Andy Kirkpatrick is one of the UK’s most accomplished mountaineers. Described by Climbing magazine as having “a strange penchant for the long, the cold and the difficult”, Andy specialises in climbing big-walls usually in winter. He has climbed Yosemite’s El Capitan more than ten times including a 12 day solo ascent of the mighty Reticent Wall. He has also made a 15-day winter ascent of the Lafaille Route on the Petit Dru, a 1000m pillar in the Alps considered to be one of the most difficult climbs in Europe. His other accomplishments include a first winter ascent of the east face if Mermoz in Patagonia, Argentina, two record breaking expeditions with paraplegic adventure Karen Darke (including a 29 day crossing of the Greenland ice cap and a successful ascent of El Capitan) and most recently the first attempt at a winter ascent of Torre Egger in Patagonia.

"Andy was the most inspirational speaker I have ever listened to.  His presentation was a perfect way to finish the event - on a high.  There were so many ways we could link this to our job."

Army Officer attending the Army Basic Skills Conference, Bournemouth 2009

Over the last ten years Andy has become an internationally renowned motivational speaker, motivating corporate clients and inspiring school children with his unique brand of inspiration and humour.

“I haven’t climbed Everest, skied to the poles, nor sailed single handed around the world. The goals I set out to accomplish aren’t easily measured or quantified by world records or ‘firsts’. The reasons I climb, and the climbs I do, are about more than distance or altitude, they are about breaking barriers within myself”.

It is perhaps Andy's journey from remedial student to successful climber, writer and speaker that interests his audience most. Brought up on a council estate in one of Britain's flattest cities, Hull-born Andy suffered from severe dyslexia which went undiagnosed until he was 19. One of his greatest strengths is his ability to talk about his life and his climbs in a way that is totally accessible to the non-climber and allows the audience to experience the risk and tension of big wall climbing.

“Thank you so much for the excellent presentation you gave to our Year 11 students earlier this month. Our aim was to find an 'inspirational' speaker who could provide our pupils with 'food for thought' and demonstrate that determination and a will to succeed is important in life...you fitted the bill brilliantly!...Thank you so much for the positive impact you have had on these young people. I am certain your message has got through to them and will remain with them as they progress through life.”
Head of Upper School, Lady Manners School, Derbyshire

Andy also works in film and TV, as a stunt safety advisor and this plays a part in many of his talks, which take you from the heights of Patagonia to the chocolaty depths of Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!  In 2008 he wrote his first book Psychovertical, published by Hutchinson, which received rave reviews and won the Boardman Tasker Prize for mountain literature.  

2008 also saw Andy entertaining theatre audiences around the UK with his stand-up show and handy "how to" guide to expeditions When Hell Freezes Over.   

After a brief break to attempt to solo the Eiger, Andy travelled with Karen Darke to Patagonia, Southern Chile in early 2009, where they kayaked up the San Rafael glacier for a BBC Scotland documentary Karen's Ultimate Challenge which aired in May 2009.

This summer Andy lead the expedition to help injured serviceman Major Phil Packer climb El Capitan in Yosemite and raise £1 million for the charity Help for Heroes - you can read more about this expedition here.

If you are interested in booking Andy, please contact us.