Conrad Anker

Desert Island Discs

Conrad Anker, mountaineer, is interviewed by Kirsty Young.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the mountaineer Conrad Anker.

Some of us choose a life in I.T. or event planning - Conrad Anker has opted to swing from a nylon stepladder 19,000 feet up a cliff with a dose of trench foot and a wedge of stale cheese for supper. It may seem an odd way to spend one's life but it's his way.

One of the world's elite climbers he's credited with a long list of first time ascents. He's also summited Everest three times. During one renowned climb he discovered the icy corpse of the legendary George Mallory who had perished along with Sandy Irvine as they tried to scale the peak - in nothing more than hobnail boots and tweeds - in 1924.

When he isn't exploring the far corners of the world's wilderness he's at home in Montana with his wife Jennifer, the widow of his best friend Alex Lowe, who was killed by an avalanche that narrowly missed Conrad himself.

He says of his life, "Most people are so risk averse. The world is full of couch potatoes ... we climbers should get government stipends for keeping the risk-taking gene pool alive."

Producer: Cathy Drysdale.

Show less

Download

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 14 Jun 2013 09:00

BBC Radio 4

More episodes

Sir Mervyn King

Alexandra Shulman

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

“A tag sewn into his collar said GL Mallory”

Duration: 01:59

The Rolling Stones

Gimme Shelter
- Forty Licks.
- Virgin.
Eddie Vedder

The Wolf
- Music For The Motion Picture Into The Wild.
- Columbia.
Castaway's Favourite
- Joseph Haydn
  
  Concerto for Trumpet & Orchestra in E-flat Major, Hob. VIIe:1
  
  Performer: English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Raymond Leppard with Wynton Marsalis on trumpet
  
  Wynton Marsalis The London Concert.
  
  SONY CLASSICAL.
Blitzen Trapper

Furr
- Furr.
- Sub Pop.
Aydio

Deltitnu
- Nonentity.
- Kraak Records.
Led Zeppelin

The Battle Of Evermore (feat. Sandy Denny)
- Led Zeppelin 4.
- ATLANTIC.
Blind Faith

Can’t Find My Way Home
- Blind Faith.
- Polydor Limited.
Redlight King

Old Man
- Something For the Pain.
- Hollywood Records.
Book Choice
- Complete Works - Jack London
Luxury Choice
- Rope and rack