Good evening, ladies, and gentlemen. Or as I like to call it, the part of the day where I try to sound brighter than I actually am. My name is Rehan Siddiqui, I am the Chair of Judges for the 2025 Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature.
Conventional wisdom is to surround yourself with good and clever people. I certainly had that with Nandini Purandare & Brian Hall, my co-judges, both of whom have been previous worthy winners of the Boardman Tasker Award. Judged to judge. I offer my thanks or blame to them.
I would also like to acknowledge the support provided by Janet & Steve Dean, The Trustees and The Patron of The Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature. The judges extend our thanks to them all.
Every book written requires a huge effort and commitment by the authors. Usually with little financial reward. The variety of topics within the “Mountain Environment” is a wide brief and this enhances the status of the Boardman Tasker Award and attracts a diverse array of worthyentries. It makes for a far more interesting and enjoyable experience being a judge. However….it makes it difficult to judge empirically.
The judges are not comparing like with like. The winning book decisionis a point of view that is open to heartache and criticism for those not awarded the prize, at the same time elation and surprise by the winner.
In short, many of the books entered are worthy of an award. And of course, the first among equals are the books we shortlisted. All of these are worthy of accolades.
This year there were 28 books (32 in 2024), from ten countries. We decided on seven books for the short list.
In Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," the number 42 is presented as the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. We are in the 42nd year of the Boardman Tasker Award. What will this year’s award bring? Let’s find out.
There were several books that nearly made the shortlist. The problem was that there were some differences of opinion from the judges on who should make the shortlist. During the judging process, each one of the judges had their favourites, often different ones. Friendly but robust debate ensued. Zoom meetings were scheduled to take into account the local time in India, New Zealand, and the UK. Over time and several meetings, a consensus on the shortlist developed.
There was one book that is probably a first for The Boardman Tasker Prize – A fashion book?
Although the book did not make the shortlist, all three judges agreed that “Mountain Style: British Outdoor Clothing 1953-2000” was worthy of a Commendation. It is a unique piece of work. It captures the spirit of pioneers who built Britain’s outdoor industry from the ground up and is far more than a fashion book, it is a valuable record. Indeed, the judges requested that a letter of commendation was issued to the authors.
I am told that the shortlist finalists are to be listed in alphabetical order by author surname. For a change I thought we would do it in reversealphabetical order, Z – A!
The Corridor by Iain Peters: In his memoir, Iain Peters recounts his life as a climber and teacher, revealing how his passion for wild places and adventure served as a means of survival and a form of recovery from childhood sexual abuse. He candidly explores the long-term impact of this trauma on his psyche and relationships, finding strength in the mountains in the emotional journey of healing. The book is a powerful story of hope, resilience, and the creation of a life fulfilled despite an early, horrific trauma.
Moving the Needle by Dave MacLeod is a memoir focussed on the author’s journey from an average climber to an elite, world- renowned athlete. MacLeod tells his story of using trainable skills and behavioural traits to achieve his goals that can be replicated. Simple really, anyone can do it!
Breathe - Life Lessons from the Edge of the World by Mollie Hughes: An inspiring account by Mollie Hughes of exploring some of the Earth's wildest environments. She shares her view on how self-belief and lessons learnt from epic challenges enabled her to become the youngest woman to climb Everest from the south and north sides. Then, aged 29, she describes her battle through freezing storm-force winds to achieve the distinction of being the youngest woman to ski solo to the South Pole.
The Beast in The Clouds – The Rosevelt Brothers Deadly Quest toFind The Mythical Giant Panda by Nathalia Holt: In 1928 Theodore and Kermit Roosevelt, the two eldest sons of President Theodore Roosevelt, embark on a dangerous expedition to the Chinese Himalayas. Their objective is to find and capture a live specimen of the giant panda, a creature so rare it was believed to be mythical. The book details their harrowing journey, filled with hardships as they chase their dream to introduce the panda to the western world.
The Search – The Life of a Mountain Rescue Search Dog Team by Paul Besley: Paul Besley’s life journey was transformed following a mountain rescue team saving his life from a serious hillwalking accident. Inspired by his rescue he joined a mountain rescue team and trains his Border Collie puppy, Scout, to become a search dog. The book details rigorous training and rescue missions, while exploring Besley’s personal struggles and how his bond with Scout helps him confront his past and find purpose.
There Will Be Headwinds – Kayaking the Northwest Passage by Mark Agnew: Mark Agnew recounts his journey as part of the first team to kayak the Northwest Passage. The book is an account of the physical hardships and mental health struggles he faced after previous expedition failures. I t is a story about teamwork, perseverance, personal growth in an epic adventure.
Tobin, The Stonemasters, And Me 1970 – 1980 by Rick Accomazzo: The book chronicles the life of the author’s friend and climbing partner, Tobin Sorenson, a member of the legendary 1970s climbing collective known as the Stonemasters. The book details their adventures and the evolution of modern climbing through the lens of Sorenson’s exceptional talent, which some considered the best in the world. It is a powerful tribute to Sorenson, who died tragically at a young age and a vivid portrait of a golden era of climbing.
In the end it is the quality of the writing, how the books impact on the reader, and how long they remained in our minds that formed the judges’ decision.
Our final choice is not a conventionally good-looking book. It feels self-published. At first sight, without much thought to design. But the cover photo shows a corridor of darkness leading to light the relevance of which only comes clear after reading the book. The writing of this bookwas an immensely brave undertaking.
Our decision was unanimous – This year’s Boardman Tasker Award is awarded to The Corridor by Iain Peters.