That joe simpson survived is a revelation of the power of the human spirit to overcome fear, pain and deprivation of almost unimaginable intensity. His passion for climbing has taken him all over the world. Simon philip yates born 7 august 1992 is a british road and track racing cyclist, who currently rides for uci worldteam mitcheltonscott. Joe simpson was born on 9 august 1960 in kuala lumpur, federation of malaysia. A few days later, simon staggered into base camp, exhausted and frostbitten, to tell their nonclimbing companion that joe was dead. On the descent, an accident resulted in simpson falling over a cliff while roped to yates, who was forced to cut the rope to avoid both climbers falling. Joe simpson i met simon 12 years ago in chamonix in the french alps. He won the gold medal in the points race at the 20 track cycling world championships. How we met joe simpson and simon yates the independent. In appalling conditions, high on a previously unclimbed andean mountain face, he fought long and hard to save the life of his badly injured friend, joe simpson.
Touching the void is the heartstopping account of joe simpson s terrifying adventure in the peruvian andes. Joe simpson and his climbing partner, simon yates, had just reached the top of a 21,000foot peak in the andes when. In 20 the 25th anniversary ebook edition of touching the. In the hours that followed, darkness fell and a blizzard raged as yates tried to lower his friend to safety. In the summer of 1985, joe simpson and his climbing partner, simon yates, decide to conquer an unclimbed route in the peruvian andes. Its essentially a retelling with simpson and yates providing context in straighttocamera interviews, and two actors representing them in pulverising reconstruction sequences. Even though i liked him straight away, i didnt decide to specifically climb with him. Three years after that, he gave his account in a bestselling book. Touching the void the true story of one mans miraculous.
First, simpson described their experience in his bestselling book. When simon yates cut the cord between himself and his friend joe simpson during. After summiting successfully, they descended via the north ridge, and that. He described the ordeal in his bestselling 1988 book touching the void, which was adapted into a 2003 documentary film of the same name. Some would say, yates later wrote in his book against the wall, that. May 19, 2016 jessica simpson, left, and joe simpson at the mouche gallery in beverly hills in february. In 1985, 11 years after reading the book, simpson and his climbing partner, simon yates, made the first ascent of the west face of siula grande in the peruvian andes. May 24, 2012 mountaineer joe simpsons latest test of endurance a twitter row with angry gcse students over his book touching the void, an account of his adventure in the andes. Now available on dvd, touching the void, intercuts interviews with actual climberssurvivors joe simpson and simon yates and shots of two climbersactors reenacting their traumatic experiences on. Simpson plunged off the vertical face of an ice ledge, breaking his leg.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors picks, and more. So now were talking about a film, based on a book, based on an event that happened nearly 20 years ago. Simon yates has written three books about his mountaineering. When simon yates cut the rope and sent his friend plummeting to an ordeal few mountaineers can have contemplated, the outcome was totally unpredictable. Mountaineer joe simpson, whose awardwinning book touching the void was turned into an awardwinning film, talks about conversations with a twist the conversations that never take place. Joe simpson mountaineer, cancer, net worth, wiki, gay. Sep 07, 2011 touching the void is joe simpsons account of the ordeal he and simon yates endured in 1985. As his new book hits the shelves, joe simpson, author of touching the. Conversations that change everything mountaineer joe. Joe simpson, with just his partner simon yates, tackled the unclimbed west face of the remote 21,000 foot siula grande in the peruvian andes in june of 1995. Nov 16, 2019 in peru in 1985, joe simpson then 25 and his 21yearold climbing partner simon yates were descending the remote siula grande, which was hard to get up but even harder to get down, when simpson broke his leg.
Plenty of excitement follows, but i will leave mention of any details for readers this book operates on two speeds. Its almost surprising that mountaineer simon yates agrees to be interviewed. But before they reached the summit, disaster struck. When touching the void was released in 2003 it focused on a nearfatal climb that joe simpson and simon yates made in the peruvian andes. Simpson said he, too, would have cut the rope if their positions had been reversed. While climbing in peru in 1985, he suffered severe injuries and was thought lost after falling into a crevasse, but he survived and managed to crawl back to his base camp. He is famous and known for his book touching the void and the 2003 film adaptation of his book. Part one of joe simpson s interview filmed at the sheffield adventure film festival.
When joe simpson launched his latest career this week with a splashy photography. Nov 09, 2019 simpsons book about his improbable survival, touching the void, has sold more than 1m copies and in 2003 became a baftawinning film. May 01, 1989 british climber joe simpson, then 24, had shattered his right leg in a fall near the 21,000foot summit of the siula grande mountain, leaving simon yates, then 21, with the almost impossible task. Joe simpson recalls how he triumphed over certain death. I n 1985, 25yearold joe simpson and another british climber, simon yates, 21, were climbing the west face of siula grande in the peruvian andes when simpson fell and badly broke his leg. Determined to be the first team ever to summit the west face of siula grande, a mountain in peru, simpson and yates set out on an adventure that ultimately changed their lives. Joe simpson and his climbing partner, simon yates, had just reached the top of a. Im not an easy person to be with as his new book hits the shelves, joe simpson, author of touching the void, talks about guilt, loss and survival, and why falling in. Joe simpson recounts one of mountaineerings greatest survival stories. The cutting of the rope clearly touched a nerve, acknowledged simpson in the epilogue to the 10th anniversary edition of touching the void, his. The two tied the knot in 1978, when joe was 20 and tina was 18. In the process, simpson became a hero and yates an arch. It has sold over a million copies and has been translated into over 20 languages. Simpsons book about his improbable survival, touching the void.
His twin brother is adam yates, who is also a cyclist for the same team. Joe simpson, with just his partner, simon yates, tackled the unclimbed west face of the remote 21,000foot siula grande in the peruvian andes in june of 1995. Conversations that change everything mountaineer joe simpson. Joe simpson born 1960 is an english mountaineer, author, and motivational speaker. Sep 14, 2016 mountaineer joe simpson, whose awardwinning book touching the void was turned into an awardwinning film, talks about conversations with a twist the conversations that never take place. He described the ordeal in his bestselling 1988 book touching the void, which was.
In 1985, simon yates and joe simpson attempted to be the first to successfully ascent the west face of the 6,244 metre tall siula grande, located in the peruvian andes, taking an inexperienced richard hawking to stay at base camp. In 1985, he climbed the west face of siula grande in the huayhuash mountain range in the peruvian andes with joe simpson. He is an english mountaineer, author and motivational speaker. That joe simpson survived is a revelation of the power of the human spirit to overcome fear, pain and deprivation of almost unimaginable intensi. Climber simon yates was portrayed as the man who cut the rope in the film touching the void. Best friends, joe simpson and simon yates found the answer to an age old question. Joe talks film rights, tom cruise and half a million quid.
Joe simpson and his climbing partner, simon yates, are alone on the mountain when disaster strikes and joe slips, falls and fractures his leg. In 1985, 11 years after reading the book, simpson and his climbing partner, simon yates, made the first ascent of the west face of siula grande in. Mar 21, 2008 part one of joe simpson s interview filmed at the sheffield adventure film festival. Jan 21, 2019 touching the void, the book and awardwinning documentary that detailed the harrowing expedition in 1985, made simon, a cumbriabased climber, a household name. During an attempted first ascent of the mountain siula grande in the chilean andes, simpson broke his on the decent, and the arduous task of getting off the mountain alive began. To be a serious climber, you have to be a little bit. Simon yates mountaineer wikipedia republished wiki 2. Touching the void is a 1988 book by joe simpson, recounting his and simon yates successful but disastrous and nearly fatal climb of the 6,344metre 20,814. Interview with simon yates the man who cut the rope in award.
Of course, joe and tina simpson are the parents of jessica and ashlee. Mountaineer laughs off twitter row with spotty schoolkids. Simpson dedicates the book to his climbing partner, simon yates, and to. I do not believe joe simpson by etai101 tue mar 01, 2011 2. Mar 12, 2020 joe simpson and his climbing partner, simon yates, had just reached the top of a 21,000foot peak in the andes when disaster struck. Some would say, yates later wrote in his book against the wall, that cutting the rope, and the powerful symbol of trust and friendship it represents, should never have entered my mind. Touching the void climber says director burned him with onesided. Joe simpson, 36, is a climber, author and greenpeace activist. Ahead of a stage version at perth theatre and an accompanying talk from simon he opens up. A few days later, simon staggered into base camp, exhausted and frostbitten, with news that that joe was dead.
Simpson dedicates the book to his climbing partner, simon yates, and to those friends who have gone to the mountains and have not returned. Nov 02, 2019 in 1985, simpson, then 25, together with his 21yearold climbing partner simon yates, set off to climb the west face of siula grande, a 6,344mhigh rock face in the peruvian andes. He has twice come close to losing his life on mountaineering expeditions. He dedicated his book and the documentary to yates, saying his climbing partner saved his life by staying with him on the mountain for so long. Touching the void is a 1988 book by joe simpson, recounting his and simon yates successful but disastrous and nearly fatal climb of the 6,344metre 20,814 ft siula grande in the peruvian andes in 1985. Simon yates going back to the void simon yates should have gone down in mountain folklore as a hero. The two young and headstrong men choose to climb the daunting west face of the 20,8 foot siula grande in the cordillera huayhuash mountain range. Simpson survived, and recounted the story in the book touching the. Joe simpson and his climbing partner, simon yates, had just reached the top of a 21,000foot peak in the andes when disaster struck. Oct 22, 2007 in 1985, 11 years after reading the book, simpson and his climbing partner, simon yates, made the first ascent of the west face of siula grande in the peruvian andes. Joe simpson has never blamed simon yates for cutting the rope, simpson publicly defended yates. Joe simpson himself has stated in the book, in interviews, etc. He and his climbing partner, simon, reached the summit of the remote siula grande in june 1985.
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