He earned international respect as a cutting-edge climber and mountaineer. He has published three books:
'Deep Play' won the prestigious Boardman/Tasker Award for mountain literature in 1997 and the 'Totem Pole' won both the 1999 Boardman/Tasker Award and the 1999 Banff Mountain Book Festival Grand Prize. He is the only author to win the B/T twice. In 2005 he completed 'The Longest Climb'. These books are available from Amazon (please click on the covers in the left column).
During a planned year-long trip climbing around the world, Paul had a head injury caused by rock fall whilst climbing the 'Totem Pole' in Tasmania. He suffered hemiplegia, a paralysis of one side of his body, and lost the power of speech for many months.
Since this accident Paul has continued to lead a challenging life, caving, tricycle racing, sea kayaking, river rafting, climbing Kilimanjaro, and, in 2009, a return to lead rock climbing.
Paul lives in Tasmania.
Since this accident Paul has continued to lead a challenging life, caving, tricycle racing, sea kayaking, river rafting, climbing Kilimanjaro, and, in 2009, a return to lead rock climbing.
Paul has devoted a considerable amount of time to raising awareness for the charity Headway and the Upendo Leprosy Centre in Tanzania. He is a patron of Hemihelp and Llanberis mountain film Festival.
In 2011 he is undertaking a journey by tricycle across the Himalaya from Lhasa to Kathmandu. This epic ride will be in the company of two fellow disabled tricyclists and will raise much needed funds for Braille Without Borders.
In 2011 he is undertaking a journey by tricycle across the Himalaya from Lhasa to Kathmandu. This epic ride will be in the company of two fellow disabled tricyclists and will raise much needed funds for Braille Without Borders.
Paul lives in Tasmania.
Dear Paul,
ReplyDeleteI hope you and your Kids are well,
I'm not sure if you will remember me, I am the English guy who came to hobart to stay with my uncle and you hooked me up with Duncan to go climbing.
Please excuse me for not writing to you sooner, it's just since I arrived from Tassy it has been very hectic. We moved house and Work has been full on.
I just arrived today from the Lake district, where I went walking with a friend up Helvellyn.
I was wondering if I could take you up on your offer that if you knew any Uk climbers who would be willing to take me climbing outside of the Gym. Since I had so much fun climbing the Organ pipe with Duncan.
I hope this finds you well.
Kind regards,
Fraser Rigg