Simon Elias

Full name: Simón Elías Barasoain
Born in: Logroño (La Rioja) Spain
Lives in: Logroño (La Rioja) Spain, but mostly in mountain huts, vivacs and airports.
Family: One brother who makes me sweat the t-shirt on mayor rock climbs.
Profession: Mountain guide, writer.
Eats: Everything that looks like food.
Drinks: Everything on a bottle or from a river.
Speaks: English, french, spanish.
Sports: Alpinism, adventure climbing, skiing of track.
Favourite restaurant or hang out: The Laurel Street in my hometown where you can drink the best wine, eat tapas and hang out.
Reads: Everything that falls into my hands.
Listens to: Stupid music while I drive, classical in my house and a more electronic side for late night.
Favourite colour: White, blue and green the combination of the mountains on a good sunny spring day with good ice on the ascent and fresh snow for the descent..
Always in the hand luggage: My leatherman and a book.
The best airport in the world: The one that works like a bus terminal: not much paraphernalia, fast checking and free parking.
Hidden talent: My garden from where I get much of my food when I´m home.
Best climbing experience: The top of Cerro Torre after climbing the summit mushroom by the west face.
Last trip: Climbing and skiing in Chamonix, my legs still hurt.
Worst buy ever: A dog named Luna that suffered with me on the Maya jungle for two months. Was eaten by a caiman.
Best bargain ever: A cave for free in the mexican mountains where we climbed, lived and dreamed with outher worlds.
Bored by: Tv.
Amused by: Arts and creativity.
Childhood memory No 1: Outside my parents house in the desolated Camero mountains commanding a flock of goats.
Motto: Dreams are true!!
Positive characteristic: Enthusiastic, persistent.
Negative characteristic: Pig headed.
Hates: Bad manners.
Favourite way to dress: Casual but elegant.
Fears: For the future and how where are dealing with natural sources.
Sleeps: More than 8 hours whenever I can.
Plays: Futbolín or table soccer a popular sport for drinkers in the spanish night.
Desire: Calm.
Favourite city: Stockholm.
Believes in: Nature.
Role model: Walter Bonatti for his adventures and grand class.
Misses while away from home: My coach, my friends, my family and everything that makes me comfy at home.
Favourite movie: Dersu Uzala, impacted me whe I was a kid an my parentes took me to the movies to wacht it and still makes me cry when I see it today. It is not about the end of a unique man is about the end of a world.
Best ice cream combination: Anything with ”dulce de leche” the great argentinian contribution to the sweet-toothed world.
Morning person or night owl: Morning while in the mountains, night owl in the city.
Favourite person to spend time with: Any of my great friends.
Animal correspondence: People say I look like a bird for my big nose.
Worst failure: Dating a girl at my grandparents house while they where on vacation and getting cut. Hopefully was a long time ago.
Life soundtrack: The Spanish National Radio. Radio 3.
Place to return to: The jungle.
Favourite Peak Performance item: My Black Light sweater hood.
Favourite quote or saying: I never retreat I only turn around and keep on going.
Worst date: 1998 wasn't a good year.
Best date: 2008, ten years after this it's time for celebration.
Gets mom on birthday: Trees.
Definition of injustice: Luck of respect. We need morals to be fair. First the humans afther the laws.
Life-long love: My moms farm.
Favourite material: My Land Rover.
Best song ever: Manu Chao has done a lot of those.
Dream: Take some time to write and watch the sea on the Maroquian ocean.
Worst nightmare: When I`m falling.