Publisher's Synopsis
The "Boardman Tasker Calender" is a commemorative calendar produced to mark the 30th anniversary of the disappearance of Pete Boardman and Joe Tasker, last seen high on the North East Ridge of Mount Everest, heading for the summit in deteriorating weather. Barely a month after Pete and Joe disappeared a small group met in Manchester to found the Boardman Tasker Memorial. It was agreed that a prize for mountain literature would be most fitting, as both Pete and Joe were very accomplished writers. The first round of judging took place the following year in 1983. The judges set a high standard, using the books by Joe and Pete as benchmarks. Over the following years, entries have been consistently high and always challenge the judges, not least through the sheer variety of literary types - fiction, poetry, expeditions, biography, history, reminiscences, mountain travel and so on. Over the last 30 years the Trust has received around GBP 60,000 in donations - through special appeals, events and gifts - to support the memory of Pete and Joe through the prize. There have been 526 entries, assessed by 46 different judges who selected 31 winners, enabling the Trust to distribute over GBP 50,000 in prize money. The aim of this calendar is to produce a product worthy of Pete and Joe's memory, in some ways up to the high quality of their books, and to honour all the winners and entrants to the award over the last 30 years. It is published by Vertebrate Publishing, working with the Boardman and Tasker families, Sir Chris Bonington and the Boardman Tasker Trust.
