Tony Howard

Tony Howard grew up in the Chew Valley, at the northern tip of the Peak District. He started climbing in 1953 and became well known in climbing circles for his new routes and contributions to local guidebooks. He worked as an instructor in the early 1960s and qualified as a BMC guide in 1965, the year he and his friends famously made the first British ascent of Norway's 1,000-metre-tall Troll Wall. Tony was a founding partner of Troll Climbing Equipment, designing many innovative products such...See more

Tony Howard grew up in the Chew Valley, at the northern tip of the Peak District. He started climbing in 1953 and became well known in climbing circles for his new routes and contributions to local guidebooks. He worked as an instructor in the early 1960s and qualified as a BMC guide in 1965, the year he and his friends famously made the first British ascent of Norway's 1,000-metre-tall Troll Wall. Tony was a founding partner of Troll Climbing Equipment, designing many innovative products such as the world's first commercial range of nuts, the first climbing 'sit' harnesses and the first sewn slings. He has guided and climbed all over the world, discovering new areas and making many first ascents. Tony is a regular contributor to outdoor magazines, and has authored several books, including Troll Wall, the untold story of the British first ascent of Europe's tallest rock face. He has also written or contributed to guidebooks for the English Peak District, Norway, Oman, Morocco, Jordan and Palestine. He occasionally lives in the Chew Valley with his wife Di when they're not off exploring yet another distant corner of the globe. See less