Andy Cave

Background

Born in 1966, Andy Cave grew up in Royston, a small coal mining village in South Yorkshire.

Education

In 1986, he left his job, returning to education and earned a degree in English (1993) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics (2001).

Career

He was nominated for the Piolet d"Or for his ascent of the North Face of Changabang. On leaving school with few qualifications at 16, he followed family tradition and began work as a miner. This period also saw him begin climbing on the local Peak District crags.

The miners" strike (1984–1985) gave Andy the opportunity to devote his time to climbing.

1986 also saw him climb the North Face of the Eiger. The Alps On one of his first visits to the Alps, Andy did several climbs in just a few weeks.

After soloing the north face of the Colonel du Plan, he climbed: the Bonatti Pillar, Aiguille du Dru. The Freney Pillar directissima, Mont Blanc.

Gervussutti Pillar, Mountain Blanc du Tacul.

Walker Spur, Grandes Jorrasses. Brenva Spur, Mountain Blanc. Eiger north face, Droites north face.

On a subsequent visit, he climbed • Brandler/Hasse on the Cima Grande • Fish on the Marmolada • solo climbed Piz Badile north face • Harlins/Robins direct on the Dru • Divine Providence on Mountain Blanc • New route on the East face of the Grandes Jorrasses.

Expeditions to Himalayas • Laila Peak • Gashebrum IV, south ridge • Ogre north face • Tupopdan • Trango Tower • Hispar Louisiana Towers • Shishapangma • Konga Shan Massif • Changabang • Ama Dablam • Annapurna III. Expeditions to Alaska Mountain Kennedy north spur, first Alpine style ascent. Expeditions to Patagonia • Fitzroy • Mascara, Torres del Paine • Rio Turbio • Guillamet Andy has presented ‘Andy Cave’s Expedition Underground’, British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 4, exploring the history and significance of the Thirlmere Aqueduct.

He has appeared on Dominic Arkwright’s ‘Leaving the Comfort Zone’, British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 4, and ‘Excess Baggage’ with Sandy Toksvig, British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 4. television appearances include: Coast on BBC2, climbing the Old Manitoba of Hoy.

Griff Rhys Jones" Mountain, BBC2, helping Griff motivate teenagers from a tough inner city school by taking them climbing.

"Wild Climbs", BBC2, an expedition to the sandstone towers of Teplice, Czechoslovakian Republic. "Eiger: Wall of Death’, BBC4. And ‘The Ogre’, Independent Television, his expedition to the north face of the Ogre in the Himalayas aged just 23yrs.

Bachelor (Honours) English Language (1993), Sheffield Hallam University Doctor of Philosophy Linguistics (2001), University of Sheffield Doctorate.Litt.h.c. from Sheffield University in 2015.

Andy is a trustee of the charity Adventure Learning Schools. Along with Chris Bonington, Andy is a patron for the Jonathan Conville Memorial Trust.

Achievements

• His first book, Learning to Breathe, won the Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature (2005), joint winner. The Best Adventure Travel Book at the Banff Mountain Book Festival (2005). The Premio Mazzotti prize (2006) and the Banca de Veneto Voce de Lettori in Italy in (2006).