Mountain tourism evolved in Nepal over half a century ago, during that time various people recognized the importance of tourism to the economy of a developing nation. Many of those people are now synonymous with the development of the industry in Nepal.

However, there is a person often seen in the streets of Thamel and at various significant tourism events who very few know. To some he is known as a teacher, a trekking guide trainer, the International CEO of KEEP others as simply an adventure enthusiast. 

He first started his mountain journey when he was 10 years old and in his home country where the question posed by his father, “Where would you rather go to the mountains or the sea?” for a family holiday. For some unknown reason he chose the mountains, this choice eventually led to his development in outdoor activities. This passion for the outdoors and specifically the mountains was to drive his enthusiasm which ultimately consumed all his spare time and money.  

He joined the scouts where he had the opportunity to share his passion with young like-minded people and to start rock climbing on the local sandstone outcrops.  Once he knew how to use the rope, he would go out on his cycle with his school friends towards the crags to peruse this hobby and, like other addictions, he needed money so he took Saturday jobs so as to be able to purchase other bits of rock climbing essentials which back in those days were a pair of mountain boots, a nylon rope, a rucksack, other equipment was either borrowed from the scouts or purchased and communally shared between the group of friends.

Once a year his scout group would arrange a weekend visit to North Wales and by the age of 18 he had already gained enough knowledge to branch out on his own to meet friends in North Wales and explore the more serious climbing the Welsh mountains had to offer. In 1964 he was given the opportunity to turn his hobby into the initial stages of a future career, he got a chance to attend a mountaineering course at Plas-y-Brenin, the following year he was asked attend another course, but this time as a volunteer instructor to support the experienced mountaineers instructors, all of whom were well known mountaineers at the time.

If at this point you do not recognise the character I am talking about Ian Wall. 

By the end of 1960’s Ian was travelling back and forth to the European Alps to further develop his alpine skills on the snow covered peaks and mountains. As he developed his skills his good connections with his instructor friends had major input in his development as a mountaineering instructor. In 1967 he was offered a job at the British National Mountaineering Centre, Plas-y-Brenin as a result of a phone call from the director, John Jackson, ‘Jacko’ as he was known was one of the initial 1953 Everest reserve members and also part of the 1955 successful first ascent and first British ascent of Kanchenjunga.

Since those early days Ian has traveled to many different countries in pursuit of his adventurous journey through life in the developing mountain tourism and adventure industry.

After qualifying as a teacher at what is now known as Leicester University Ian went on to work as an instructor / teacher in local education authority outdoor centers where he was not only teaching mountaineering skills but also kayaking and sailing activities.

From small beginnings in England, Ian ventured to the Alps, Scandinavia, and countries in Africa, now he focuses on the South Asian continent, especially Nepal.

Due to various financial restrictions during the years of austerity in the 1970 Ian branched out into the commercial trekking world, initially working for Mountain Travel leading groups of Americans on adventure holidays in the Alps and specifically Chamonix, where he developed and honed his skills and knowledge.  

By the end of the 60’s he finished his school in the City of Leicester University, Away from the mountains Ian was also an active canoeist, completing in the British down river championship where he was able to secure several significant positions, His adventurous spirit led him more into the ‘journey’ rather than the ‘in the moment’ spiritual reward, hence he began to undertake extensive multi day sea kayak expeditions, a crossing to Ireland from England, a night crossing to the Isle of Man, a circumnavigation of the Outer Hebrides, mainly focusing on the remote islands of Scotland. The western coast, having difficult tidal currents and an inhospitable landfall, required a similar level of motivation and commitment towards dealing with all the high risk situations as the mountains provided.  

During the late 1970-80’s Ian took on the role of training officer for the Langsdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team and in 1980 he became a part of a group that established the Kendal Mountain Film Festival, ‘The original group of six who set up the event were Alan Evans, Jess Stock, Ian Wall, John Porter, Jim Curran and Brian Hall. Little did they know what they had started or how influential the event would become (History of the Kendal Festival retrieved 2024 from https://www.kendalmountainfestival.com/behind-the-festival/history/).

In the later years he managed three adult education centers addressing rural development and job creation issues in a remote corner of northwest England.

In the early 2000 he was invited to become a trustee on the Board of charity working in Nepal. The charity, founded by two of the most esteemed British mountaineers, Doug Scott and Sir Chris Bonington, Ian had first met Chris in the late 60’s and who was also on the Kendal Mountain Festal team as Patron in 1980.

Ian Was regularly travelled to Nepal to focus on supporting the Kathmandu office this also provided him the opportunity to explore the Himalaya. In 2004 he became involved with the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (Kimff) and supported their acceptance into the Mountain Alliance of Mountain Films. In 2008 he became involved with the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project and ultimately their Honorary International CEO.

From the early 2000 to this day Ian has contributed to many events in Nepal and has published many articles in the mountaineering sector. He is a Nepal contributor to the UK Alpine Journal, instructor to Nepali Guides and mountaineers, a CEO to an INGO and many other activities and roles. Through-out his journey he had a straight forward goal which was to enjoy the mountains and the hills and to survive.

In short, Ian Wall has been involved in tourism since 1965 and is still continuing this journey in adventure tourism as a co-founder of Off the Wall trekking carving out a career from a hobby.

Ian has contributed significantly in the Nepal tourism sector while at the same time keeping a low profile and between his various work commitments in other regions of south Asia. Over the last 54 years Ian has regenerated his passion for mountain bike tours with several multiday trips in both the UK and Nepal. As an adventure lover he does not seem to stop looking for new challenges.