climbing tool design uptodate

Friday, June 24, 2011

More spring "skiing", The Mallory, Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix

"Bruno said it’s an adventure, it’s like a journey in another world. It’s a long decent and you have to stay focus the all time there is not a lot of margin for error."

Pictures and comments here:

http://www.lucapandolfi.com/2011/05/aiguille-du-midi-north-face-mallory-16-05-2011/

scrub it 01 from julien regnier on Vimeo.

Thanks to the http://chamonixinsider.com/ for the links and a heads up on these.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Latest from Dave....

Check out Dave's blog for the lastest on the Long Hope route.
http://www.davemacleod.blogspot.com/

Also there is more behind the scenes material on the Hot Aches Facebook page.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

The Endless Flow?

Trailer for up-coming movies from Bjarne Sahlen on Vimeo.

Cool stuff...much more here:

http://endlessflow.posterous.com/

I'd like to see these two get married!

I know, hard to visualise but I would really like to see these two boots have mutant off spring in a size 45.

How about a real climbing boot you can actually ski in that is tech binding compatible @ about 900g per boot?

"The truth is that LaSportiva's original heritage business was leather ski boots and when it all went to plastic in the 70's La Sportiva abandoned the category because they couldn't afford the plastic injection mold investment costs and that is when they really started focusing on climbing and mountaineering"

Colin Lantz, La Sportiva

The brain trust is there, who better to combine the two technologies?

Something similar in volume to the TLT and a price around the TLT Performance's retail? Double the retail price of the Spantik and still save money?!

Photo courtesy of Krister Jonsson
http://www.alpinemadness.se/Mountainguide/Home.html

The technology is obviously there now. Not like we are looking back to the future or anything. Galiber's "Rigid Rand" from the '70s.

Scott Super Lights from the '70s as well.

With the current technology this would be easy. Would you want a pair?

40th anniversary: Bill Briggs’ ski descent of Grand Teton

June 15, 1971

By Griffin Post

http://www.powdermag.com/stories/40th-anniversary-bill-briggs-ski-descent-of-grand-teton/

"Sitting in the corner of the Virginian Restaurant in Jackson, Bill Briggs blends in effortlessly with the regulars. The room is filled with a mix of tourists and old timers, toting Jackson Hole memorabilia and cowboy hats, respectively.

As I make my way across the room, I wonder if the patrons have any idea of the role that the unassuming man in the corner played in ski mountaineering in North America. Then I catch myself—no, I’m pretty sure I’m the only one here that’s enough of a ski mountaineering nerd to be star-struck by a man in his mid-seventies.

Bill Briggs

For me, Bill is a bit of a hero. He’s the man that arguably pioneered ski mountaineering in the States when he skied the Grand Teton 40 years ago on June 15, 1971. I introduce myself, and Bill jumps up and shakes my hand. His enthusiasm and animation catches me a little off guard. Although his hair is grey and a bit thinning and his face is reflective of the lifetime he’s spent outdoors, Bill still speaks with the energy of someone much, much younger. As we begin to talk, I’m relieved to realize that despite the undeniable contributions Bill has made to the sport I love, he’s just another guy who loves talking about the mountains."

Part of the story is here:

http://www.powdermag.com/stories/40th-anniversary-bill-briggs-ski-descent-of-grand-teton/

There is much more in the movie STEEP!.
Honor is due. As a reality check for the same goal today? Look here:

http://slc-samurai.blogspot.com/2011/06/grand-teton.html

Success on Hoy!

Dave McLeod has succeeded in his long term project to free the Long Hope route on Hoy during a long day yesterday, congratulations to Dave, Andy and the team! Check back soon for further details and pictures as we get them. We're looking forward to the film already....