Dingle is the autobiography of Graeme Dingle. It is the story of how a scared, painfully skinny boy turns himself into one of New Zealand's greatest adventurers, capable of the hardest climbs in the world. But it is also the story of how a man realises that for his life to truly have meaning, it needs to include service to others.
The book begins with Graeme Dingle's early forays into the North Island ranges and his subsequent development in the Southern Alps into a gifted and driven mountaineer. It then charts many of his remarkable achievements during a lifetime of adventuring. These include being the first to climb all of the European Alps' North Faces (such as the Eiger and the Matterhorn) in one season; the first traverse of New Zealand's Southern Alps (in winter); a range of Himalayan expeditions and a year-long traverse of the Himalayas; and a two-year odyssey to circumnavigate the Arctic.
Running alongside this adventuring life has been Dingle's extraordinary commitment to using the outdoors to help the development of young people. This began with him founding the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre in the Central North Island and has culminated with the hugely successful national youth development programme, Project K.
Dingle is the story of a great New Zealander, whose inspirational commitment to the welfare of our young people has been matched by a remarkable record as a mountaineer and adventurer. First published October 2005.
Awards
Winner of Montana New Zealand Book Awards: Biography Category 2006.
