Angela Soper

Angela has climbed in many countries, with other women, with men, and solo; she has tried nearly every type of climbing, and she is certain that climbing has greatly enhanced her life.  She was naturally adventurous and independent, and her parents, who were both teachers, encouraged her love for outdoor activities, her love of reading, and her interest in science.  While they were still at school, Angela and her younger brother were trusted to explore the Yorkshire Dales and climb the hills by themselves without getting into difficulties, and to try their best with their studies.

At the age of 17 Angela went to the University of Leeds to study physics.  As a post-graduate student, she discovered rock-climbing and soon started leading on local gritstone. Before long she was travelling regularly to the Lakes and further afield to climb harder routes.

In summer 1966 she resigned from her first job to have a full season climbing in the Alps. She joined the Pinnacle Club in 1967. By the time she became President in 1981 she was raising the bar for women climbers, notably by organising the ground-breaking Women’s International Meet in 1984. This turned out to be an historic event because it saw the first female leads of E5 climbs; most participants raised their grade, and several strong women joined the Pinnacle Club soon after. (Learn more about the 1984 Women’s International Meet and advances in British women’s rock climbing.)

In 1978 Angela married Jack Soper, a geologist and accomplished climber. She worked with him on two field seasons in East Greenland, during which they climbed some virgin peaks. Jack became more interested in sailing, but Angela continued to climb and improve, leading The Moon (E3) in 1987, the Skull (E4) in 1992, and eventually Right Wall (E5) in 1995. She had become experienced in all aspects of climbing: Scotland in winter, Alpine ski-touring in April, the Alps, Dolomites, or USA and Canada in summer.  Angela participated in several BMC international meets in Wales, and summer meets of the Rendez-vous Hautes Montagnes at various European venues. She was a member of the Pinnacle Club 1980 Lahaul expedition (read a newspaper article written by Angela - opens in a new window), and celebrated her last Munro for her 50th birthday. 

She competed against top climbers from other countries in the first major climbing competition (Leeds ‘89), and featured in the BBC series Pennine Rock, leading Chris Bonington up Great Western at Almscliff.  Angela and Jack gave fell-running their best efforts, and she completed over 100 races, including Ben Nevis and Snowdon.

Angela’s work was based on physics — initially lecturing, then a transition to Earth Sciences.  While helping with geophysical field work in the Rift Valley of Kenya she took the opportunity to climb Mount Kenya and attempted to solo Kilimanjaro. A non-climbing experience was two months as a scientist on the research ship Glomar Challenger when it was drilling core from the mid-Atlantic ridge.  Full-time work ended with early retirement, but Angela continued to tutor Earth Sciences for the Open University, which left time for adventures in the southern hemisphere — Australia, New Zealand, South America and South Africa — as well as Morocco, Thailand and Mexico, many with Pinnacle Club members.