David has been mountaineering for 60 years which may explain why it took him so long to get into and then qualify from medical school. He has climbed in summer and winter in the UK, in the European Alps, Kenya, the USA, Canada, Mexico, Mongolia and the Himalaya. On realising he was a slow acclimatiser he undertook several expeditions to Patagonia. He is a past president of the UIAA Medcom, was medical advisor to the British Mountain Guides and currently advises the BMC and Jagged Globe. Recently he has used his practical experience of ageing to undertake UIAA Medcom advice work for Older Mountaineers.