Touching the Void

In 1985, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, both experienced mountaineers, successfully ascended the previously unclimbed West Face of Siula Grande in Peru. After leaving the summit their descent by way of the North Ridge proves unexpectedly difficult in, at times, stormy weather conditions. Shortly after the pair leave the summit, Yates falls through a cornice and plummets down the 4,500 ft face they had just climbed, but his fall is arrested by their climbing ropes. After a bivouac high on the peak, the pair continue their descent the following morning, but then Simpson falls whilst climbing down an ice cliff on the ridge and suffers a badly broken leg during an awkward landing.