Fisher's Favourite - John Porter

Today's Fisher's Favourite is John Porter.

John Porter was born in Massachusetts and he started climbing at the age of twelve, serving his apprenticeship in the White Mountains, Rockies, Cascades and Yosemite. He moved to the UK in the early 1970s to do postgraduate work at Leeds University where he joined a team of climbers dedicated to clean ethics, alpine-style and the fostering of international partnerships.

Ascents of the North Face of Koh-i-Bandaka (1977) and the south face of Changabang (1978) with Alex MacIntyre and Polish friends were achieved in the middle of the cold war.

Other climbs include lightweight attempts of the west ridge of Everest in winter, the north-west ridge of K2, the east face of Sepu Kangri, first ascents of Chong Kundam I and V in the Eastern Karakoram, and many other notable climbs around the world over a period of fifty-five years.

In 1980 he founded the Kendal Mountain Festival with Brian Hall and Jim Curran, and in 2011 he and Brian founded the online adventure film website SteepEdge. John lives in the Cumbrian Lake District working as a consultant in the energy sector. He is a vice president of the Alpine Club and has previously been a vice president of the British Mountaineering Council and secretary to the Mountain Heritage Trust.

"Ravens are a delight to watch and hear as they soar and chortle above the mountains. Have you seen them play catch with a stick? They will drop one near a cliff face, then dive en mass to see who can catch it first. I photoed this individual as it swept past Ullock Pike on a misty November afternoon. Life goes on lighter ground between black wings."

​We'd love to hear your stories too!

Learn more about our month of celebrations and competitions, and how to get involved here:

https://www.georgefisher.co.uk/news/2017-08-15-celebrate-with-us-enter-our-60th-anniversary-competitions/