I've being meaning to post this for a bit now and with a bit of time on my hands I've eventually got round to it.
Last year Nick and I were nominated for the Piolet d'Or 2010 for our first ascent of the north face of Chang Himal in Nepal. This is the film/slide show that the organisers put together for the event.
Looking semi hopeful for flying to Lukla tomorrow, now we just need a couple of weeks of weather like we had last year, fingers crossed!
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Paul Diffley at EMMF this weekend
Edinburgh Mountain Film festival kicks off this Thursday night!
Saturday (23rd) afternoon at 2pm sees friend of the brand and professional film maker Paul Diffley of Hot aches hit the stage at the George Square Lecture theatre.
Paul Filming The Pinnacle last winter on the BenPaul was an avid climber himself when he first decided to point a video camera at another climber in 2003. Since then, he has formed Hot Aches Productions and filmed many of the world's best climbers, making several award-winning films in the process. With a blend of dialogue, photographs, film extracts and previously unseen footage, Paul will give a comic insight into some of the iconic athletes he has worked with, sharing stories behind films such as E11, Committed, Fools with Tools, Monkey See Monkey Do and his next film The Pinnacle which premieres next month.
More information and to buy tickets click here
Note: Wednesday is the last day you can buy tickets online otherwise its first come first serve at the festival its self which kicks off on Thursday night with ME pro partner Stu McAleese and his Baffin Big Walls lecture at Ratho.
5 Climbs, 5 Islands - BBC 2 Tonight
Dont forget... The 5 climbs, 5 islands film that was originally filmed as a back up for the BBC Great Climb programme in case of atrocious weather, injuries etc will air on BBC 2 Scotland tonight.
The 2 part film (second part will air on Tuesday 26th) features ME Pro partner Dave MacLeod and fellow climber Tim Emmett as the climb around the islands of the Hebrides.
For those outside Scotland - BBC2 Scotland is also available on Sky channel 990 and it will also be available to view on BBC i player
The 2 part film (second part will air on Tuesday 26th) features ME Pro partner Dave MacLeod and fellow climber Tim Emmett as the climb around the islands of the Hebrides.
For those outside Scotland - BBC2 Scotland is also available on Sky channel 990 and it will also be available to view on BBC i player
Monday, 18 October 2010
The waiting game...
This afternoon we should have being wandering into the village of Tangnag, sitting under the south face of Kyashar, our base camp for the expedition. Instead we find ourselves wandering down to Himalayan Java for our ritual coffee session and brief escape from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu, the constant beeping of car and bike horns, the sound track of the city, reminding us where we are.
The first attempt at flying to Lukla, only 75kg of excess, let the bartering commence!
Lukla, the small mountain airport we fly to for the start our trek, is quite literally perched on the side of a mountain, 40 minutes of beautiful Himalayan panorama ending with a very ‘exciting’ landing on the short runway with a 12% gradient. With no radar they need very good weather to operate and the heavy rain and snow over the last few days means only a small handful of flights have left. Leaving a massive backlog of trekkers and climbers at both ends, frustration showing on everyone’s face.
We’ve packed and un-packed all our kit three times now for different scenarios trying to beat the system and jump the queue. The only option other than flying is a 9 hour bus ride to Jiri, the start of all expeditions before the airport was built and then an eight day trek to Tangnag. We chose Kyashar because of its ease of access from Kathmandu, three days should have seen us at base camp, the long approach trek isn’t too appealing and already three days behind schedule we’d arrive at Tangnag nearly two weeks later than planned but with all flights fully booked for the week options were running out.
Last night over a beer with Loben (www.lobenexpeditions.com) we came up with a plan, a bit of a gamble but hopefully it pays off. This morning Phalden our ‘guide’ got the early bus to Jiri with most of our kit and will start the trek to Tangnag tomorrow. We’ve kept one bag with us, just about enough kit to try and acclimatize on Mera Peak. The idea being we can get a flight in the next couple of days which will be much easier with just the two of us and only one bag, grab a porter in Lukla and arrive in base camp quite a bit in front of Phalden and start acclimatizing. It’s never a good idea going separating from your bags but knowing Phalden he’ll look after them like his own and won’t let them out of his sight, they’re in safe hands!
We’ve packed and un-packed all our kit three times now for different scenarios trying to beat the system and jump the queue. The only option other than flying is a 9 hour bus ride to Jiri, the start of all expeditions before the airport was built and then an eight day trek to Tangnag. We chose Kyashar because of its ease of access from Kathmandu, three days should have seen us at base camp, the long approach trek isn’t too appealing and already three days behind schedule we’d arrive at Tangnag nearly two weeks later than planned but with all flights fully booked for the week options were running out.
Last night over a beer with Loben (www.lobenexpeditions.com) we came up with a plan, a bit of a gamble but hopefully it pays off. This morning Phalden our ‘guide’ got the early bus to Jiri with most of our kit and will start the trek to Tangnag tomorrow. We’ve kept one bag with us, just about enough kit to try and acclimatize on Mera Peak. The idea being we can get a flight in the next couple of days which will be much easier with just the two of us and only one bag, grab a porter in Lukla and arrive in base camp quite a bit in front of Phalden and start acclimatizing. It’s never a good idea going separating from your bags but knowing Phalden he’ll look after them like his own and won’t let them out of his sight, they’re in safe hands!
GORE-TEX® Campaign hits Manchester
The Mountain Equipment GORE-TEX® campaign has hit the streets of Manchester.
Street Team
This is the first part of a campaign which will run around key locations across the UK over the coming months to coincide with our new and updated Gore styles landing in store for Winter.
The Manchester Campaign which includes billboard advertising, in store point of sale and street PR is based around The Mountain Equipment Store on Deansgate - where you can check out the latest range, more info here
Window at The ME Store
Keep your eyes peeled around Covent Garden, London in the coming weeks.
View our Hardshell range here
Street TeamThe Manchester Campaign which includes billboard advertising, in store point of sale and street PR is based around The Mountain Equipment Store on Deansgate - where you can check out the latest range, more info here
Window at The ME Store Keep your eyes peeled around Covent Garden, London in the coming weeks.
View our Hardshell range here
Friday, 15 October 2010
Kathmandu
Landing in Kathmandu on Wednesday after a brief stop in Dakar things seemed to be going unusually smooth until after an hour staring at the baggage conveyor there was still no sign of our 4 bags and 90kg of kit. Leaving Tony at the airport for a nervous wait to see if our bags would turn up on the next flight from Dakar I headed straight to the Ministry of Tourism with our agent, Loben, to meet our Liaison Officer and get the permit for Kyashar.
Tony with our 90Kg of kit at Heathrow
Amazingly, thanks to Lobens efficiency I had the permit in my hand within 2 hours of landing in the country! Things got even better when we drove back to the airport to find Tony with all four of our bags and a big grin as his bottle of 15 year old Glenlivet had arrived intact inside his boots (I’m not too sure which he was more worried about, the climbing kit turning up or the whiskey bottle!).
Sorting the paper work for the permit at the Ministry
Weather permitting we fly to Lukla tomorrow (Saturday) morning then we’ve got a four day trek to our base camp at the village of Tangnag. Since landing we’ve spent a couple of days just chilling out, catching up with friends and last minute shopping in Kathmandu. Our flight back to the UK is booked for the 19th November so all being well we’ll be back in Kathmandu a couple of days before that...
Tony with our 90Kg of kit at Heathrow Amazingly, thanks to Lobens efficiency I had the permit in my hand within 2 hours of landing in the country! Things got even better when we drove back to the airport to find Tony with all four of our bags and a big grin as his bottle of 15 year old Glenlivet had arrived intact inside his boots (I’m not too sure which he was more worried about, the climbing kit turning up or the whiskey bottle!).
Sorting the paper work for the permit at the Ministry Weather permitting we fly to Lukla tomorrow (Saturday) morning then we’ve got a four day trek to our base camp at the village of Tangnag. Since landing we’ve spent a couple of days just chilling out, catching up with friends and last minute shopping in Kathmandu. Our flight back to the UK is booked for the 19th November so all being well we’ll be back in Kathmandu a couple of days before that...
Thursday, 14 October 2010
Ben Saunders at Metro Ski and Snowboard show
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More information and tickets available here
If your heading to Metro Ski and Snowboard show at London's Olympia next week then make sure you check out Mountain Equipment Pro Partner Ben Saunders.
Ben will be presenting two lectures in partnership with Land Rover at the Mountain Lecture Theatre - on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd October'10 at 2.30pm
Ben will also have his own stand at the show so make sure you head over say hello and check it out
Ben will also have his own stand at the show so make sure you head over say hello and check it out
More information and tickets available here
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