Andy Fanshawe
Encyclopedia
Andy Fanshawe was a British
mountaineer
.
, he led his first expedition to the Ecuadorian Andes where he made first British ascents within the El Altar
massif as well as assisting David Kirke of the Dangerous Sports Club
glide from the summit of Chimborazo
.
In 1986, he was made a National Officer of the British Mountaineering Council
. Shortly after his appointment, he led a bold traverse of Chogolisa
and Bride Peak in the Karakoram
which was later documented in his book Coming Through. The book also gave an account of his ascent of Menlungtse with Chris Bonington
and Alan Hinkes
in 1988. Other climbing achievements included winter ascents of the Croz Spur on the Grandes Jorasses
and the Eiger
North Face.
On 14 March 1992, he fell while climbing Eagle Ridge in Lochnagar
, the Cairngorms
, claiming his life. At his funeral, Chris Bonington gave the eulogy
.
His book Himalaya Alpine-style, co-authored with Stephen Venables
, was published after his death in 1995.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
mountaineer
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
.
Biography
He started climbing as a student at Wilmslow Grammar School. Whilst studying geology at Imperial College LondonImperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
, he led his first expedition to the Ecuadorian Andes where he made first British ascents within the El Altar
El Altar
El Altar is an extinct volcano on the western side of Sangay National Park in Ecuador, 170 km south of Quito. Spaniards named it so because it resembled two Nuns and four Friars listening to a Bishop around a church altar...
massif as well as assisting David Kirke of the Dangerous Sports Club
Dangerous Sports Club
The Dangerous Sports Club, a group of adventurers and extreme sports pioneers based in Oxford and London, were active from the late 1970s for about ten years, during which they developed modern bungee jumping and experimented with a variety of other innovative sporting activities.-Origins:The...
glide from the summit of Chimborazo
Chimborazo (volcano)
Chimborazo is a currently inactive stratovolcano located in the Cordillera Occidental range of the Andes. Its last known eruption is believed to have occurred around 550 AD....
.
In 1986, he was made a National Officer of the British Mountaineering Council
British Mountaineering Council
The British Mountaineering Council is the national representative body for England and Wales that exists to protect the freedoms and promote the interests of climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers, including ski-mountaineers...
. Shortly after his appointment, he led a bold traverse of Chogolisa
Chogolisa
Chogolisa is a mountain in the Karakoram region of Pakistan. It lies near the Baltoro Glacier in the Concordia region which is home to some of the highest peaks of the world. Chogolisa has several peaks, the highest on the SW face rises to...
and Bride Peak in the Karakoram
Karakoram
The Karakoram, or Karakorum , is a large mountain range spanning the borders between Pakistan, India and China, located in the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan , Ladakh , and Xinjiang region,...
which was later documented in his book Coming Through. The book also gave an account of his ascent of Menlungtse with Chris Bonington
Chris Bonington
Sir Christian John Storey Bonington, CVO, CBE, DL is a British mountaineer.His career has included nineteen expeditions to the Himalayas, including four to Mount Everest and the first ascent of the south face of Annapurna.-Early life and expeditions:Educated at University College School in...
and Alan Hinkes
Alan Hinkes
Alan Hinkes OBE is an English mountaineer from Northallerton in North Yorkshire. Hinkes is the first British mountaineer to have summited all 14 mountains with elevations greater than 8000 metres, the so-called Eight-thousanders; however, this claim is disputed.He was awarded an Honorary...
in 1988. Other climbing achievements included winter ascents of the Croz Spur on the Grandes Jorasses
Grandes Jorasses
The Grandes Jorasses is a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif.The first ascent of the highest peak of the mountain was by Horace Walker with guides Melchior Anderegg, Johann Jaun and Julien Grange on 30 June 1868...
and the Eiger
Eiger
The Eiger is a mountain in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland. It is the easternmost peak of a ridge crest that extends across the Mönch to the Jungfrau at 4,158 m...
North Face.
On 14 March 1992, he fell while climbing Eagle Ridge in Lochnagar
Lochnagar
Lochnagar or Beinn Chìochan is a mountain in the Grampians of Scotland, located about five miles south of the River Dee near Balmoral.-Names:...
, the Cairngorms
Cairngorms
The Cairngorms are a mountain range in the eastern Highlands of Scotland closely associated with the mountain of the same name - Cairn Gorm.-Name:...
, claiming his life. At his funeral, Chris Bonington gave the eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
.
His book Himalaya Alpine-style, co-authored with Stephen Venables
Stephen Venables
Stephen Venables is a British mountaineer and writer, and is a past president of the South Georgia Association and of the Alpine Club.-Mountaineer:...
, was published after his death in 1995.
The Andy Fanshawe Memorial Trust
His widow Caroline and a group of friends established The Andy Fanshawe Memorial Trust after his death which provides grants to allow disadvantaged young people to experience the outdoors. The Trust also acts as a memorial to Jane Thomas, who died in the Cairngorms in 1994.Notable Ascents
- 1988 Menlungtse West (7023m) FA via West Ridge. Summit attained with Alan HinkesAlan HinkesAlan Hinkes OBE is an English mountaineer from Northallerton in North Yorkshire. Hinkes is the first British mountaineer to have summited all 14 mountains with elevations greater than 8000 metres, the so-called Eight-thousanders; however, this claim is disputed.He was awarded an Honorary...
(UK), with Chris BoningtonChris BoningtonSir Christian John Storey Bonington, CVO, CBE, DL is a British mountaineer.His career has included nineteen expeditions to the Himalayas, including four to Mount Everest and the first ascent of the south face of Annapurna.-Early life and expeditions:Educated at University College School in...
(UK), David BreashearsDavid BreashearsDavid Breashears is an American mountaineer and filmmaker. In 1985, he became the first American to reach the summit of Mount Everest twice...
and Steve Shea (both USA) in support.
Further reading
- Fanshawe, Andy, Coming Through: Expeditions to Chogolisa and Meniungtse, Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, 1990, (ISBN 0340520795)
- Venables, Stephen and Fanshawe, Andy, Himalaya Alpine Style: The Most Challenging Routes on the Highest Peaks, Baton Wicks, 1999, (ISBN 1898573395)