Colin Kirkus

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Colin Kirkus (19 June 1910-13 September 1942), was one of the most influential climbers Britain has ever produced.

Jack Longland described the greatest rock face in Wales, Clogwyn Du'r Arddu, as "Colin’s Cliff". Kirkus' series of new routes on "Cloggy" was unparalleled until the emergence of Joe Brown, 20 years later.

Kirkus also climbed extensively in the Alps and made a pioneering Alpine-style ascent in the Himalaya in 1933. He was killed in the Second World War in 1942.

Kirkus left the world of mountaineering two tremendous legacies: firstly his pioneering climbs in Wales and elsewhere, and secondly one of the finest instruction books ever written "Let's Go Climbing!".

[edit] References

• Colin Kirkus, Let's Go Climbing!, ISBN 1-904466-17-6.
• Steve Dean, Hands of a Climber, ISBN 0-948153-21-0.
• I.D.S. Thomson, The Black Cloud, ISBN 0-948153-20-2.