Mountain Hardwear Lecture Tour Programme

Fredrik spends his winter months in Chamonix, France. It's a tough job, but hey, someone has to do it., hiking in search of untracked powder, dropping cliffs and generally ripping in the mountains.

This year Fredrik headed out to Tajiistan attempting to climb then ski descend a 7945-metre peak. Hear his story in Manchester on November 7.

Mostly recognised by fellow climbers as 'the dude wedged in that sandstone crack' in a Patagonia advert, John Varco is pretty much as crazy as he looks (it says here).

He's climbed formidable routes in Alaska, the Alps and the greater ranges and will be describing his exploits in London and Bristol in November.

Part of arguably the strongest rock climbing team to visit Greenland's big walls this July - between them they have over 50 E6s, over 10 E7s, as many E8s, all on sight, plus a few E9s and the odd E10 for good measure. But would all that talent compensate for their lack of big wall experience. Nick speaks in Manchester and Bristol.

Instantly recognisable TV personality Cameron has spent 30 years hiking and climbing all over the world. He's managed all 284 Munros twice over and this year will be visiting Slovenia and Guatamala. A widely acclaimed author and presenter of the BBC's Wilderness Walks, he'll be appearing in both Manchester and London.

Tom shot to prominence as a polar explorer in December 2002 when he became the youngest ever Briton to walk to the South Pole.His team also completed the 700-mile journey in a new record time.

The tale of harsh environment and daily suffering sits incongruously in a warm theatre with comfy chairs. You'll be able to see Tom at the RGS in London on December 9 as well, apparently, as in the new Mercedes Benz TV commercial.

A rare chance to hear from one of the world's top women climbers, Sue has travelled the world to pursue her passion for mountains and has the scars to show for it.

In the winter of 1998 she was ice climbing when the pillar she was on crumbled from underneath her. She fell and was speared by a large shard of ice. Despite suffering severe abdominal injuries, Sue was back climbing just two months later. A measure of her determination and spirit.

You can catch her in both London and Bristol.

A rising British star in the world of fast, ultra-lightweight alpine mountaineering, Kenton has recorded some impressive ascents in a relatively brief ten year climbing career.

This winter he'll be heading for Annapurna 3 in the Himalaya as he attempts to push the limits of alpine-style mountaineering even further.

Kenton's a massively entertaining but modest speaker and you'll be able to see him in Bristol on November 26.

Widely regarded as one of the best allround climbers in Britain, in 2003 Neil made the second ascent of Equilibrium, a route rated E10, the hardest traditional British grade recorded so far.

This winter his focus switches back from rock to ice - so what does the formidable and highly entertaining Mr Gresham have planned next?

Find out in London on November 25.

Polar explorer and environmentalist Robert became, in 1989, the first person to walk unsupported to both North and South Poles.

The passion and determination needed to achieve that goal has now been channeled into raising the profile of organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund. Your chance to hear one of the world's top motivational speakers at the RGS on December 9.