Tim Miller, not a run-of-the-mill Climber, talks to Dream Wanderlust

Dream Wanderlust

Photographs: Tim Miller, Paul Ramsden
Category: Expedition, Climbing
Date of Publication: Dec 17 , 2023

Alpinists Tim Miller(27) and Paul Ramsden(54) have climbed a new line on Surma Sarovar (6605m) in Nepal recently. They were conferred the prestigious Piolet d'Or award this November for their new route,'Phantom Line' on Jugal Spire (aka Dorje Lhakpa II, 6,563m) which they climbed in April 2022. In an exclusive interview with Dream Wanderlust, Tim Miller expressed his feelings about the award and his climbs. He also talks about his climbing partnerships with Paul Ramsden. Dr. Rupak Bhattacharya interviews Tim Miller for Dream Wanderlust.

Paul Ramsden[R] and Tim Miller[L] at the top of Surma Sarovar

Interview with Tim Miller

DW: Congratulations Tim for you successes on Jugal Spire and Surma Sarovar , and your first Piolet d'Or for the former.
How does it feel to be the recipient of this coveted award?

Tim: Its very nice to receive such a prestigious award and its a big honour. It symbolises committed and adventurous mountaineering carried out in a pure alpine style on the biggest peaks in the world which is something that has always inspired me from a young age so its surreal to have been added to the incredible list of awardees.

DW: You have also been awarded the Scottish Youth Mountain Culture Award , some years ago , for having rescued a fellow climber after being buried in an avalanche.
In retrospect , do you consider this recognition more satisfying than the Piolet , specially since it was early in your career?

Tim: That award wasn’t specifically for rescuing a climber, more for general contributions to Scottish mountaineering through climbing new routes, volunteering with kids climbing coaching and setting up a mountain guiding company.
They are both special awards to have received and mean a lot to me. Obviously awards are not part of my motivation for doing any of these things, but its nice to get recognised and both mark big point in my climbing career.

Surma Sarovar

DW: Your climbing partner, the legendary, Paul Ramsden already has four Piolets in his sac, and is reportedly embarrassed at this fifth.
Is he being modest about an award richly deserved?

Tim: Probably. I have always admired Pauls modest style and the way he down plays his many great acheivments.

DW: Ramsden's climbing partner used to be Mick Fowler, with whom he has got his four previous Piolets.
How does it feel to be in Fowler's shoes and on the same rope with Ramsden?

Tim: Yeah its a dream come true to be climbing with my climbing heros and a huge privilege to be part of a prestigious chain of climbing partners.

DW: Ramsden is nearly twenty years your senior, a near – generational gap.
Do you consider that an advantage, or is their a flip side to it too?

Tim: We made it work to our advantage but each of us for filling different rolls.

DW: Ramsden also has nearly twenty more years of climbing experience over you.
Would that mean that he provides the brain and you the brawn, not belittling either your brains or his brawn?

Tim: More or less. Paul did the research which is a huge task, as well as providing all the tactics and experience. I climb the hard pitches.

DW: Would it also mean that though he is your climbing partner on the rope, he is also your mentor?

Tim: Very much so. I have learnt loads from Paul over our two trips together for which I am massively grateful for.

DW: With your obvious success this question may seem redundant, but does this pairing make for good chemistry and does he defer to your judgments on the pitch?

Tim: We get on really well as we have a similar attitude to risk, style of climbing and sense of humour. When we’re on the mountain we are an equal team and always discuss each decision with each other and rarely disagree.

Jugal Spire

DW: You are a qualified guide teaching young people not only the technical aspects of your craft but also the ethos of mountaineering and adventure.
Do you think they are receptive enough to practice alpine style self-sufficient exploratory mountaineering and not gravitate to being paying customers in a guided climb?

Tim: My clients come from a vast range of backgrounds, experience levels and abilities so what they need is different for each one. But I hope to pass on my love for adventure and passion for the mountains to all of them.

DW: In the near foreseeable future, do you see any decline in the numbers of paying clients seeking adventures and bagging peaks?

Tim: I think its only getting more popular.

DW: You make it a point to seek unnamed unclimbed peaks and usually go below the mountaineering media radar.
Do you have any future plans for the Indian Himalayas?

Tim: In October 2024 I am planning a guided Himalayan trip alongside another guide, so if anyone out there is interested get in touch.

DW: Please convey our congratulations to Ramsden too, may you both have more such safe and exciting climbs and thank you so so much for this interview.

Tim: Thank you.