Joe Simpson, best known for writing such books as Touching the Void and The Beckoning Silence, has solo climbed a new route in the Himalaya, according to this report from the British Mountaineering Council.
Simpson, whose story of survival on Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes has proven inspirational to millions, took on a new route along the South Face of Mera Peak, a 6470 meter (21,227 feet) mountain not far from Everest. The new route is said to be more than 4000 feet in length, and required two and a half days for the climber to complete. Upon reaching the top, as is typical, Simpson was allowed to name the new route. He selected In Memoriam for his friends Mal Duff and Ian Tattersall, who also climbed this mountain back in 1986.
The BMC report says that Simpson also had surgery on his ankle last year that was successful in alleviating a lot of pain. This climb was suppose to be his farewell to the mountains, but could signify that he'll actually continuing climbing, following this success. I guess we'll have to wait and see, but I had been under the impression that Joe had already hung up his crampons, but it appears he had a least one big climb still in him, and perhaps more to come.
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