Paul Ramsden (climber) explained

Paul Ramsden
Birth Date:	^[1]
Birth Place:	Yorkshire, England
Education:	University of Sheffield (1987-90, BSc) University of Birmingham (2011-12, MSc)
Occupation:	Occupational hygienist^[2] ^[3]
Updated:	21 April 2024

Paul Ramsden (born 1969) is a British mountaineer and alpinist. He is internationally noted for his alpine climbing.^[2] Ramsden was awarded the Piolet d'Or five times for alpine-style first ascents of extreme high-altitude routes in the Himalayas:^[4] 2003, 2013 & 2016 with Mick Fowler (they were the first British winners of the award). 2017 with Nick Bullock, and in 2023 with Tim Miller. Ramsden is notably media and publicity-shy (no social media presence and minimal sponsors), and in 2023 was described by the Financial Times as "The most decorated mountaineer ever (and why you’ve never heard of him)".^[2]

Climbing career

Ramsden is a strong advocate of lightweight 'alpine style' climbing and rejects the use of fixed ropes or other expedition climbing supports (e.g. oxygen or porters).^[5] In 2023, he said: ".. I am an alpinist and would never consider climbing in another way. If I couldn't climb alpine style, then I would stop climbing. It's the only ethical way to climb big mountains, and to be honest any other way is simply cheating."^[6] Ramsden feels the Piolet awards suit the British style of climbing, saying: "Small teams, exploration, alpine style... that's exactly what the Piolets d'Or aim to promote, and that's how we learn to climb".

Ramsden attributes his longevity in the notably dangerous world of high-altitude extreme alpine climbing to experiencing the deaths of climbing partners at a younger age—particularly one when he was 17.^[2]

Notable ascents and awards

• 2002 Northwest face of Siguniang (ED+, VII AI6 M6, 1,500m, Sichuan). FA with Mick Fowler; they won the 2003 Piolet d'Or, and the 2002 for this climb.^{[7] [8]}
• 2007 Northwest Ridge of Manamcho (TD, Scottish V, 700m, Tibet). FA with Mick Fowler; known as the Matterhorn of the Nyenchen Tanglha.^[9]
• 2010 North Face of Sulamar (TD+, 1,600m, Xinjiang, China). FA with Mick Fowler.^{[10] [11]}
• 2012 Northeast Buttress ("Prow") of (ED+, 700m, India) with Mick Fowler; they won the 2013 Piolet d'Or for this climb, their second.^{[7] [12]}
• 2013 Southwest Face of (ED, Scottish VI, 1,500m, India). FA with Fowler.^{[13] [14]}
• 2014 Northeast Face (ED, 1,300m, India). FA with Mick Fowler.^{[15] [16]}
• 2015 North Face of Gave Ding (ED+, 1,600m, Nepal). FA with Mick Fowler; they won the 2016 Piolet d'Or for this climb, which was their third.^{[7] [17]}
• 2016 North buttress of Nyainqentangla South East (1,600m, ED+) in Tibet. FA with Nick Bullock; they won the 2016 Piolet d'Or for this climb, which was Ramsden's fourth.^{[18] [19] [20]}
• 2022 North face (Phantom Line) of the Jugal Spire (1,300m, ED, 5-days) in the, Nepal. FA with Tim Miller; they won the 2023 Piolet d'Or for this climb, which was Ramsden's fifth.^{[2] [21]}

Personal life

Like his long-term climbing partner Mick Fowler, Ramsden is not a professional climber and is self-employed as a full-time occupational hygienist through his service company, 'Integral HSE'.^{[2] [3]}

Bibliography

• Ramsden . Paul . The Jugal Project: The First Ascent of a Striking Spire in Nepal . . 65. 97. 2023.
• Ramsden . Paul . The Wrong Valley: Climbing a Hidden Wall on a 7,000-Meter Peak in Tibet . . 59. 91. 10-18. 2017.
• Ramsden . Paul . Positive Vibes: The first ascent of Gave Ding in western Nepal . . 58. 90. 56-65. 2016.
• Ramsden . Paul . Hagshu, Northeast Face and Traverse . . 57. 89. 320-325. 2015.
• . Kishtwar Kailash, Southwest Face . Paul . Ramsden . 2014 . 88 . 56 . 337.

See also

• Rick Allen (mountaineer), Scottish Piolet d'Or winner

External links

• The World's Best Mountaineers Right Now: #7 Paul Ramsden, Red Bull (November 2023)
• Mick Fowler, Paul Ramsden: First Ascent of Shiva (6142m) Piolets d'Or 2013 Winner, EpicTV (2013)

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2016 Piolet d'Or Awards. North Face of Gave Ding, 6571m (Nepal). Mick Fowler and Paul Ramsden. . 15 April 2024.
2. Web site: . The most decorated mountaineer ever (and why you’ve never heard of him) . Adam . Butterworth . 24 November 2023 . 15 April 2024.
3. Web site: IntegralHSE . Meet the Team: Paul Ramsden . 2024 . 22 April 2024.
4. Web site: UK Climbing . Perfect Partners #9 - Mick Fowler and Paul Ramsden . Tom . Ripley . 2 May 2018 . 15 April 2024.
5. Web site: . Stefan . Nestler . Paul Ramsden: "Climbing style is everything" . 17 December 2017 . 21 April 2024.
6. Web site: Abenteuer Berg . Paul Ramsden after another first ascent of a six-thousander in Nepal: "Anything but alpine style is cheating" . 10 November 2023 . 21 April 2024 . Stefan . Nestler . de . de.
7. . Bernadette McDonald . Bernadette . McDonald . Piolets d'Or: A Short History of the Golden Ice Axe . 2017 . 2 January 2023 . 72.
8. Web site: PlanetMountain . Mick Fowler and Paul Ramsden win 12th Piolet d'Or . 10 February 2003 . 15 April 2024.
9. Web site: PlanetMountain . British Manamcho Expedition 2007 . 1 June 2007 . 3 August 2023.
10. Web site: PlanetMountain . 4 October 2010 . Nicholas . Hobley . Sulamar North Face first ascent by Mick Fowler and Paul Ramsden . 2 August 2023 .
11. Web site: . Beautiful North Face Climbed in China by Fowler and Ramsden. Dougald . McDonald . 6 November 2010 . 15 April 2024 .
12. Web site: . Brits Climb Prow of Shiva in Alpine Style . 12 December 2012 . 21 April 2024 . Taylor. VanRoekel.
13. Web site: PlanetMountain . 23 October 2013 . 30 July 2023 . Kishtwar Kailash: first ascent by Mick Fowler and Paul Ramsden.
14. Web site: . A Seven-Day FA in the Kishtwar Himalaya . 30 October 2013 . 21 April 2024 . Mick . Fowler.
15. Web site: . Permit Fiasco Leads Two Teams to One Kishtwar Peak . 3 November 2014 . 30 July 2023 . Gwen . Cameron .
16. Web site: Gripped Magazine . Mick Fowler Climbs New Himalaya Route . 28 October 2014 . 30 July 2023.
17. Web site: PlanetMountain . Mick Fowler and Paul Ramsden complete first ascent of Gave Ding in Nepal . 28 October 2015 . 30 July 2023.
18. Web site: . Piolet d'Or number four: Paul Ramsden interview. Sarah . Sterling . 24 April 2017 . 15 April 2024 .
19. Web site: . British alpinists climb a virgin north face to 7000-meter summit in Tibet. Derek . Franz . 21 October 2016 . 15 April 2024 .
20. Web site: . Paul Ramsden: “When you climb mountains too quickly you lose things” . 3 July 2017 . Dario. Rodríguez . 15 April 2024 . es . es.
21. Web site: . Paul Ramsden and Tim Miller Go 8 Days on Unclimbed 6000-meter Peak . 29 November 2023 . 15 April 2024 . Josh . Laskin.