The golden age of Himalayan mountaineering, from the mid-1970s to the 1980s, brought forth a generation of radical young climbers. With tiny budgets and high ambitions they pioneered fast and light, alpine-style expeditions on mountains such as Jannu, Nuptse, Everest and K2.

In High Risk, Brian Hall recalls the outrageous adventures of eleven of his climbing friends who risked – and often lost – their lives to stand on some of the world’s highest peaks during a legendary period in mountaineering history.

Prizes

Winner of Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature 2022,Winner of Kekoo Naoroji Award for Himalayan Literature 2022,Winner of Mountain & Adventure Narrative Award, New Zealand Mountain Film & Book Festival 2023

‘An absolutely spellbinding read.’

‘Big characters who loved life close to the edge.’

‘A riveting insight into the legendary characters of a remarkable climbing era.’

‘Dazzling adventures recalled with wisdom and affection.’

'High Risk captures the spirit of an era ... Ascents not bettered and hardly equalled since.'

‘Full of humour, affection and respect, High Risk takes the reader to the heart and soul of the golden age of UK climbing.’

'A major milestone in alpine literature.' John Porter – mountaineer, author and former Alpine Club President

'Entertaining, revealing, breathtaking, heartbreaking and confessional.' Stephen Goodwin – Kekoo Naoroji Book Award for Mountain Literature

'A poignant tale of friendships, lofty climbing goals, and, ultimately, tremendous loss.' Cameron M. Burns – American Alpine Journal

Climbing exploits worldwide led Brian Hall to become an internationally certified mountain guide who provides extreme location safety and rigging for the film industry. His numerous credits include the BAFTA award-winning film Touching the Void, the dramatisation of Joe Simpson’s bestselling book. Between 1980 and 2008, he co-directed the Kendal Mountain Film Festival of which he is also a founder. Brian and his wife Louise divide their time between the UK’s Peak District and New Zealand’s Southern Alps. High Risk is his first book.