| 01.05.10 - NEWS UPDATES
APRIL 30 - FEB 27
Edmond and Stephen at the Trient Hut,See details
below
April 30
Another gratifying full house last night, at Andover.
But there ARE still tickets available for the last four
Shackleton dates – Loughborough, Malvern, Eastbourne and
Stanley.
Details and booking at:
http://www.speakersfromtheedge.com/events/stephen-venables-steps-shackleton-tour
AND … I have a new date near Bath:
Thursday, May 13 7.00 pm
St Laurence School, Bradford on Avon
Everest
Tickest £8 adults, £3 students
0775 135 9844
AND FINALLY MAKALU EVEREST TREK
Next spring I am leading an ambitious trek over the high
passes between Makalu and Everest – the country first
explored by Shipton, Ward, Evans, Hillary et al in the
early fifties. Having looked into the area from Everest
and Kusum Kanguru, I am salivating at the thought of
finally getting onto those glaciers and high passes. Not
to mention the magnificent approach up the Barun.
Click here for details>>
April 16
Another trip down Memory Lane, in the Lanberis Pass,
climbing Kaisergebirge Wall for the first time since
1974. Good to see that Peter Harding’s rusty bicycle
crank shaft from the first ascent is still there in the
crux crack. And nice to see that I found it much easier
36 years on; perhaps you do get better. Julian
Freeman-Attwood and I also did Phantom Rib, which I had
never done before, and the stupendous Hangover. As ever,
one is filled with awe for what Joe Brown and his
friends achieved in the fifties.
Kaisergebirge Wall
April 13
Down to Zermatt, completing five magnificent days on the
Haute Route with Edmond. The last time I did it was with
my parents 29 years ago. As I have to be back in
Shrewsbury for a lecture on Thursday, we had to hurry,
doing a double stage from Verbier to the Dix Hut. Then,
yesterday, the Vignettes was full, so we had to carry on
to the unguardianed Bouquetins Hut. No-one there apart
from one man and his enormous dog. Lovely to escape the
crowds for a night and a relief to find some leftover
food to cook on the brilliant wood stove. And great to
be ahead of the mob today, breaking trail through fresh
powder to the Col de Valpelline.
Edmond and Stephen at the Trient Hut, end of Day One.
Dawn on the Trient
Edmond at the Col Chaux above Verbier – the start of a
long 10 1/2
hours day to the Dix Hut.
Skiing past the Grand Combin
Man and his gigantic dog a the Bouquetins Hut.
Last morning on the Col Brulé, looking back to the
gorgeous descent
from the Col de l'Eveque, which we did the previous
afternoon.
Starting the traverse from Col Brulé to the Col de
Valpelline.
The Matterhorn appearing over the Col de Valpelline.
Edmond skiing down past the Dent d'Herens
February 27
Last night was emotional. I had the privilege of
delivering the Steve Parr memorial lecture at his old
school, Lancaster Grammar. He was a hugely talented
contemporary in the Oxford University Mountaineering
Club who disappeared in the Himalaya in the 1990s. It
was wonderful to have so many of his family t the
lecture. Today I held Brian Davison’s rope on two new
routes above Dove Crag. Fine mixed climbing with the
temperature just cold enough to hold it all together.
Brian Davison leading the first ascent of Heirless
Stephen following Heirless
|
