I loved climbing because of the freedom, and having time and space. I remember coming off Everest for the last time, thinking of Dad and wishing that he could have seen what I saw. He would have loved it.

Life is an adventure that is best lived boldly

Once a job it has begun, do not stop until it's done. Whether it is big or small, do it well or not all.

Time and experience have taught me that fame and money very rarely go to the worthy, by the way - hence we shouldn't ever be too impressed by either of those impostors. Value folk for who they are, how they live and what they give - that's a much better benchmark.

I joined the Army at 19 as a soldier and spent about four and a half years with them. Then I broke my back in a freefall parachuting accident and spent a year in rehabilitation back in the U.K.

Faith is personal if it's to be real.

I love Ray Mears. He's brilliant. He's so rude about me in the press, it's outrageous!