LLAMFF 2011 Preview part 2 - Andy Turner

Heading to LLAMFF this weekend??? then make sure you check out Mountain Equipment Pro Partner Andy Turner at The Canolfan at 4.15pm on Saturday 19th March'11.

photo: lwimages

"Andy Turner Lecture"

Andy Turner grew up just outside Manchester and didn’t start climbing until he was 25, having been a competitive road cyclist up to that point. Despite being a relative latecomer to the sport he quickly realised that winter climbing was where his talents lay. He is now best know for pushing the limits of onsight Scottish winter climbing including new routes such as The Secret (IX,9) on Ben Nevis and the first winter ascent of Sassenach (IX,9) also on Ben Nevis. In winter 2009/10 he also found time to squeeze a few routes in, in North Wales including the second ascent of Wales’ hardest route Cracking Up (IX, 9).

Andy will be at the festival fresh from another busy winter 10/11 season which has seen him cover everything from repeating amazing routes such as The Hurting (XI, 11) to new routing in Lofoten, Norway just a week ago.

You can read more about Andys latest trips over at his blog here

LLAMFF 2011 Preview part 1 - Keith Partridge

The Llanberis Mountain Film festival 2011 gets underway this Friday 18th March'11. Along side a wide selection of films and lectures you'll be able to catch some of our Pro Partners and Friends such as professional cameraman Keith Partridge

Keith Filming on the Eiger for the BBC

"Life And Times Of An Adventure Cameraman"

Keith Partridge’s ‘office’ is as unusual as his commute. As one of the country’s most experienced adventure cameramen his journey to work may well kick-off with a heart-stopping abseil through vertical jungle, a helicopter winch-line onto an icy mile-high mountain face or a close encounter with some of the world’s most iconic wildlife. With camera in hand he has made the most challenging, spectacular and remote places on the planet his ‘office’ during his freelance career working for the major broadcasting companies including the BBC, Discovery and Channel 4.

This sideways look at the ‘extreme’ will take us on a journey through a variety of projects and extraordinary locations with stories from behind the scenes. In this ‘how did they do that’ presentation we’ll examine just what it takes to capture the essence of adventure from some of the most outrageous situations and camera positions imaginable. This presentation carries a health warning to all those of nervous disposition and sufferers of vertigo.

Keith's lecture takes place at The Canolfan at 7pm on Saturday 19th

tickets and more information available here

North 3 - The place with no dawn

Latest video from Ben and the North 3 Team



Read Ben's full report here

North 3 - London to Ottawa

Latest video update from Ben and The North 3 Team



Keep up to date with all the latest here

Lofoten'11 - Round up

The guys have just got back to the UK after a productive trip out in Lofoten bagging 2 new routes and repeated the swiss route - "Nothing compares to you" despite atrocious conditions as you'll have seen in previous posts.

Nick has just posted a quick round up on his blog here (some pics from which are below)

Pete and Andy after topping out on a new route on Vargerkalen

Andy on pitch one of a new 8 pitch route on Vorgankalen

Lukasz also swung by ME HQ today with a Mac packed full of images and footage so watch this space....

Ben Saunders - North 3

Later this week Mountain Equipment Pro Partner Ben Saunders sets out to reach the Geographic North Pole solo and unsupported, and aims to break the North Pole speed record in the process.



In 2005 a guided team using dog sleds and several air-drops of food reached the Pole in 36 days, 22 hours, and in 2010 a Canadian team reached the Pole on foot in 41 days, 18 hours with one resupply flight. Ben is travelling alone and on foot, and will have no support en route. His start point is Cape Discovery, on the northern coast of Canada, and he will travel using skis and snowshoes, hauling a carbon fibre and kevlar sled containing his food and equipment, and a cutting-edge satellite tracking beacon that will enable real-time position updates as Ben heads north.

We'll have more from Ben over the coming weeks as North 3 gets underway, but you can also keep up to date with all the latest and follow Ben at his website here and his facebook page here

Lofoten'11 - Building steam

Another great clip from Lukasz and the guys up in Lofoten



You can up to date with all the latest from the trip and check back at what the guys have been up to so far at their blogs

Lukasz - http://blog.lwimages.co.uk/

Andy - http://andyturnerclimbing.blogspot.com/

Nick - http://nickbullock-climber.co.uk/