Ron Fawcett

Climbing career Fawcett is considered as a legend of British rock climbing, and a prolific developer of challenging new routes that attracted international recognition. By the start of the 1980s, Fawcett was considered the most famous rock climber in Britain, with a reputation for high levels of fitness and mental fortitude. and admitted to being addicted to it, saying, "I broke lots of bones while soloing, but I always went back for more. It's only since having children that I've stopped". In 1986, Fawcett free soloed over 100 extreme gritstone routes in a day (graded E1 and above, with half above E2 5c, and 4 at E5 6b) in the Peak District. His free soloing extended into highball bouldering, and in 1987, Fawcett climbed Careless Torque at The Plantation in Stanage Edge, considered one of the first-ever boulders climbed at that grade in history, and which is still one of the most intimidating boulder routes in Britain.

Fawcett won the 2010 Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature with Ed Douglas, for their book Ron Fawcett, Rock Athlete.

Notable climbs

1976: Slip 'n' Slide (E6 6a), Crookrise, North Yorkshire, the hardest gritstone route in Britain at the time. First ascent, free solo. and the famous Fawcett line, "C'mon arms, do your stuff". 1982: The Prow F, Raven's Tor, with Gill Fawcett, over 3 days. First free ascent. 1982: Tequila Mockingbird (E6 6c), Chee Tor, Derbyshire. Use of bolts was controversial. First ascent. 1984: Revelations , Raven's Tor. Second ascent after Jerry Moffatt (FFA, 1984). 1987: Highball of Careless Torque , Stanage Edge. First ascent, and one of first at that grade in history. 1992: The 5,000-metre Girdle Traverse (E5 6b), Stanage Edge. Completed by Facwett in 6 hours and 10 minutes.