Career
He became well known in the Sächsische Schweiz for the first ascents of major sandstone rock towers such as:
Schrammtorwächter (VI) in 1905
Kanzelturm (VI) in 1905
Teufelsturm (VIIb) in 1906 (at 58+ - with a shoulder stand - a very difficult rock climb)
and first ascents of several climbing routes that are still very popular today, est g.:
Spannagelturm Perrykante VIIb in 1906
Falkenstein Südriss (VIIa) in 1913
Daxenstein Klavier (VIIa) in 1913
Daxenstein Perryriss (VIIb) in 1913
(All grades Saxon rating)
In total "he made more than 90 ascents in Saxon Switzerland, 33 of which are rated VI or above. There were 32 first ascents, 13 solo climbs and 36 additional ones on which he led". The most famous is the "Fehrmann Corner" (in German, Fehrmannverschneidung), V-, on Campanile Basso, Southwest face (also known as "Guglia di Brenta", in Brenta group in Dolomites, on August 28).
Despite its name, this route was led by Perry-Smith (because, as explained in biographical article in American Association For Justice 1964, "Fehrmann was the first to sign the summit book and later he was assumed by later climbers to be a leader").
One of others of their new routes is the north face of Cima Piccola di Lavaredo (in German: Kleine Zinne), August 15. In the "his repeated ascents include also Weisshorn, Matterhorn, Dent Blanche, Zinalrothorn, Wellenkuppe, Obergabelhorn, Kleine Zinne".
There are a number of anecdotes depicting Perry-Smith as a rather unusual character:
When people doubted his ascent of "Perryriss", he climbed that route again and wrote in big letters "Perry" on the rock. (it can still be read today)
He owned a Bugatti race car and got in trouble with the police several times for driving fast and hazardously.
He was once arrested for getting drunk and disturbing the peace in the town of Bad Schandau.
In the year 1914 Oliver Perry-Smith returned to the United States, never to visit Saxony again.