User Comments
After a tiring night that I remember little of, the team sets out with state of the art gear...
pneame - 28/Jun/13
Is that a Whillans Alpiniste (always wanted one) and a Dru (had one, fell apart)?
Mick Ward - 28/Jun/13
Hi Mick
Definitely a Whillans, and yes, I think that is a Dru. Mine's the Millet in the foreground.
The Whillans was actually a well designed sac, compared to most of the dross at the time!
pneame - 28/Jun/13
Definitely a Whillans, and yes, I think that is a Dru. Mine's the Millet in the foreground.
The Whillans was actually a well designed sac, compared to most of the dross at the time!
I`ve still got my Alpiniste, though I dont take it out on the hills much these days.Much better than the "Joe Soap Expendable" (apologies to Ian McNaught Davis).
deepstar - 28/Jun/13
The Whillans was much fatter at the top than at the bottom. Much like his rucsac, in fact.
jon - 28/Jun/13
Brutal, Jon
pneame - 28/Jun/13
Is the cowboy a very youthful Malc Cunliff by any chance?!
Dave Williams - 28/Jun/13
It is indeed. I'm guessing he's not youthful any more...
I've no idea where he got the hat.
pneame - 28/Jun/13
I've no idea where he got the hat.
Now this is interesting. I don't know him at all, but a friend by the name of Ken Hipkiss once told me a tale that involved both him and Malcolm. They wanted to practice prussiking and so abseiled from a bridge over the Manchester ship canal down to water level and prussiked out... except that Malcolm got stuck quite near the water for a long time. Long enough, in fact, for an enormous ship to appear and start bearing down on him. I guess that was the motivation he needed! Have you or Dave ever heard that tale? Do either of you know Ken? I haven't seen him since the 70s.
jon - 28/Jun/13
No, that's news to me. But I wouldn't have put it past him!
You'll notice that it's him starring in my photo of the top of the Geant Icefall that so horrified your sensibilities as a guide.
Sounds like a great story, worthy of many evenings in the pub.
pneame - 28/Jun/13
You'll notice that it's him starring in my photo of the top of the Geant Icefall that so horrified your sensibilities as a guide.
Sounds like a great story, worthy of many evenings in the pub.
jon - 28/Jun/13
No - much worse.
This one http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.html?id=129577
pneame - 28/Jun/13
This one http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.html?id=129577
Ah, yes.
jon - 28/Jun/13
Oh deary me, I seem to have started something now ... and no, I hadn't heard the "hazard to shipping tale" either! I also have to admit to once being of the mindset that when it got badly crevassed, it was simply every man for himself! :) Pete - Are you still in touch with the no longer youthful Malc? If not, I could PM you his contact details if you like.
Dave Williams - 28/Jun/13
No, I haven't seen him since a bit after Hoy. I seem to dimly remember him helping me to get rid of a case of wine that I'd acquired very cheaply. It's astonishing how many friends you have as a student when you have a case of wine...
pneame - 28/Jun/13
In my experience, just a bottle would do ... :)
Dave Williams - 28/Jun/13
That's a lovely tale about the Manchester Ship Canal - evokes the enthusiastic craziness of our youthful climbing. The glacier photos... eek!
Mick Ward - 29/Jun/13