Mountaineer Clive Rowland to launch book Towards The Ogre at the Nairn Book and Arts Festival
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Respected mountaineer Clive Rowland will be launching his book Towards The Ogre during the Nairn Book and Arts Festival.
Clive, who was formerly in business in Inverness, penned this 365-page book packed with mountaineering tales, technical details and incredible rescue missions.
The launch at Nairn’s Bandstand Bar on September 1 starts at 7pm and will include a chance to purchase signed copies of the book and meet Clive.
He said: “I would encourage anyone to take to the hills, either walking or climbing, as it is a wonderful release from the tensions of modern life. However, they must learn the appropriate skills. We have such a beautiful country throughout Britain.”
Beautifully illustrated, and independently published, both paperback and hardback copies of the book will be on sale following a talk by the Mountaineers’ Mountaineer, as Clive is often referred to.
Clive’s greatest climb is probably the 1977 expedition to summit Baintha Brakk (The Ogre) in the Karakoram, Pakistan. It is exceptional in its combination of altitude and steepness, and at 23,901ft it is one of the hardest peaks in the world to climb.
The author is perhaps best-known for the rescue of Doug Scott and Chris Bonington following an accident on their descent.
Their tale of survival at high altitude ranks among the great stories of ‘against the odds’ rescue missions. This book will take you right to the very heart of this daring and perilous journey back to safety.
Clive was active during what is now considered to be the Golden Age of British Mountaineering (from the 1960s to the 1990s) and climbed extensively in the Alps, Chamonix and the Himalayas.
The book is designed to appeal to anyone who has climbed, wants to climb or those fascinated by the pioneers of mountaineering.
From his Yorkshire roots to his ascent of some of the most technically challenging peaks in the world, Clive reveals his role, along with fellow mountaineer Mo Anthoine, in the rescue of Mr Scott and Mr Bonington on Baintha Brakk.
In his foreword for the book, Cameron McNeish said: “Clive would probably have never admitted to the life-saving role they performed, but many years ago Doug Scott told me if it hadn’t been for the pair, he and Chris would likely have perished on the mountain.”
Admission to the event is free and the book costs £20 in paper back and £30 in hardback.
