Bruce is quite the all-round mountaineer - almost! Apart from rock climbing in all parts of England up to HVS/E1 standard, he has been icefall climbing in France, and trekking and climbing in the Himalayas. Virtually the only thing missing from this impressive CV are a few Scottish winter routes, though with summer ascents such as Tower Ridge and a full traverse of the Cuillin Ridge to his name, we have little doubt he will be heading over the border as soon as the first snowflake falls.

Bruce Gormley on a grade III/IV icefall in Val d'Isere, France..

Left: Bruce at Camp 1 on Ama Dablam (6886m), Nepal, shortly before a tooth abcess forced him to descend from 6000m. Bruce successfully summitted Ama Dablam the following year, in November 2004.

Below: Bruce meditating on the scenery around Mount Everest, Nepal. Everest is the central peak in the background.