Photography Workshops with Lukasz Warzecha

Friend of the brand and professional photographer Lukasz Warzecha is running a set of photography workshops with special guest subject Dave MacLeod.

Lukasz on the Crux pitch of The Long Hope Route, while shooting ME Pro partners Dave MacLeod & Andy Turner 

Lukasz tells us more: "For me personally, photography has been always about sharing images… but for the first time I get a chance to share with you even more.
Being asked over and over again about my own photography workshops I have decided to finally give you all the best we’ve got here…


A skilful photographer (yours truly, our safety and location guru (Ruth Taylor) and my top assistant (Matt) all yours for the whole weekend! And to make it even better, we have invited for you to photograph (thank you Mountain Equipment) one of the world’s best climber and an all round nice guy – Dave Macleod.


Where? – North Wales (based out of Bryn Engan Farmhouse)
When? – 30th September (Friday) – 2nd of October (Sunday)
Group size is limited to 8 people only.
I’m sure it will be a practical, informative, and inspirational weekend. For all details just click here!


On a side note, just a quick list of other workshops and lectures I’m doing in the near future:


- 12-13th August – Summer Photography School in Poland (in Polish) – I think 4 places left
- 30th Sept. – 2nd October – LWimages AUTUMN PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS – shoot with DAVE    MACLEOD
- 6th October – Thursday Night lecture during the Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival
- 15th October – I’m teaching photography at the Alpkit Bigshakeout weekend!


For more information check out Lukasz's website here 

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

Mountain Equipment enters the USA

I'm sitting writing this blog at the end of what seems like a long and tiring week. Its 5am in the UK but only 10pm here in Salt Lake City, Utah, venue for the largest outdoor tradeshow in the United States, Outdoor Retailer.


Luckily any hint of Jet-lag has now well and truly faded, just in time for the 12 hour flight back to the UK but that doesnt seem so bad, following what has been a great week here in the United States.


Its the first time that we have exhibited properly in the USA but despite that, the four day tradeshow has been a busy one for us, with lots of line presentations, especially to the specialist retailers dotted along the north-western half of the US who seem to appreciate our understanding of rain and gnarly mountaineering conditions. And its been a really interesting mix of people and stores, from expedition outfitters in the far reaches of Alaska to renowned mountaineering and climbing stores in Colorado. Big, brash and unashamed America seems to have postively liked our rich heritage and uncompromising message of functional, high quality gear.


Thankfully it's not all been stand building and selling and we've managed a few hours to hike some of the trails in the Wasatch mountains and climb some of the amazing granite Walls that sweep down into the canyons that run around the rim of the Great Salt Lake basin.


On Monday, hamish and myself headed around to Big Cottonwood Canyon and upto the winter ski resort of Brighton. True to form, in one of the driest parts of the US we managed bring the rain with us and had an energetic return from the 9500ft col charging down through the forests in a thunderstorm. Perfect for giving arid and the normally dry Wasatch mountains a taste of our new GORE-TEX Active Shell.


Not content with just hiking, after a busy day of stand-building, the whole team headed round to Little Cottonwood Canyon for a taste of some of the great rock climbing that the Wasatch has to offer. Jordan, one of our team of helpers, managed to get some beta on what we were told was 'one of the best 5:7 climbs in the Wasatch' and we werent disappointed. A vast 25m dihedral corner system that eventually forced its way upwards via an amazing flake and jamming crack system to the top. Only a couple of pitches, but some of the nicest granite climbing i have done, all trad but with bolted belays.


So if you're in the US keep an eye out for our range. The first deliveries will be arriving into selected stores this Autumn / Fall and we'll be posting details of dealers onto our website later.


Hopefully I'll get some photos added to this blog as soon as I get home.

Guerrillas in the Mist - Direct

Head over to ME Pro partner Jens Holsten's blog here to check out his account of "Guerrillas in the Mist - Direct " on Mount Stuart, Cascades. 

Trumpet Slappers - Video

Head over to the DMM site here where you can check out a great short video by 2 Rays productions of ME Pro partner Nick Bullock on Trumpet Slappers E7 6c, Scimitar Ridge, Llanberis.

also check out Nick's blog for further info 

A day out with the Epicentre

Nick Bullock enjoying himself on Ash Tree Ledge, Gimmer Crag

I always enjoy the opportunities I have to do retail staff training days out on the hill but I was particularly looking forward to yesterdays outing with the guys from the Epicentre in Ambleside. It's fair to say that they are a little keener than average. Amongst them they have Callum who is currently ticking his way through hard Lakeland classics up to E8, Lakeland Mixedmaster Steve who considers the Bob Graham Round to be light entertainment and not forgetting the not so secret weapon, Manager Woody.

Joining us for the day was ME Pro Partner Nick Bullock who'd agreed to take a day off from tottering Welsh sea cliffs on the promise of some 'Lakeland Alpinism'. The plan was a day of two halves with a switch of staff at lunchtime, it seemed best that we didn't go too far. Pulling into the Old Dungeon Ghyll pub car park Nick and I were greeted by the sight of Steve and Liam in running shorts and packing not very large rucksacks. 'Oh dear' said Nick. Being an overly safe instructor type I had a boot full of single ropes whilst Nick had a rack with which anything was possible. Steve was of the opinion that betwen four of us all we really needed was 40m of 7.8mm rope, some wires and a cam. At least the sacks would be light. The forecast was very warm with the possibility of a heavy shower or two. With this in mind we all packed one of our current Arrow Zip Tees or one of the amazing new hooded Javelin Jackets that will be coming out next summer. These are our lightest, stretchiest and most breathable softshells so perfect when you're about to have to spend a morning moving slightly too fast and alternating between running, walking and climbing.

Nick and Liam at the top of Middlefell Buttress

We set off towards Raven Crag where Middlefell Buttress was unusually deserted. This was dispatched swiftly and we continued steeply up the hillside towards Gimmer. Stopping at the foot of the ultra classic Ash Tree Slabs we started to cool quickly so put on our Arrow's and Javelin's for the more technical climbing above. At Ash Tree Ledge we paused briefly for Steve to join Liam and I on the rope before continuing up the exposed D route to the top of the crag. It was about 12pm by now and the plan was to meet Woody and the Epicentre's reinforcements back in the car park at 1pm. With this in mind we made rapid if warm progress towards Harrison's Stickle and then across to Pavey Ark where we shot down the classic easy scramble of Jack's Rake.

Nick on D Route

Steve at the top of Gimmer Crag in the Javelin Jacket, new for 2012

Nick admiring the view from the top of Jack's

By now a quick descent was needed if Nick and I were going to get the cold drink we wanted in the pub before the afternoon's activities. Despite a rapid jog down the always painful Stickle Ghyll path we were greeted by the worrying sight of Woody shirtless and clearly raring to go. I stuck my water bottle in the stream and resigned myself to having to bypass the beer garden for now. Nick was preparing himself for a serious Lakeland sandbagging so we were both relieved when Woody suggested Paladin on White Ghyll crag, a relatively amenable E3 by local standards.

Nick and Woody preparing for Paladin on White Ghyll

Steve and Liam headed back to the Epicentre whilst Woody, Callum, Liam, Nick and I started the steep walk back up the hill. The newly slimline Woody made short work of the spectacular and awkward main pitch before giving Nick and I the dieting secret to loosing 3 stone in 3 months and subsequently going from the sofa to E6 in the same period. Drop into the shop if you'd like the finer details, suffice to say that beer is apparently still allowed. We hobbled back down the scree filled gully in overtight rockshoes before packing up to run down and catch up with the others and hear about their own 3 star White Ghyll classic.

Woody heads into the steepness on Paladin

Woody emerging from White Ghyll

We weren't to be denied a drink this time and a cold beer outside the Stickle Barn rounded off a great day in Langdale in good company. Thanks to Nick and everyone at the Epicentre whether out on the hill or back at the shop holding the fort whilst we were out getting slightly sunburnt! It was great to get out and use a selection of our summer softshell in a perfect testing ground as well as showing the guys some of the highlights of next years range. It's fair to say that the re-worked Orbital Jacket already has some fans and we'll have this and other new products out on long term test with these guys soon. Drop into the shop next time you're in Ambleside for some excellent and experienced advice on ME product or simply for some tips on classic Lakes routes. Whether you're walking, scrambling or climbing E8 they'll be able to point you in the right direction!

There'll be more pictures from the day to follow on our Facebook page as well as on the Epicentre blog which also has Lakes conditions updates in summer and winter: www.theepicentre.co.uk/blog

A great end to a good day out!

Rich B.

Dave MacLeod GORE TEX Experience Tour interview

ME Pro partner Dave MacLeod gives us his thoughts on his GORE TEX Experience tour trip to Norway.



You can check out more information about the trip at the Experience tour facebook page here