Greg Boswell

Tell us about your successes so far?

• I have opened some of the hardest winter mixed routes in Scotland.
• Climbed the highest grade of XII 13 ground up.
• Opened multiple new trad rock climbs in the Scottish mountains.
• I’ve had the pleasure of succeeding on many first ascents all over the globe, both in the high mountains and the steep lower valleys of Alaska, Canada, Norway, France, Switzerland and Scotland, to name but a few.
• My main personal success though, is to have excelled at most aspects of the sport and be able to overcome whatever crosses my path whilst out trying new routes in the mountains during every season.

What are you working on? What are your goals for the future?

For me I just want to keep pushing the boundaries of my sport and taking things I’ve learnt in our unique Scottish environment and adapting them to help me succeed on adventures elsewhere in the climbing world. Hard mixed first ascents in the Scottish ground up style is what I’m keen to explore on my adventures further afield on future trips.

Why do you climb? What do you love about climbing?

I climb, as it helps me to explore the intricate parts of the world that very few people go to, or ever get to experience. I love the feeling of it being just me and my climbing partner on the wall or mountain and having no one else around for miles in every direction. It feels like true old-school adventure!

Which SCARPA shoe is your favourite?

For me it’s either the Phantom Techs or the Vapour Lace.

The Phantom’s because they allow me to operate at the highest level on mixed and ice routes and I never need to worry about warmth or added weight. They really are the whole package for what I look for in a mountain boot.

The Vapour Lace’s, as no matter what I throw at them on the rock-climbing side of things, they can cope! Whether it’s sport, trad bouldering or big mountain routes, I find I can use these beast for any adventure.

Tell us about your best day climbing?

One of my best days was when we opened a new winter mixed line on the North Face of Segla in Northern Norway. It was such an uncertain objective, but we managed to forge a way up the huge imposing wall, with every pitch just offering enough of a weakness to allow upward progress!

Even though the climbing was pretty hard, scary and engaging, the views of the beautiful Norwegian arctic landscape exploding out of the fjords all around us, made the whole experience hugely unforgettable!

What do you do away from your sport?

I really like being outside, so often spend rest days walking about looking for new climbs, or foraging and looking at plants.

Where is your #NoPlacetooFar?

Back to the Buckskin Glacier, Alaska. There’s some big lines there that are calling out to be attempted!