Simon Yates is an internationally acclaimed mountaineer, adventurer and author who first came to prominence in 1985 after the first ascent of the West Face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes and the ensuing epic descent described in Joe Simpson's book Touching the Void. In a prolific career spanning over thirty years, Simon's climbing adventures have taken him west to east, from Alaska to Australia; and from north to south, from the Canadian Arctic to the tip of South America. He has climbed with many of Britain's leading mountaineers including Andy Cave, Mick Fowler, Andy Parkin, Paul Pritchard and Doug Scott, establishing many first ascents in the process. He is the author of two previous books, Against the Wall and The Flame of Adventure, both released to critical acclaim and the former finishing as runner-up for the prestigious Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature. The Wild Within, also shortlisted for the Boardman Tasker Award, is his third book. Simon lives in Cumbria with his wife, son and daughter. When not writing and lecturing he runs his own expedition company, Mountain Dream.