Off to the EMMF

The cars packed... so I'm off North to Edinburgh for the Edinburgh Mountain Film festival which gets underway at Ratho tonight! with friend of the brand and professional photographer Lukasz Warzecha. I'll see you there!

For programme and ticket information head to the EMMF site here

Getting Blown around on Mountain Skills Training

We are back at Plas y Brenin for our annual Autumn mountain skills training courses.

Rich B (ME Product Marketing) giving a gear seminar, with a fantastic view

The forecast said high winds from the south west so Tryfan was suggested as an ideal objective as it would be sheltered and the plateau of the Glyders could be avoided. With this in mind we pulled up in the parking bays opposite the spiky ridge line of Tryfan and decided to scrap the original objective and head for the east ridge Y Garn. The east ridge of Y Garn was nicely sheltered with some pleasant scrambling giving great views back down the down the Ogwen valley when the clouds parted.

After a quick lunch number 1 (I always like at least 2 lunches in a mountain day) the group split, with Martin and myself opting for the super direct finish to the ridgeline. The ridge was nicely exposed with an airy feel and a great view back along into Ogwen.

Martin (ME North UK & Ireland Sales Rep.) upset because of a lack of jamming cracks.

We caught the rest of the group sheltering on the plateau from some strong winds having a chat about the merits of softshell. From Y Garn we got on with the walking, gently leaning into the wind brought us to the summit of Glyder Fach. From here it was a dash to get onto the Gribin ridge and off the plateau.

The forecast for tomorrow is looking good! MWIS are saying snow on the tops and lightening, I'm looking forward to unveiling my lime green Changabang pants.

Al Humphreys at the EMMF

Friend of the brand and adventurer extraordinaire Al Humphreys will be lecturing this Sunday at 2pm during the "Adventure Session" at the EMMF, tickets available here

Round the world by bike: Alastair’s quest for adventure began young. Aged 8, he completed the 26 mile Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge and at 14 he cycled off-road across England. Longer distance cycles while at university led up to a round the world trip of epic new proportions.

In a journey which Sir Ranulph Feinnes described as ‘The first great adventure of the 21st Century’, Alastair rode from England to South Africa, crossed the Atlantic by yacht and then cycled from Patagonia to Alaska. Crossing the Pacific by freighter, Alastair completed his expedition by cycling back to England from eastern Siberia.

Heres a short film taken from Al's latest project "A year of Microadventure" which you can read more about at Al's site

Andy Turner at The EMMF

Make sure you get down to Edinburgh Mountain Film festival this Saturday and check out ME Pro partner Andy Turner's awesome lecture "Living for Winter" at the George Square lecture theatre from 2pm as part of the "Climbing Session" tickets available here

Andy on the trek into the Longhope, St.Johns Head, Hoy Photo: Lukasz Warzecha

Living for Winter: Andy Turner didn't start climbing until he was 25. Growing up just outside Manchester, he had been a competitive road cyclist for years when he turned to climbing. 

Despite being a relative latecomer to the sport, Andy quickly realised that winter climbing was where his talents lay. He is now best known 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. 

Andy at work New Routing in Lofoten, Norway Photo: Nick Bullock

Last winter (2010/11) he set about the task of repeating the hardest routes in Scotland with the second ascents of both The Hurting (XI,11) and Catherdral (X,11).  He also managed to fit in some new routing on the Lofoten Islands in Norway.  

Andy's lecture will reflect on the epic winters of recent years and look ahead to his plans for the months ahead.

You can keep up to date with all the latest from Andy at his blog here 

Lukasz Warzecha at the EMMF

In the Edinburgh area this Thursday night?... YES... Then why not head over to RATHO and check out friend of the brand and professional photographer Lukasz Warzecha, who will be getting the 2011 Edinburgh Mountain Film festival underway. 

Lukasz while shooting Andy, Nick and Pete in Lofoten  

Lukasz's lecture "Life as a Pro" starts at 8pm in the Murray theatre, Ratho. Tickets are available here
    

Life as a Pro: Lukasz is the bright new star of outdoor adventure photography, with his work being published around the world. Already known for his radical approach, he's been shooting 'anything climbing' - from winter in Lofoten in gnarly conditions, Ice Climbing World Cups to portraits of Reinhold Messner at the London's Royal Geographical Society.

This is your chance to find out what it's really like to have the "Life of a Pro". Is it all about glamour and jet setting around the world?? No doubt Lukasz will be setting the story straight, illustrating his tales with his amazing images and films.

www.lwimages.co.uk

Photo: LWimages

Autumn Photography work shop: Report

Friend of the brand Lukasz Warzecha just sent over this report from his Autumn photography work shop which took place last weekend in North Wales. 

"It was winter of 2005 when I got a chance to shoot some images with Dave Macleod for the first time… My photography knowledge back then was seriously limited but I remember how excited I was to snap away while Dave was making his way up the ‘Fast and furious‘ in Birnam Quarry. I think I shot entire! 2 rolls of gritty ISO1600 B&W film… 72 frames doesn’t sound exciting enough these days! ;-)
6 years later I found myself teaching climbing photography and 6 of my students (or maybe 5!) could feel this buzz! It was a very special weekend. It meant to be both informative and inspirational and I think it was exactly that.

‘Loved the entire course. All the photoshoots were excellent and the fact that we got to shoot with Dave was unbelievable.’

Have a look at some of my favourite images shot by the students over the weekend."

Photo Richard Enticknap 

Photo Hamish Rose 

Photo Richard Enticknap 

Photo Paul Diffley

You can view more images from the weekend over at Lukasz blog here

In conversation with... Dave MacLeod

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