Eric Shipton

 I had downloaded to read on my Kindle “The Untravelled World: The autobiography of a pioneering mountaineer and explorer” by Eric Shipton.

I spent about a month at the Outward Bound school in Eskdale when I was about 17. Eric Shipton had been the director there for a short time.

Alpine Club friends may recognise him as being one of the early British Alpinists who did many first ascents in the 1930 of the Himalayan Karakorans. Because of this during WWII he was a British colonial officer in Kashgar in India near the Tibet border. In 1950 he was again a colonial officer in Kumming before it was taken over by the Chinese communists. He was on several pre Everest planning expeditions and was at one time going to be appointed leader the the successful 1953 Everest expedition in which Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing were successful about two days before Elizabeth II’s Coronation. 

After being turned down to lead that expedition he then went climbing and exploring in Patagonia and Terra Del Fuego. Fascinating to read the account after having just been through that area in a cruise ship.

 He then was called upon to represent the British Government in mediation between Chile and Argentina to update their agreed boundaries. A much enjoyed relevant read!


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