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Born:

1966, Bristol but grew up mostly in Cornwall

Biggest achievement:

Juggling climbing and guiding while bringing up two daughters. Being as motivated for climbing now as the day she started.

DMM athlete since:

2006

Libby Peter is a climber, mountain guide, author and coach based in Dinorwig in North Wales, with a climbing career immersed in trad, sport, bouldering, winter climbing and mountaineering. She grew up in Cornwall and Bristol and came to climbing through a pre-expedition training weekend, an experience that took her completely by surprise and opened the door to a life in the mountains. In 1996 she qualified as an IFMGA Mountain Guide, (there are still only a handful of women) a long, demanding but rewarding process. She is the author of Rock Climbing: Essential Skills and Techniques, the official handbook for all the climbing schemes, and is widely regarded as one of the most respected climbing educators in the UK. Now in her fourth decade of climbing and still improving, Libby brings the same enthusiasm to failing on E5s and mountain running as she does to coaching the next generation of guides. The belief that the best is yet to come is not something she says lightly.

"I love climbing as much today as I did 40 years ago. Plus the belief that the best is yet to come."

Get to know Libby

Did you always know you were going to be a climber?

Quite the opposite. I was convinced I was too scared of heights to ever be a climber. Luckily, an abseil on a training weekend changed everything. To my complete surprise I was fine, and the world of climbing suddenly opened up.

Which route keeps calling you back?

Many years ago I took a totally unexpected headfirst lob on Darkinbad, a lovely E5 6a at Pentire Head. It still gnaws away at me. So too the Cuillin Ridge as a run. We set our hearts on 6.5 hours and managed 7.5. Unfinished business on both counts.

What keeps you motivated?

I love climbing as much today as I did 40 years ago, so motivation just isn't a problem. Loving it all: trad, sport, bouldering, mountaineering, and not being overly grade-focused helps too. Plus the belief that the best is yet to come.

Which crag or mountain is your favourite and which do you consider the most beautiful in the world?

Have you ever seen images of the Lotus Flower Tower? It sits above a camping spot called the Fairy Meadows in the Cirque of the Unclimbables in the far north of Canada. Not only a truly beautiful slice of perfectly formed granite, but the best set of names going.

Stiff or soft climbing shoes?

Always soft. Got to feel what is going on.

A wet day in the hills or a dry day at the climbing wall?

Surely a bit of both is the perfect bad weather day.

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