– Photographs –

Andy Cave cocooned in his bivvy bag on our attempt on the west face of Mount Grosvenor, China, in 2003.

Kajaqiao (left) and Manamcho (6,447 and 6,264 metres respectively) in the Nyainqentangla East range of east Tibet.

Hiring porters in Tibet on the 2005 Kajaqiao expedition.

In 2007 during our Manamcho expedition we became the first Westerners to see this lake and these unclimbed peaks.

Looking across to Manamcho, Tom Nakamura’s ‘Matterhorn of the Nyainqentangla’, from Pt 5,935. Steve Burns in the foreground. Photo: Ian Cartwright.

The west face of Vasuki Parbat (6,792 metres).

Leading out on the traverse on day four of our attempt on Vasuki Parbat. Photo: Paul Ramsden.

Paul Ramsden testing the comfort level of a bivvy – our fourth – on Vasuki Parbat.

Successfully completing the Isle of Jura fell race in 2010 after my failure in 2009. Photo: John English.

Me failing dismally to duck under the planks in the Xiate hot springs on our Sulamar expedition in 2010.

Not to be recommended: my view having fallen in a crevasse while acclimatising for Sulamar.

Paul at the site of our hanging bivvy on Sulamar – the cornice is only twenty-five metres above!

Sulamar, day two: a storm, benightment and no bivvy in sight – a bad combination.

Paul on the beautiful summit ridge of Sulamar (5,380 metres).

Dave Turnbull, CEO of the British Mountaineering Council, and the Nepali border defence on our walk in to Mugu Chuli in 2011.

Dave Turnbull climbing on day one on Mugu Chuli.

Looking across to Mugu Chuli (6,310 metres) from our acclimatisation camp.

Dave Turnbull climbing on the upper slopes of Mugu Chuli.

Topping out closer to home on one of our dawn raids on the Nottingham Castle cliffs. Photo: Paul Ramsden.

The Prow of Shiva (6,142 metres). Photo: Paul Ramsden.

Paul Ramsden climbing on the lower section of the Prow of Shiva in 2012.

Paul demonstrating the à cheval technique to try and make progress along the crest of the lower buttress of Shiva.

Paul enduring spindrift on an otherwise comfortable sitting bivvy on Shiva.

On Shiva, with Kishtwar Kailash (6,451 metres) in the distance. Photo: Paul Ramsden.

Paul and me with our Piolet d’Or award at the ceremony in Chamonix in 2013.

Rob Smith experiencing the approach to Kishtwar Kailash in 2013. Photo: Paul Ramsden.

Paul in action on day four of our first ascent of Kishtwar Kailash in 2013.

Enjoying the untrodden summit of Kishtwar Kailash. Photo: Paul Ramsden.

Looking towards Hagshu (6,515 metres) from base camp.

And the view back down towards base camp from our climb on Hagshu. Paul in shade in the foreground.

The Hagshu base camp bear!

With the Slovenian team following our ascents. L–R: Marko Prezelj, Steve Burns, Luka Lindič, Paul Ramsden, Aleš Česen and me.

Paul and the summit ridge of Hagshu. This part of the route was shared with the Slovenians, as evidenced by their footprints.

The shaded north face of Gave Ding (6,571 metres), our objective in 2015.

Wonderful mixed climbing on Gave Ding. Photo: Paul Ramsden.

Victor Saunders choosing dinner at Sersank base camp in 2016.

Victor cutting off his Calvin Klein pants on Sersank.

The 1,100-metre north buttress of Sersank (6,050 metres). We completed our climb in an eight-day round trip from base camp.

A climbing reunion with Victor Saunders, almost thirty years after our first ascent of the Golden Pillar of Spantik in 1987.