Ian Woodall (born 17 August 1956) is a British mountain climber who has climbed Mount Everest several times.
In 1996 Woodall was the leader of the controversial first South African Mount Everest expedition, during which one member of the party died.
In late May 1998 Woodall together with his climbing partner Cathy O'Dowd were again on Everest when they encountered Francys Arsentiev, half-conscious and unable to move independently.
They called off their own attempt to reach the summit and tried to help her for more than one hour but because of her condition, the location, and the cold weather they were finally forced to abandon her and begin descending.
[3] American journalist Jon Krakauer, who was a member in New Zealander Rob Hall's commercial Everest expedition in 1996, was extremely critical of Woodall's personality and behaviour in his best-selling book Into Thin Air.