ANdy houseman

alpinist

 

 

Andy Houseman

"I started climbing about 9 years ago,

rock climbing in the UK then making my

first visit to the alps in 2001. Since then

I’ve spent time living in Canada and winter

seasons in Chamonix.  For me, just being

out in the mountains away from the crowds

is what it’s all about.

 

Alpine climbing and skiing are what I’m most

passionate about, happy spending my winter

days off either hunting out fresh tracks with mates,

scaring myself looking down a steep couloir wondering

why I’ve got a pair of skis on instead of axes or trudging

up some glacier ready for a few days of alpine suffering. 

 

For the future I hope to get away to the Greater Ranges more, opening new routes on unclimbed faces. Fast and light is the way to go, or as a friend put it ‘cold and miserable’…  Alaska really impressed me, easy access to big mountains, so much to do and lots of daylight to play with. This Autumn I’m heading out to Nepal with Nick Bullock to try a new route on the originally named Peak 41, hopefully the first of many trips to the Himalaya."

 

Favourite and Notable climbs

 

  • 2nd ascent of the French Route, North Buttress of Mount Hunter, Alaska
  • New variation start to Overcouloir, Mont Maudit
  • Omega, Petite Jorasses (probably the best route I’ve done yet)
  • Colten/MacIntyre, Grandes Jorasses
  • 3 routes on the North Face of Les Droites
  • Fast winter ascent of North Face of Eiger, 1938 route
  • There Goes the Neighborhood / Cohen-Collister (climbed the rarely formed/climbed steep ice smear start to Neighbourhood but found the top dry so made the long traverse into the British route)
  • Scotch on the Rocks & Pinocchio
  • Day link up of Sorcerer and Hydrophobia, Ghost valley, Canada (even after walking 2 hours in the wrong direction trying to find Hydrophobia!)
  • Classic ski descents including, NE face - Les Courts, Gervasuitti couloir - Tour Rond, South Couloir - Aig de l’ Eboulement

 

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