Introducing Simon Yearsley

Simon has a deep love for all things mountain. Fuelled by early rock-climbing adventures growing up in the U.K.’s beautiful Lake District, he has developed this love affair with climbing over the past 35 years.

Simons real passion is exploratory climbing, whether it’s making first ascents of Himalayan peaks or new routes on remote Scottish winter cliffs, he is driven by the thrill of finding new lines or new summits.

Simon has climbed adventurous routes all over the world, including the first British (second overall) ascent of Yogeshwar (6,617m, Indian Garwhal, 1992) with Malcolm Bass; the first ascent of two difficult new routes in fast and light style on the south face of Kahiltna Queen in Alaska, again with Malcolm in 2003; and more recently the first ascent of Dunlung Kangri (6,365m Indian East Karakorum, 2013) with Malcolm Bass.



Over ten years ago he moved to Scotland to be closer to the wonderful winter playground of the Scottish mountains and it’s on this stage that he has climbed dozens of adventurous new routes. Now fifty and a proud father he is as driven as ever to continue high standard exploratory climbing in remote and beautiful locations around the world.

Recent Highlights
First British (second overall) ascent of Yogeshwar (6,617m) Indian Garhwal Distant Lights & South Face Couloir – two new 1100m lines on the south Face of Kahiltna Queen, Alaska

First Ascent of Dunglung Kangri (6365m) Indian East Karakorum First winter ascent of the Bonnington-Patey route on Point Migot, Chamonix Aiguilles

First ascents of Realisation (VI,6), Wonderland (VII,7) and Haigha (VI,7), a triptych of 300m+ new winter lines on Scotland’s Beinn Bhann Repeated failure (so far to date) to do a new winter line on Fuarr Tholl’s Mainreachan Buttress

First winter ascent of Pobble (VII,7) and first ascent of The Long March (VII,8), two impressive lines on the remote Lord Reay’s Seat, Foinhaven, Scotland Development of Eilde Canyon, a major new ice climbing venue in Glencoe First ascent of Beggar’s Belief (VII,7) on Ben Nevis