Dolomite Cross 2010, 2nd day

2nd day, 26.8.2010

Today we started shortly after a great sunrise from the Maurer-Berghütte. The magnificient Peitlerkofel was in swirling clouds. Via Würzjoch (1987 m) we walked to the Peitlerkofel and went up to the summit on the ferrata. Great weather with superb scenery: from Großglockner to Zillertaler Alpen and the Ortler area. After that we went down to the Schlüter-Hütte (hut; 2297 m), took a meal there and hiked on a long trail beneath the mountains around the Geisler-Gruppe (massif) to the Regensburger Hütte (2037) on their southern side. Here we will sleep the second night. Tomorrow we will try the Libanov-Pfeiler (pillar) in the Geisler-Gruppe. We are feeling very well though today we again have walked approximately 1700 vertical meters and 23 kolometers of distance.


Tag 2, 26.8.2010

Heute früh sind wir kurz nach einem super Sonnenaufgang von der Maurer-Berghütte gestartet. Um den prachtvoll dastehenden Peitlerkofel zogen noch Nebelschwaden. Übers Würzjoch sind wir zum Peitlerkofel gegangen und via Klettersteig hochgestiegen. Super Wetter mit perfekter Fernsicht vom Großglockner über die Zillertaler Alpen bis zum Ortlergebiet. Wir sind dann abgestiegen zur Schlüterhütte, haben dort Mittag gemacht und sind in einer langen Höhenwanderung um die Geislergruppe herum zur Regensburger Hütte (2037 m) auf deren Südseite gewandert. Hier werden wir unsere zweite Nacht verbringen. Morgen probieren wir den Libanov-Pfeiler in der Geislergruppe. Uns geht es supergut, obwohl wir heute wieder etwa 1700 Höhenmeter und 23 Kilometer Wegstrecke gelaufen sind.

The Perfect Line - Dolomiten Cross 2010

After the huge success of the Ski Transalp expedition in 2009. Mountain Equipment pro partner and professional photographer Bernd Ritschel and his team set out on their next adventure "The Perfect Line"

Bernd tells us more

" Four of us intend to cross the Dolomites at their widest point, from north to south, in the region of the Dolomites high altitude trail no. 1. Roughly: between Vintl and Feltre.
Our motto is the same as it was for our successful Skitransalp expedition – "Fun rather than speed".
This expedition is not about records and superlatives. It's all about sharing an authentic experience with good friends and reliving the experience with others through media coverage and in a series of lectures.
We are planning to climb the following routes: Furchetta North Face (alternatively Sas Rigais North Face), Langkofel North Face, Sella, Marmolada South Face Solda Route (alternatively West Ridge), Cimone della Pala North West ridge, Cima della Madonna The Veil's Edge, etc. .......
The expedition will cover: - approx. 140 km on footpaths and high altitude trails. - approx. 6,000 m climbing on II to VI grade routes. - approx. 5,000 m on Via Ferratas. - We expect the expedition to last 15 to 18 days."

The team will be sending us regular updates by phone on their 18 day epic in both English and German the first of which you can see below


1st day, 25.08.10

Our first day on the road. The weather is comparatively well, only some clouds and agreeable temperatures. Today we walked from Vintl (near the exit of the Pustertal) to the Maurer-Berghütte (mountain hut; 2130 m) above Würzjoch, that was about 25 kilometer und 1800 vertical meter on a really nice scenic way (where you get first impressions of the Dolomites). We sat on the terrace of the hut and have a look to the Peitlerkofel (2875 m) in the Naturpark Puez-Geisler.
The north face is still wet because of torrential rain last night. So we decided to do without the planned climb.
Tomorrow we will go from south via the ferrata to the Peitlerkofel. As the northern walls are all wet we have chosen the Libanov Pillar, named according to a well known French climber, on the southern side of the Geisler-Gruppe as climbing destination for the day after tomorrow.

Tag 1, 25.08.10

Wir sind den ersten Tag unterwegs. Das Wetter ist relativ gut, nur ein paar Wolken und angenehme Temperaturen. Wir sind heute von Vintl (756 m; nahe dem Ausgang des Pustertals) zur Maurer-Berghütte (2130 m) oberhalb vom Würzjoch gelaufen, das sind 25 Kilometer und 1800 Höhenmeter auf einem wunderschönen Höhenweg (wo man erste Eindrücke der Dolomiten erhält). Wir sitzen gerade auf der Hüttenterrasse und schauen rüber auf den Peitlerkofel (2875 m) im Naturpark Puez-Geisler.
Die Nordwand ist noch nass von dem Starkregen letzte Nacht. Wir haben uns deshalb entschlossen, auf die geplante Klettertour zu verzichten. Morgen gehen wir von Süden über den Klettersteig auf den Peitlerkofel. Und da die Nordwände nass sind, haben wir uns für übermorgen den Libanov-Pfeiler, benannt nach einem berühmten französischen Kletterer, auf der Südseite der Geislergruppe als nächstes Kletterziel ausgesucht.

You can also check the website/blog out here

BBC Live Climb - The Great Climb Trailer

Head to the below link to view the trailer for "The Great Climb" hitting our screens this Saturday



Click here

New Autumn/Winter 2010 Range live on the website

Our New and Updated Autumn/Winter 2010 range is now live on the website.

Andy Turner, Cracking Up (IX,9) North Wales

Head to the site here

GORE-TEX® Experience Tour - Entries Open Today

Entries open today for two people to win a place on a week long trek through Knoydart, Scotland under the tutelage of Cameron McNeish. The whole expedition, which is the second to be launched as part of the GORE-TEX® Experience Tour, will be filmed by Richard Else.

Cameron McNeish - Wilderness expert

After 5 days under the expert guidance of Cameron, the two winners will set off on their own kitted out in Mountain Equipment and record their experiences on video. This is a great opportunity for people who already have an interest in the outdoors to increase their knowledge and understanding of the countryside. The event will take place from 26th October – 2nd November'10.

For application form and more details of the trek click here

Applications are also still open to win a place on Ines Papert’s Himalayan expedition details of which are available on the same page.

BBC Live Climb - goes live in just over a week

Mountain Equipment Pro partner Dave MacLeod and fellow climber Tim Emmett will be aired live on the BBC as they tackle a new route on Sron Uladale on the Isle of Harris, the crux of which Dave reckons could be as hard as E9 with a mix of E6 and E7 on the other six pitches of the route.

the route

Dave along with fellow Mountain Equipment Pro Partner Brian Hall (who as well as having a world class mountaineering CV also works on Mountain safety for Film & TV) have spent around a week on an initial recce of the crag, selecting the route and another week checking the details and logistics for what Dave says will be 'a mind-boggling adventure'

Brian on the recce

The programme will also feature a world record bid by 2 climbers as they attempt to ascend five world-class routes in the Outer Hebrides in just five days.

The climb will be broadcast live on Saturday, 28 August’10 between 13.30 and 19.00 on BBC2 Scotland and Sky Channel 990.
It's also going to be showing nationally on the BBC HD channel between 17.00 and 1900.

photos - Dave MacLeod Collection

Fault Line Living - Iceland

Head over to the Fault Line Living site now where you can catch up with all the latest from the Team as they travel across Iceland.


www.faultlineliving.com