Rope Boy

Rope Boy is the story of

Dennis Gray, a young lad from Leeds who gets his first taste of rock at age eleven, and goes on to become a prominent figure in the UK climbing scene for decades to come.Gray's climbing career began with the 'Bradford Lads', climbing in Yorkshire, Scotland and Wales, exploring classic crags such as

Clogwyn Du'r Arddu, tentatively venturing into an exciting new game, and inspired by the pioneering

Arthur Dolphin. Just as the scene was rapidly developing in the 1950s, so was Gray's desire to climb, and he was soon climbing with the

Rock and Ice legends

Joe Brown, Don Whillans and

Nat Allen, among others, making first ascents such as

North Crag Eliminate on Castle Rock in the Lake District and

Grond on Dinas Cromlech in Wales.Larger objectives beckoned, and Gray embarked upon multiple expeditions to the

Alps as well as to the

Himalaya, the

Andes, and America, making numerous first ascents along the way including the north ridge of

Alpamayo in Peru's Cordillera Blanca, and

Mukar Beh in the Kulu valley of India.Rope Boy relays times of frustration, adventure and success, and the hilarious and dauntless friends with whom Gray shared his experiences.

Dennis Gray's transformation from rope boy to expedition leader is an inspiring and encouraging tale of one boy's journey into adulthood via a world of rock, snow and ice.