Just over a month to go before this year's Fort Bill extravaganza and the programme's looking good.
Just a reminder that ShAFF – see the just-launched trailer – isn't the only mountain culture event scheduled for early this year, the 2012 Fort William Mountain Festival precedes it with dates from 15-19 February.
You arguably couldn't pick a better UK venue and time than Fort William in February. By then – shouldn't say it – the local hills should be plastered in the white stuff, giving a great opportunity to mix up a bit of mountaineering with more cultural activities.
Climbing...
It looks like a cracking line-up too. There are films for sure, including a screening of 'The Long Hope' featuring local resident Dave MacLeod tackling big cliff climbing on Hoy and a Best of Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour night, which is pretty self explanatory.
Climbing Night will feature a lecture with the extraordinary Johhny Dawes, apparently with material pulled in from hitherto unseen video, award-winning film, writings, drawings and, of course, from inside Dawes' unusually wired brain. Sounds good.
Bikes...
And you needn't feel left out if you're into two wheels either. The Bike Night evening embraces film screenings alongside Q and A sessions with legends like Steve Peat and The Dudes of Hazzard, whoever they are.
Film Competition
Finally, on the cultural side of things, the Fort William Mountain Festival Film Competition is open for entries, with film-makers having until 16 January to submit their entries celebrating mountain culture via Vimeo or YouTube. Full details of that at www.mountainfestival.co.uk/film-competition-2012/.
Get Practical...
Last but not least, there are plenty of workshop-based, hands-on opportunities to hone your outdoor skills or learn new ones with instruction in mountain skills, avalanche awareness, winter walking and climbing, skiing and boarding or mountain photography on offer. Plus indoor rock and ice climbing aty Kinlochleven's Ice Factor.
Anyway, if that sounds as good to you as it does to us, you can find full details, information, accommodations links and more at www.mountainfestival.co.uk. Fingers crossed for some snow...
