RGS Hosts Long Hope Lecture And Film

MacLeod and Turner at the base of the Longhope on Orkney – image by Lukaz Warzecha

One for London OMers' diaries with the news that Dave MacLeod and Andy Turner are going to be lecturing at the RGS on the 8 February followed by a showing of the award-winning Long Hope Film.

The event's being sponsored by Gore-Tex and is about the pair's first free ascent of an old aid route, the Longhope route, on St John's Head on Orkney, the tallest sea cliff in Britain.

Dave and Andy will be talking about their experiences in preparing and undertaking the climb and, in particular, Dave will be focussing on the psychology behind undertaking a three-year project of such extreme difficulty. We've seen him talk live before and he has a quiet, intense approach that's watchable and interesting.

The Long Hope Film, which was made by Paul Diffley of Hot Aches will be shown after the lecture and should be a cracker – it landed the people's choice award at last year's Kendal Mountain Festival. Note that the film is 'Long Hope', two words, while the route appears to be Longhope, one. It's not just us spraying typos around...

There's also a bar, opportunities to ask the climbers questions, plus the chance to buy signed copies of the Long Hope DVD and other films and books from the pair. Doors open at 6pm for a 7pm start and tickets cost £12 plus a £1 booking fee.

Full details, a trailer for the film and online booking at www.davemacleod.com/shop/rgslonghopenight.html.