascent Brammah (21,030 ft) 1973
1st ascent Changabang (22,520 ft) 1974
Leader of successful Everest South West Face Expedition 1975
1st ascent, the Ogre (23,900 ft) 1977
1st ascent Mount Kongur, Western Xinjiang, China (25,325 ft) 1981
1st ascent Shivling West (21,250 ft) 1983
1st ascent West Ridge, Panch Chuli II, Kumaon Himalaya, India, 1992
1st ascent The Needle, Greenland 1993
1st ascent Rangrik Rang (21,499 ft), in the Kinnaur Himalaya, India 1994
1st ascent Drangnag Ri (22,312 ft) in the Rolwaling Himal, Nepal 1995
1996 Reconnaissance Expedition to Sepu Kangri (6956m) in Tibet
Leader of 1997 British Expedition to make the first attempt on Sepu Kangri
Leader of 1998 British Expedition to Sepu Kangri
1st ascent Danga (24,776 ft) in Nepal in 2000