Alpinist: What sparked your interest in writing about artists devoted to climbing? Why focus on Andy Parkin?

Ed Douglas: I had the idea some time ago, but it’s important to know that I’m not an artist; I’m a writer. I’m interested in the origins of narrative—and narrative is really just a line through time, which is what these artists are doing through space.

Andy Parkin was an obvious choice. He’s an artist who not only builds narrative into his artwork, but also into his climbing.

Andy Parkin in his studio. [Photo] Ed Luke