Two of Britain's top climbers have gone to Patagonia to
attempt the first winter ascent of Torre Egger, one of the
continent's hardest peaks and the expedition will be the subject of a
film produced by award-winning film-maker Alastair Lee.
Andy Kirkpatrick and Ian Parnell will be attempting
a route called Titanic, which is roughly E2 with added aid and is
supposedly one of the easier routes on the mountain. The pair expect
to find iced-up cracklines and are particularly wary of the
overhanging mushrooms of snow and ice that flank the summit.
''I don't want to think about that bit, its too scary,' said
Kirkpatrick, a man not usually known for his cautiousness.
The mountain has only been summited half a dozen or so times in
summer, which underlines just what a serious undertaking this is.
It's perhaps best known for the controversy surrounding its first
ascent by Cesare Maestri and Toni Egger in 1959. Egger was killed on
the mountain and many doubt Maestri's claims. More background at
www.nationalgeographic.com.
The pair will be carrying film-making equipment supplied by Lee's
Posing Productions company and will be filming their ascent with the
raw footage to be edited and produced by Lee for the forthcoming
PSYCHE dvd.
Anyone's who's witnessed Andy Kirkpatrick's entertaining lecture
style will be looking forward to the results.
Additionally, Posing Productions will be running updates on the
pair's progress when available at www.posingproductions.com
worth a look for the images as well...
And here's the route...
colin henderson 3
