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.
