H.W.Tilman

[hammy]

The book that set me off when I was 15years old.
http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0898869609.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
A truly amazing read.
This guy spent the whole of the first world war as a spotter behind enemy lines?
Ran a farm in Africa after the war/big game hunting?
First to climb all the peaks on mount Kenya?
Declared bankrupt.
Cycled from the east coast of Africa to the west (across the fat bit)and lived on bananas(got potassium poisoning)
Worked his passage back to London?
Got recruited in London to go on some of the first mapping expeditions to the Himalaya?
never slept in a tent below the snow line?
Shot all food?
Had a cold river bath every morning?
Retired from climbing at the age of 66?
Then converted an old trawler to be able to travel Antarctic/Patagonian seas.
And climb unclimbed peaks,
Disappeared at sea at the age of 76.

He was based in a cottage on the Welsh coast 5 miles from the nearest road.
Excellent writer won quite a few awards in his time.
He has a set of sea travels books as well.
The best books ever.

Anyone read them.

 

[falling rain]

Blimey...sounds like quite a lad. I can't open your link because my IT bods at work won't let me change settings etc......long story.

I may have to look into this chap more, so can you recommend which of his books would be best to start off with. Sounds like he had one hell of a life

 

[hammy]

This sums up his life a lot better than my attempt

http://www.tilman.tv/achievements/index.htm

Try this one to start it a new book on his life just coming out.

http://www.tilman.tv/books/index.htm

I read The seven mountain- travel books first.
One big fat book with seven books within it. ISBN 1-898573-61-1

The video trailer is good aswell on this site.

 

[falling rain]

Thanks Hammy, I'll give that a try.
I see he also one the MC during the war.