Joe Simpson

Touching the Void

1. IDEA 1

   Two climbers faced disaster

   Simpson describes climbing the west face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes with his friend Simon Yates in 1985. They reached the summit, but on the way down Simpson fell and badly broke his leg.

2. IDEA 2

   A broken leg meant danger

   With a broken leg high on a mountain, Simpson knew he might not survive. Yates decided to try to lower him down by rope. Simpson describes it as a choice made in a very bad situation, with no easy way out.

3. IDEA 3

   They descended by rope

   Yates lowered Simpson down the mountain in stages, using a long rope. It was slow and exhausting. Simpson describes how each small step down took great care, and one slip could have meant disaster.

All 8 ideas from Touching the Void →