Trail Magazine - 'Stuff of Legend'

I've just been out and grabbed the April issue of Trail Magazine which this month includes their annual 'Gear Guide'. In the Guide along side ME product information and past reviews you'll also find a great feature written by acting Editor Simon Ingram about iconic gear that led to a lot of what we use today such as the Whillians Box Tent, Chouinard Zero Ice axe, Javlin fleece and amongst these are two Mountain Equipment classic's

Mountain Equipment Down Suit

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First developed by founder of ME Pete Hutchinson and mountaineering legend Don Whillans for the 1970 Annapurna expedition. The Suit pictured above belongs to Doug Scott and he used it many expeditions during the 1970's.

Mountain Equipment Cascade Jacket and Pant

Click to enlarge

First launched back in 1977 this was our first ever Gore-Tex product and lead on to many of the award winning classics of today such as the Kongur. This set was still being used by friend of the brand Brian Davison up to last summer.

Make sure you go and grab a copy of Trail now.

This winter also sees us celebrate our 50th year as a brand and we have a host of exciting projects coming up over the next few months.... so watch this space!

DAV Expedition Team 2012 - Training Update

The Guys from at the DAV Expedition team have just dropped us an update on what they have been up to over the past 3 months.....

Team member Sebi out in Chamonix

Fitness-Test and Training - 08/12/10

"On 08.12.10 me and the rest of the DAV Expedition Team headed to Bamberg, Bavaria with our team coach David Goettler and writer Alexandra Albert (Alexandra will publish a book about the team after our last big expedition in 2012). A fitness test had been arranged for us at the university's hospital. The doctors wanted to check our general fitness and health to ensure that we were all strong and fit enough to cope with expedition goals we have been set over the next two years.

Lab tests at Bamberg University Hospital

Measuring our weight, checking bloods, heart capacity and our general condition; were just a few of tests we were put through... the results of which were more than satisfying: all six of us are at our best. The doctors were absolutely astonished by the very impressive condition of one team member: Sebi - who is already working as a mountain guide.

Master class with Guido Koestermeyer

The next day, we met a famous climbing coach in the gym of Forchheim: Guido Koestermeyer. He talked about training plans for professional sports climbing."

Argentière - 03 – 12/01/11

"With the expectation to do some fine ice routes, we started on 3rd January and header to the Dauphiné and set up our basecamp in Argentière-la-Bessé. We had the chance to do some fine routes like - Gramusat directe (WI6, 320m) Geronimo (WI5+, 550m), and Finesse et delicatesse (WI5+, 220m). Because of the warm climate we had to move on to Cervière and Les Orres. The difficulty of these routes wasn't that high, so we could practice our speed skills and getting in to a routine as a team.

We also climbed a difficult mixed route on Grottes des Hirondelles called Promoccion sociale (M10).

The Exped Team would like to thank Francois Lombard for the support on this trip."

Chamonix - 11/02/11

"After a night of acclimation in the mountain station, we started to climb a route on the Grand Rocheuse (4102m) called - Too late to say I`m sorry (1000m; ED+; Ice: 70-90°; Rock: V, A2).

Mirko on - Too Late to say I'm sorry

The conditions were pretty good, so that we had no problems climbing the route. After a bivouac on the Midi Plan, we traversed the Col des Pelerins. This mixed route - Rebuffat-Terray (550m; Rock V; Ice: 85°; Mixed: 5) on the North face of Aiguille des Pelerins was also good to climb we then descended back to Chamonix later that day.

Max enjoying his birthday out in Chamonix

This route was a big birthday present to team member Max.

Max on Männer ohne Nerven

Two days later team member Max and David Göttler (trainer) went to the Pinistal where they climbed Männer ohne Nerven (150m, WI 6-) and Kerze (60m, WI 6)."

LLAMFF 2011 - 4 weeks to go!!!

Ray Wood at LLAMFF has just dropped us a email with further information for this years festival which gets underway in just under 4 weeks time!

LLAMFF 2010

The Llanberis Mountain Film Festival, aka LLAMFF, is a celebration of the 'mountain experience' taking place over the weekend of March 18th - 20th in North Wales. Expect to see the finest films on exploration and adventure, culture and environment, and mountain sports from around the world. A stunning line up of speakers will also give you the chance to hear first-hand the stories that make the headlines including some from the perspective of behind the lens.

Based at the foot of the iconic Llanberis Pass and Snowdon, the magnificent backdrop couldn't be more appropriate, attracting as it does walkers and climbers all year round seeking their own adventure. LLAMFF promises to be an inspirational festival in an inspirational setting.

The backbone of the festival is the international film competition together with the best films from the Banff Mountain Festival, but with so many speakers and other events in the programme you'll always find the eclectic and unexpected at LLAMFF.

If you've ever wondered what it takes to be an adventure cameraman at the top of your game then don't miss Keith Partridge on the Saturday evening. Keith was one of the camera crew behind the spectacular and current BBC series, The Human Planet. Keith's behind the scenes stories and footage of 'close calls' will leave you in no doubt as to how far you sometimes have to push it to get that shot.

Mountaineer, Al Hinkes, the only Brit and one of only twelve people alive who have summited all the World's fourteen 8000 metre peaks - the same number of people that have stood on the moon - is another adventurer speaking at LLAMFF who knows all about the drive and determination required to succeed at the highest level.

ME Pro partner Brian Hall gets things underway at last years festival

Since the first LLAMFF in 2002 it has become an annual festival and the main supporting sponsor once again is outdoor clothing manufacturer Mountain Equipment. Vote for the best film and presentation and if you get it right then you could win a £300 Mountain Equipment voucher.

Festival highlights also include:

• Big screen HD (High Definition) experience.
• Andy Turner – With the second ascent of The Hurting (XI 11) under his belt this winter he knows what Pushing the Limits of Winter Climbing is all about.
• Paul Diffley - Climbers I've Shot and some Climbers I'd like to Shoot - Award winning cameraman behind Hot Aches Productions.
• Ian Parnell - British Style - A rollercoaster ride through the mountain life.
• Snowdonia 2050 – Think Question Time discussing the ecology of Snowdonia in 2050 and balancing the needs of recreation and conservation.
• Steve McClure and Lucy Creamer - The Slackers Guide Reloaded - What drives their ambition to climb at the highest level?
• Family Fun - orienteering by Sprayway. Free kayaking,canoeing and climbing sessions (min. age 8 yrs) on the Saturday organised by the Outdoor Partnership. Photographic treasure hunt and competition for the youngsters.
• George Smith and Noel Craine's Famous (Almost) Climbing Quiz on the Friday night.
• Mountain artists Andy Parkin and Rowan Huntley.
• 'Hands on' adventure sports injury workshops from Snowdonia Sports Medicine (Zac Larraman). Learn about Muscle Energy Technique with plenty of opportunity to quiz Zac about injury prevention and rehabilitation.
• Beacon Climbing master class and bouldering competition.

Weekend and session tickets are available now at

Joe Brown (tel: 01286 870327)

V12 Outdoor (tel: 01286 871534) or online at their websites.

More info at http://www.llamff.co.uk/ and you can also follow the latest LLAMFF news on Facebook.

Andy and Lukasz - Update

Professional photographer and friend of the brand Lukasz Warzecha has just dropped us a quick email to let us know what he and ME pro partner Andy Turner have been up to over the past week....

Last weekend Andy donned the lycra and headed out to the Peak District with Lukasz to bag a few photos for a possible writing project Andy's working on about how he went from Pro cyclist to Mountaineer - a few photos of which you can see below

Then on Monday the guys hooked up with fellow climber/mountaineer Nick Bullock and headed for Scotland to hopefully get some routes done before they all head for Norway in the next 2 weeks time.

You can see all the latest photos and keep up to date over at Lukasz blog here and Andys blog here

BBC Human Planet - Mountains

If you haven't already been watching then make sure you tune in to BBC 1 tonight at 8pm and check out the latest instalment of the "Human Planet" series.

Tonights episode - 'Mountains - Life in Thin Air' features cameraman extraordinaire and friend of the brand Keith Partridge filming the Kazakhs of the Altai Mountains, Mongolia fox hunting with Golden Eagles - an amazing 3 minute clip of which you can see below

ISPO 2011

I'm just back in the office after a busy week out in Munich where the world of Outdoor, Ski and Board convergered for the ISPO 2011 tradeshow.

The ME stand last Saturday before the show got underway

The Mountain Equipment stand was a hive of activity as ever with our whole international sales team stacked out with back to back appointments for viewings our new and exciting Winter 11/12 collection.

As some of you may have already worked out this year sees us celebrate our 50th year so to get things started we threw a party on our stand on Monday night.

Mountain Equipment pro partner Bernd Ritschel got proceedings underway with a first and exclusive viewing his 'Dolomitten Cross lecture' which will be touring across Germany in the next few months, more information available at http://www.lightwalk.de/

Bernd Ritschel takes to the stage

This was then followed by the first look at an exciting project we have been working on to celebrate our 50th year, I can't tell you much more than that at the moment but keep you eyes peeled over the coming months were all very proud of it here at ME.

below are some shots from the party....

(L-R) Unknown, ME Pro partner Heinz Zak, Thomas Strobl - Owner Invia (ME Germany)

Stuart Pitches - Owner Facewest & Chris Smith - ME UK Sales Manager

Keith Hutcheon, Chris Jakeman, Richard Talbot - ME Product Manager, Frances Owston - ME Design assistant

Unknown, Mogens Larsen - Ski &Toj (ME Denmark), Ola Hilleberg - Highsport (ME Sweden), Andy - Allcord Ltd

Kristoffer Kleven - XCSports (ME Norway) & Jan Blazej - Summitride (ME Czech Republic)

Anke Schnieder- Invia Marketing Manager, Hamish Dunn - ME Brand Director, Winfried Thomas - Invia Sales & Product Manager

and finally (he'll hate me for this!!) our very own product manager Richard Talbot was thrust into ISPO stardom after finding himself featuring in GORE-TEX's latest advertising campaign for their new Active Shell fabric which launched at the show.

Ibex Bouldering

Product manager Richard Talbot and I recently spent some time in Salt Lake City visiting the Outdoor Retailer tradeshow. It is always interesting to compare the US market to the UK/European market and as a side benefit we hoped to catch a little skiing and bouldering.

We didn't get on skis in the end, but we did boulder at the amazing crag that is Ibex, 3hrs drive south from SLC.

Ibex is in the middle of nowhere, 50 miles from the nearest small town on the edge of a dried up lake bed.
There are quite a few areas scattered around but we climbed only in the area around the massive Red Monster boulder. It is a huge lump of rock with one long steep face at a highball-able height. The setting is amazing: Steep cliffs facing the flatness of the lake bed surrounded by distant hills. And so quiet.

Apologies for the poor stitching together! Looking out across the lake bed with the main cliff on the left


Sorry for the poor montage, my camera phone doesn't really do the place justice. Rich on a classic slab problem

I had my sights set on Ju, an iconic problem in these parts. A very long time ago I had failed on the last move during my last attempt before leaving SLC, and I was keen to try again.
For a while it looked like I wasn't going to get up the first move, but I worked it out and kept getting higher but it took a while. The sun vanishing behind the cliffs sent the temperature plummeting so we bailed, not totally psyched on the 3hr drive back to SLC before a dinner appointment.

I went back a couple of days later with some old friends from SLC (nobody seems to leave that town) and I managed to get up it after a few attempts. I floated\fought through the move that spat me off last time without any awareness that "this was it" and then I was standing above it. Cool. The sun vanished before we were climbed out but we drove across to the other side of the lake bed and finished off on a steep prow in the sun. Thanks to Mike for the pictures.

Cynthia warming up


The first move of Ju, in the sun.


Topping out, in the shade

The last problem of the day. I failed a couple of moves later. Oh well, have to go back..

What an amazing place.