Mud Sweat & Tears - Bear Grylls [122]
Mick and me at Everest base camp before the climb.
7.22 a.m., 26 May 1998. Neil and me with the regimental flag on the summit of Everest.
Celebrating, finally, at the end of the Everest ascent. Drained but so happy.
Crevasse crossing in the Khumbu Icefall on Everest.
Geoffrey, Mick, me and Neil – celebrating British success the British way in the relative warmth of base camp.
Returning to Everest almost ten years later to fly the first powered paraglider above the summit of the mountain. Another high-risk mission!
Shara and me just before we got married.
Shara on the deck of our houseboat in London for Jesse’s christening.
One of my favourite times of day: reading to the boys. Our best-loved book: The Bear Scouts’ Adventure!
On our little island in North Wales – living life to the full.
Jesse, Huckleberry and Marmaduke – our three beautiful boys.
Shara and Marmaduke – one of my favourite pictures in the world. Shara is so happy.
As a family we do a lot of this sort of thing. Simple pleasures.
Life doesn’t get much better than this: climbing with Jesse along the cliff tops of our Welsh island home.
Keeping fit has always been an important part of my job – and I love it when the family joins in as well!
Finally finishing our epic transatlantic Arctic voyage, flying the naval white ensign and so relieved.
Dropping from our dining table under a hot-air balloon at twenty-five thousand feet. Record-breaking and in aid of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
Up to my neck in sand at the hands of the French Foreign Legion, going through simulated basic training in the Sahara.
Being filmed for the two-minute tester of the Man vs. Wild concept. And we’ve never looked back.
My first ever jump in the opening episode of Man vs. Wild. Six seasons on and it’s still fun and wild.
Man vs. Wild has taken me to the edge many times, whether on volcanoes or in swamps and freezing-cold glacial lakes.
Doing what I do best – living my dream.
I’ve learned a healthy respect for both white water and the freezing cold.
One of the billboards the Discovery Channel used around the world.
The northern territories and swamplands of Australia stretched me to the max. Don’t mess with saltwater crocodiles!
Dave Pearce, ex-commando, one of the Man vs. Wild mountain guides. Keeping the crew safe.
Dan Etheridge (cameraman) and Pete Lee (sound) working in minus twenty-five degrees and always smiling. Inspirations.
One of my favourite Man vs. Wild pictures. Paul Ritz, me and Simon Reay at the end of a shoot. Drenched in sweat, beer in hand and always laughing.
Prince Charles and the royal family are always such great supporters of the Scouting movement.
Everything I love about Scouting: fun, adventure and togetherness.
With so many inspirational Scouting stories, I feel so proud to be their Chief Scout.
Handing out the Queen’s Scout Award at Windsor Castle each year is always such a great honour.
INDEX
The page references in this index correspond to the printed edition from which this ebook was created. To find a specific word or phrase from the index, please use the search feature of your ebook reader.
Abercromby, Sir Ralph 8–9
adventure clothing range 394
Afrikaans salespersons, lecture to 367–8
aikido 70, 75
Al (Eton friend) 78–80, 94
altitude problems 282, 294–6, 326–8
Ama Dablam Expedition 267–9
Amies, Ed/Eddie 68–9, 94, 110, 181, 120, 121, 371
Amies, Lela 88
Amies, Tom 88, 94
Andalucia, 1999 holiday 363–5
Ang-Sering (Sherpa) 305, 359
Annabel (Shara’s sister) 375
Antarctic expedition 395
Arctic expedition 395
Arsentiev, Sergei and Francys 355–6
Australia, saltwater crocodile 3
Babu Chiri (Sherpa) 309, 359
balcony ledge, Everest 306, 309, 330
barge home on Thames 373–6
base camp, Everest 278, 280–1, 282, 289–90, 292, 349–54
battle camp 213–29
‘Bear’ Lara’s nickname for