Moorlands man climbs the world
Moorlands man climbs the world
Most people who live in and around the Moorlands have heard about their internationally acclaimed author, photographer and explorer Levison Wood, having often viewed his numerous exploits on television. What they may not know however, is that his younger brother by two years Peter, aged 37, who now lives in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, is equally just as adventurous.
Most people who live in and around the Moorlands have heard about their internationally acclaimed author, photographer and explorer Levison Wood, having often viewed his numerous exploits on television.
What they may not know however, is that his younger brother by two years Peter, aged 37, who now lives in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, is equally just as adventurous.
Without the familiar publicity he has become an ardent and proficient mountain climber, who has travelled far and wide from the Himalayas in Asia, across much of Central Europe to the Andes Mountain range in South America.
Also, a past student of Painsley High School in Cheadle, Peter attended Trent University in Nottingham before pursuing a highly successful career with EON Energy based in the same city.
In similar vein to his elder brother, the great outdoors always drew him to explore and held a gripping fascination ever since he undertook his Duke of Edinburgh Award whilst still at school. Attracted to the local challenges found in the hills of the Peak District first, before the more demanding mountain summits of Wales and subsequently Scotland defied him to reach ever higher to get to the top.
In his spare time from work, Peter became a volunteer for the Derbyshire Mountain rescue team before accepting a full-time position with the British Red Cross as the North Midland Counties Coordinator. Thus, flooding resultant to the dam burst at Whaley Bridge and similar along the River Severn in Shropshire, alongside the impact of the Covid pandemic and more recently housing the newly arrived refugees from Afghanistan, have all been part of his daily fare.
Climbing however remains his passion, and following a solo rescue of a Danish couple from the snow-covered slopes of Mt Aconcagua in Argentina, which cost him the price of frostbite in both his hands and feet. With the disconcerting failure to reach the summit but an undiminished drive to still push further he set himself a new goal to be considered for the British International rescue team.
With his ambition granted in late 2021 he now awaits his first call, that could take him anywhere in the world that includes whatever the forces of nature or man might make on him.
In the meantime, and before this happens, Peter has set off once again to South America to climb Mt Chimborazo in Ecuador. Now a dormant volcano with a peak of 6,263metres (20,548 ft), the summit is the farthest point on the Earth’s surface from the Earth’s centre given that it is located along the planet’s equatorial bulge. However, it is not higher than the summit of Mount Everest, as elevation is measured from sea level.
Its climb though, demands skill and is often on black ice, so crampons and other high-tech climbing equipment are a necessary requirement.
Speaking to the Times and Echo, Levison Wood Snr, of Cheadle Road in Forsbrook, said: “We are naturally very proud of both of our boys for what they have achieved, for we have always told them to follow their dream.
“Nevertheless, there have been many worrying days for Jan and I, none more so than when they both were involved in a car accident in Nepal when the brakes failed and the vehicle plunged some 100 metres over a ravine edge in Nepal.
“Peter rescued Lev, the driver and the guide who was with them Binod. So, working for others who are in most need, is second nature to our youngest son.
“Fortunately, the cost to date has only been a few broken bones for them and grey hair for us but not a broken spirit in us all.
“We wish Pete well on his latest venture, and will update this newspaper later surrounding how he goes on to reach the summit.”
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