Mailsail - Jens Holsten

Finally, after years of big mountains, injuries and full time winemaking, the stars have aligned and Jens Holsten is feeling the pressure to get it done. Featuring a proud new line in the beautiful Icicle Canyon outside of Leavenworth, WA.

Film by Max Hasson - http://maxhasson.com

Paint The Town White: David Steele Season Edit

Who knows how long I’ll paint houses to pay my student loans. How many more trips to new skylines will fit on the odometer. What the changing climate will do to the snow that starts high, fills in the runs from the summit down. And just like the nonsense that will always be there, the freedom and identity found on pair of skis remains steadfast. From Denali to Nelson to the hill I grew up skiing in Montana, there’s certainty. Buzz in the parking lot. Stoke on the skin track. Joy as I’ve ever known it, free as every flake that falls.

-David

Film by Jarig Media

Echoes

Were just a few days away from the launch of Nick's first book 'Echoes' and to coincide with this we have teamed up with the Polished Project on their next release: 'Echoes - Outside is hot and sticky'

The film will premiere at Nick’s book launch at Outside Cafe, Hathersage on Tuesday 4^th (tickets available here) and go live on the following day at the Mountain Equipment Vimeo Channel. Check out the teaser below along with reviews from those who have had a sneak advance preview of the final cut…   

"The words and images combine to give a rare glimpse into the darkly luminous realm of a human mind on the edge between prison and freedom, between the grayness and alienation of modern society and the beauty and terror of the mountains. Nick Bullock’s choice to live an unbounded life appears in all its unmitigated, honest and surprisingly stark necessity."

Katherine Ives, Editor in Chief - Alpinist Magazine   

'What a fantastic little film. Time juggling is a not new for mountaineers but I know of no-one with anything close to the levels of passion for climbing that exude from Nick. After all, it’s not everyone who pursues steady employment until his late 30s and is then bold enough to break free and become a full time climber. Whether his climbing passion involves more adrenalin flow than supervising Britain’s gnarliest prisoners must be debateable but the fact that he is one of the most riveting writers and interesting characters on the climbing scene today is clear. Thus far I have only read excerpts from his book. This little film reminds me that I can’t wait to read the whole lot.’

Mick Fowler, Mountaineer

This beautifully shot short film about British mountaineer Nick Bullock features extracts from his new book Echoes, as well as extensive interviews delving in to Nick's life and past. Troubled, trapped, tormented, Nick left his full time job in the prison service to pursue a life in the mountains, which he hoped would set him free. But was it the chains of the prison service that were binding him, or is he trapped in a cage of his own making?

Jack Geldard, Editor UKClimbing.com

To pre-order a copy of ‘Echoes’ head-over to the Vertebrate website

More information on other Polished Project films here 

Nick Bullock: Mindless Finish Teaser

Heres a small teaser from James Dunn Visuals of Nick making the first full winter ascent of an alternative direct finish to the classic mixed route 'Pic 'n Mix' - The Mindless Finish (IX,10) Coire an Lochain, Northern Corries, Cairngorm during last Winters BMC International meet.

EpicTV : Interview with Sandy

Check out the complete EpicTV interview with Sandy post Mazeno Ridge Expedition below



Check out more at http://www.epictv.com/ and http://mazenoridge.com

Video: Bleau Chapter

Heres a short video put together by ME Pro partner Juri Chiaramonte from his recent trip to Fontainebleau.

Dave: The Trailer

We're all super psyched at Mountain Equipment to hook up with the guys from the Polished Project for their next film: Dave... due for release later this year, a taster of which you can watch below.






Dave... is a short film shot by the Polished Project aka friend of the brand and professional photographer Lukasz Warzecha and filmmaker Wojtek Kozakiewicz. 
The film centres around Dave's (MacLeod) exploits on his recent bouldering trip to Switzerland's  Magic Wood - climbing problems such as New Base Line, Mystic Stylez... set along side interviews about his career and life as a professional climber. 


The 12 minute film will be released at international mountain festivals later this Summer with an extended edit going on free web release early in 2013.


For more information and other films by the Polished Project Team check out www.polishedproject.com


You can also read Dave's posts about his Magic Woods trip at his blog: 

NEW BASE LINE - davemacleod.blogspot.se/2012/04/new-base-line.html
MYSTIC STYLEZ - davemacleod.blogspot.se/2012/05/mystic-stylez.html

Hidden Talent: Channel 4

Make sure you check out friend of the Brand, Guide and Plas y Brenin Director of Training Martin Chester on the first episode of 'Hidden Talent' which launches Tuesday at 9pm on Channel 4.



Heres more information about the show...

Hidden Talent is a new six-part series which discovers people with extraordinary hidden talents they never even dreamed they had. Overseen by scientists and academics, over 900 people from all around the country undergo testing, and a number are found to have special physical, mental, sensory or creative talents - of which they were totally unaware, a process which could even change the rest of their lives.

Presenter Richard Bacon follows each of their progress as the Hidden Talent experts take them on, training and developing them to face extraordinary challenges and push their newly discovered Hidden Talent to its limit. These talents range from latent linguistic skills to become fluent in a foreign language, to the mammalian diving reflex enabling some people to hold their breath for up to four minutes and dive to a depth of 60 metres without scuba gear, or an extraordinary sense of direction that makes someone a Human Sat-Nav, capable of finding their way through an uncharted wilderness.

Episode 1/6, Tuesday 24th April, 9pm, Channel 4

The first episode focuses on two drastically different skills, rock climbing and lie detection. After experts test the general public in both physical and mental capacities, they narrow their search down to find the individuals that they believe had the greatest potential to excel in each field.
“We gave over 300 people, who had never even considered the sport, the chance to try rock-climbing – with amazing success” says Martin Chester “it was a great opportunity to design tests that prove there is more to climbing than bravery and biceps!”

The 10 candidates in rock climbing are put through a series of tasks in a long weekend at Plas y Brenin by world-class climbing coach Martin Chester, testing their agility, ease with heights, leadership qualities and communication skills. Maggie, a 45 year-old nurse and grandmother, is selected to take her new-found skill even further by receiving one-on-one training ahead of her final challenge: to ascend the 200ft Old Man of Stoer sea stack in Scotland, which normally takes years of training to attempt.




“I couldn’t believe how well Maggie coped with everything we threw at her – and how much she loved it! What you see on film is what we got! There are no camera tricks, no hidden ropes, and some very real consequences”
After just 18 days of intense tuition, through which Maggie displays true courage and tenacity, will she be able to show once again that she can conquer her fears and overcome this sheer 60m rockface?
“With challenging conditions on the day, the outcome was far from certain. At times my heart was in my mouth as Maggie and I gambled everything. It makes my palms sweat just thinking about it. I can’t wait to see the results”

The tests carried out on potential contributors are designed to assess aptitude rather than skills or knowledge, so viewers can also take part through specially designed interactive tests on the Channel 4 website (www.channel4.com/hiddentalent).

Maggie’s own development was made possible through a mix of Plas y Brenin courses (www.pyb.co.uk/courses-rock-climbing.php) and bespoke tuition. Contact Martin Chester’s team at Plas y Brenin for more details.

Dave MacLeod on BBC iplayer

If you didn't get chance to catch Dave in the 'Climbing... No limits' episode of the Adventure Show on BBC Scotland - Thursday then you can now watch it on BBC i player here

It's over 150 years since climbing developed as a sport and in that time Britain's great crags have been thoroughly explored. In their search for bold new routes, two of Scotland's best rock athletes, Dave MacLeod and Alan Cassidy, travel south of the Border to the heart of the English climbing scene.

In an astonishing week, they attempt two innovative first ascents - one deep underground and the other in a huge cavern. This film follows them as they inch their way from darkness into light.

Andy Parkin: Documentary

Just had an update from Andy on what he's be up and has planned over next few months. Amongst Guiding and his Art Andy he has been doing work with various television and radio networks including this documentary shot for Redbull/Austrian TV channel Servus TV.

The Documentary is part of series called "Bergwelten" in which this episode follows Andy and fellow climber Steve House as they look back on their climbing careers and climb the North Face of the Dru together late last year.

You can view the 60 minute documentary here, however it has been dubbed into German.. but its is well shot and still worth a watch.   

BMC International Meet - Video

Thanks to Simon and Justin from Reeltime Adventure for mailing me this short film shot during the recent BMC International Meet at Glenmore Lodge, Scotland.

Keep your eyes peeled for Nick and for those of you with really good eye sight Andy Turner in action at the beginning during Nick Coltons introduction.

The Long Hope: Trailer

St John's head on the Island of Hoy is a wild and remote 1150 foot sea cliff. It was first climbed in 1970 by climber and poet Ed Drummond together with Oliver Hill. They took 7 days to climb the cliff, sleeping on ledges and in hammocks along the way. Now, 40 years later, Dave MacLeod and Andy Turner set out to climb the cliff in a single day, finishing with a new desperately hard final pitch up the headwall.

This historic new climb, The Longhope Route Direct (E11), is captured close-up with the latest HD cameras and contrasted with the challenges of Drummond and Hills first ascent through interviews and archive material. The film also follows Drummond, now in his late sixties and suffering from Parkinson's disease, as he makes a pilgrimage back to St John's Head to look upon the route one last time.

The Long Hope is available on DVD or via HD download at the Hot aches website here

Dave MacLeod - Stokes Croft 7c+ Video

Heres a short clip of Dave on Stokes Croft 7C+ , Glen Torridon earlier this week 




Check out Dave's full write at his blog here 

In conversation with... Katie L'Herpiniere

The final video from our In conversation with... series featuring ME Pro partner and adventurer Katie L'Herpiniere



you can keep up to date with what Katie and her partner Tarka have been up to over at their site here

In conversation with... Dave MacLeod

Check out the latest from our In conversation with... series featuring ME Pro Partner Dave MacLeod

In conversation with... Stephen Venables

Check out the latest in our In conversation with... series featuring ME Pro partner
Stephen Venables.

In conversation with... Heinz Zak

The latest interview from our In conversation with... series featuring ME Pro partner
Heinz Zak 



You can check out more about Heinz at www.heinzzak.com

In conversation with... Reinhold Messner

Exclusive extended interview with Mountaineering Legend Reinhold Messner.  



This interview was taken from the filming of our "50 years in the Mountains" film which you can view in full over at the ME home page here. It is also available for free download from our friends at steepedge.com.

Dave MacLeod Interview on 4-seasons TV

I mentioned this interview with ME Pro partner Dave MacLeod a few weeks ago while we were out at OutDoor 2011 well here it is..... 4 Seasons TV

Future Product on Test in the Lakes

Steve in a new for 2012 Javelin Jacket after a rapid ascent of D Route on Gimmer Crag, Langdale

If you spotted my blog last week you'll know that I spent Wednesday out on the hill with the guys from the Epicentre in Ambleside and ME Pro Partner Nick Bullock. A varied day covering lots of ground provided the perfect opportunity for us to try out some of our current and future lightweight softshells. Days like this are really important as they allow retail staff to use our kit and develop their own opinions on the ME gear that they stock as well as allowing us and our Pro Partners to feed back our own experiences.

Below are the Epicentre's Steve Ashworth's initial impressions on our new Javelin Jacket that will be available from March 2012. Steve is well known in the Lakes as one of the best winter climbers around, an accomplished alpinist and a slightly unhinged fell runner! It's fair to say that he know's a thing or two about technical kit so we're always keen to hear what he has to say:

My first thoughts when getting the new Javelin Jacket out of the packet where that it would make a great jacket for winter fell running. This should come as no surprise as being designed to meet the needs of the light and fast Alpinist it should slot really well into the role of partner for long winter days putting the miles in over the fells. When you are moving the exolite fabric will keep a surprising amount of weather at bay.

I’m always looking for non membraned softshells and it is good to see that in aiming for maximum breathability Mountain Equipment have stuck to their guns and haven’t been tempted to put a membrane in this jacket. Whilst sitting in the Spring/ Summer range for Mountain Equipment and having a winter cousin in the Orbital Jacket, I would choose to wear the Javelin Jacket on “nice” days in Scotland in winter or on a day where I was trying to get a move on. The Javelin Jacket would be great for something like a winter traverse of the Skye Ridge or for a day linking up classics on the Ben. It goes without saying that it would also be top of my list for an Alpine summer trip.

The Javelin showed how versatile it will be in the climber’s wardrobe when we were out last week on a warm sunny day in Langdale, being a perfect barrier against a cool breeze that picked up on the crag and drying quickly after a very sweaty approach. Even in the relatively benign conditions we experienced the large helmet compatible hood was a welcome addition and one that I feel is essential for jackets of this type.

The Javelin is a super versatile jacket equally as at home on the crag down Langdale as it will be soaking up the sun on the Chamonix Aiguilles, it will slot seamlessly into the winter runners wardrobe and looks set to be another Mountain Equipment classic, hopefully my long term test piece will arrive soon!

Stripping off layers during the jog across from Gimmer Crag to Pavey Ark, Langdale

Heres a few more shots/film clips from the day in a slideshow put together by the guys at the Epicentre