Polar legend Sir Ranulph Fiennes suffers from vertigo, but he's off to the Eiger...
Just in case you missed last week's media furore, polar
exploration legend Sir Ranulph Fiennes is set to attempt the
dangerous North Face of the Eiger to raise £1.5 million
for cancer charity Marie Curie.
Fiennes is now 62 and only started climbing two years ago, though
to put that in perspective, he has already attempted Everest. On top
of that he also suffers from vertigo, has lost part of the fingers of
one hand to frostbite and, of course, also suffers from a heart
condition that nearly killed him a few years back.
What he does have going for him is that he'll be attempting one of
the most hazardous challenges in mountaineering in the company of two
of the UK's best climbers in the shape of Kenton Cool - a qualified
IFMGA guide - and Ian Parnell, who will be taking the photos.
According to the Mare Curie web site, the team expect to take
between four and seven days to climb the classic route on the face
which is swept by rockfall. The climb's taking place in March, which
should mean much of the loose rock is frozen in place, however it's
still a dangerous undertaking and the cold will bring its own
problems.
Motivation?
So why's he doing it? On his MySpace page he emphasises his
commitment to to the Marie Curie Cancer Care's Delivering Choice
Programme - his wife died from cancer in 2004 - but in an interview
with Stephen Venables in the Times, he hints at other motives as
well.
On one level he says he's determined to overcome his fear of
heights - Everest he says didn't offer enough exposure - but Venables
also speculates that the project is also a cathartic exercise after
his severe heart problems and the death of his wife.
Whatever Fiennes' motivation - and some undoubtedly think him
foolish for attempting such a dangerous climb - it's undoubtedly an
extremely bold project and we wish him and his companions good luck
on the wall.
Links
You can find more details and a donation link at www.mariecurie.org.uk
Watch videos and read Fiennes' blog at www.myspace.com/ranulphfiennes
Stephen Venables interviews Fiennes at www.timesonline.co.uk
