Lectures - Òraidean

Fast and Light in the Himalaya

World-renowned professional mountaineer Adrian Burgess is one of the pioneers of smaller alpine-style climbs on big mountains and he represents high-altitude climbing at its finest. Come along to hear tales of 25 years of exhilarating climbs from Alaska to Patagonia, the Alps to the Himalaya.

After the break, Slovenian climbing superstar Marko Prezelj, known for his impeccable style on spectacularly difficult routes, will share the passion that drives him to keep exploring ever-higher and wilder places.

 

Saturday 14th March | Nevis Centre Festival Theatre | 7-10pm | £15/£12 for under 16's.

Don't Die with Dave MacLeod

The evening is introduced with a screening of 'Don't Die', the incredible story of Dave MacLeod's new route 'Don't Die of Ignorance' XI, 11 on Ben Nevis. In his talk, Dave explains his unique approach to high-risk, high-stakes routes.With footage from the award-winning new film 'Echo Wall', including 'Training Day' a short film on his 8c solo in Spain, and images from the first ascent of his ungraded route 'Echo Wall'.

Also, an exclusive festival cut of 'Elements' will be shown, a bouldering film like no other!

Got a burning question for Dave? Grab your chance to ask it at the 'You & A' session after the talk.

Thursday 12th March | Nevis Centre Festival Theatre | 7-10pm | £10/£8 for under 16's.

Working Mountains & Empty Lands with Cameron McNeish and Richard Else

In 1929 the British Aluminium Company Ltd harnessed Lochaber's water power with a major hydro-construction programme to supply their new aluminium smelters at Fort William and Kinlochleven. One of the earliest and most ambitious projects in the industrialisation of Scotland and its mountains, it brought an influx of workers to the region. Today, Rio Tinto Alcan remains one of the area's biggest employers, but many pople still don't know much about this amazing innovator on our doorstep. With the help of early photographs and archive material, we'll trace the history of the huge contruction works and their impact on the area.

PLUS join renowned mountaineer and broadcaster Cameron Mcneish and adventure filmmaker Richard Else as they take us behind the scenes on their recent TV documentary about a 77 mile journey on foot, bike and kayak through the 'empty lands' of Sutherland from Suilven to Ben Loyal.

Sunday 8th March | Nevis Centre Festival Theatre | 7-10pm | £10/£8 for under 16's.

The Longest Climb with Paul Pritchard

Paul Pritchard was one of Britain's leading rock climbers until his now infamous accident on the Totem Pole, a sea stack in Tasmania. The story of the accident and the long period of recovery that followed was told in his award winning book "The Totem Pole". 12 years after his last visit to Clachaig, Paul returns to present his lecture "The Longest Climb".

The talk identifies why climbing in the 1980s was unique as an era of 'climbing on the dole'. Paul covers some of his rock and mountain climbs in the 1980s and 1990s, up to the time of his terrible and life changing accident.

Paul tells of why the recovery from the accident has been his life achievement. He looks at what the past adventures taught him about determination and how that has carried on to his further adventures as a disabled person: Mountaineering, Pedal boating, Rafting, Rock climbing and Cycling.

Monday 9th March | The Clachaig Inn, Bidean Lounge, Glencoe | Contact the Clachaig Inn for further details | Tel +44 (0) 1855 811252

Snowsports evening with Myrtle Simpson

In less than 90 years, Scottish Skiing has developed from an occasional aid to winter mountaineering to the weekend recreation of tens of thousands.

To begin, Myrtle Simpson guides us through the beginnings of Scottish skiing, interspersed with contributions from surprise guests, images and footage of the best of Scottish skiing from days gone by.

Author of many books, including Skisters - The story of Scottish Skiing, Myrtle Simpson is a former president of the Scottish Ski Club and was the first woman to ski across the Greenland ice cap and has skied and climbed in Scotland for most of her life.

In the second half, Gavin MacKay, a young Scot who's favourite moves are 'double backs' and lives his life by the quote "You can't get hurt in the air", introduces us to Free Skiing around the world.

Also, this season brings about the return of Scotland's most successful series of ski and snowboard freestyle competitions, the Highlander series and the launch of an all new Lowlander series.

The Lowlander series will run on some of the major artificial and indoor slopes throughout Scotland. These brand new competitions will be running between September and November ahead of the on snow competitions in the Highlander series.

Entrants in the events will gain a score in the overall Scottish freestyle rankings. These rankings will be carried on through all the events until the end of the season when the best rider from each category will win the overall championship

This year both the Highlander and Lowlander Series have been recognised by the Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour as 1 Star and 2 Star events. This now adds these series into the World Tour calendar for 2008/09 and gives each rider the opportunity to gain world ranking!

Monday 9th March | Nevis Centre Festival Theatre | 7-10pm | £6/£2

 

Paddle Sports Evening with Lee Kelly

Lee Kelly is a whitewater kayaker, photographer, filmmaker and 'legendary Geordie' who's spent 10 years exploring the world's best kayaking, and collecting amazing stories and images. Lee brings us tales, sounds and sights of his greatest adventures from mighty rivers such as the Blue Nile - all served with an extra dash of spicy turbo energy guaranteed to inspire you out into the whitewater world of happiness.

Evening also includes sea kayaking films, local kayaking films and a screening of 'A Dam Shame' about the recent loss of whitewater on the White Nile due to dam-building.

STOP PRESS: Liquid Satisfaction are screening their latest kayaking extravaganza 'Means of Production'.

Saturday 7th March | Nevis Centre Festival Theatre | 7-10pm | £10/£8 for under 16's.