Winter Lecture Series 2012
The MCofS are proud to announce a continued partnership with Tiso. Alongside our popular venues of the Clachaig and the Mountain Cafe, Aviemore, we will be hosting a series of 5 lectures across the Tiso stores. All lectures start at 8.00pm.
Buff have also kindly agreed to support the 2012 series; we will be inviting all participants to enter their name in a free draw and have the opportunity to win a Polar Buff worth £23.
The lectures will be running at each of the following locations.
The Clachaig Inn, Glencoe (Tuesday evenings)
The Mountain Cafe, Aviemore (Wednesday evenings)
Tiso Stores (Wednesday/Thursday evenings) See individual dates for venue.
The focus of the lectures is to entertain and educate on winter mountain safety. In order to deliver this, an inspiring array of speakers has been chosen who are guaranteed to provide an entertaining night out! All the speakers have spent many years in the mountains and will draw upon their own experiences to illustrate hard lessons learnt. Each presentation will last approx 45 minutes and there will be opportunity at the end of each evening for any questions. Whether you are a hardened climber, or up in the Highlands for your first winter experience, you can ensure a good night out and learn something new.
The MCofS Winter Lecture Series is free of charge and open to all.
The Clachaig Inn, Glencoe
The Clachaig is the birth place of the Winter Lecture Series. Tuesday evenings from the 7th February see the return of the series for a four week period. The evening talks will begin promptly at 20.00, however feel free to arrive well in advance to enjoy a bar meal and a pint or two. This winter’s speakers are:
7th February
Scottish Mountain Rescue by Heather Morning (MIC)
Heather has over 30 years experience climbing, skiing and mountaineering in the Scottish Hills and Greater Ranges. She has also been actively involved with mountain rescue in the Cairngorms for over ten years and is the owner of the ‘four legged celebrity’ Search & Rescue dog ‘Milly’.
For her day job, she works as the Mountain Safety Advisor for The Mountaineering Council of Scotland. Heather’s lecture focuses on Scottish Mountain Rescue and the role that Search & Rescue Dogs play within this.
14th February
Summit & Survive by Adele Pennington (MIC)
Adele is always around in the Scottish Hills in winter and her enthusiasm never seems to dwindle. Outside Scotland, Adele has climbed all around the world and has made ascents of numerous Himalayan giants including Everest, Cho-oyu and Manaslu. In 2010 she returned from Makalu, where she turned back just 150m from the summit in a battle of survival. In 2011 Adele faced her fears and went back to Makalu, this time successfully reaching the summit. Adele's talk "Summit and Survive" will re-live these experiences and highlight how safety and common sense are key to survival in the mountains.
21st February
Richard Bentley (MIC)
A well known MIC, Richard has been running his mountaineering business for over ten years from the foot of Ben Nevis. He has climbed all over the world but is probably best known for his coaching and teaching of Winter climbing, his love of hard mixed climbing and his knowledge of Ben Nevis in Winter.
He is a member of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team and occasionally masquerades as a Ski Patroller on Aonach Mor! Richards talk will be about being safe, quick and efficient and getting the most out of a Scottish Winter day be it climbing or mountaineering.
28th February
"It's Dark Under Here and I can't Breathe!" by Davy Gunn
Davy Gunn draws upon his life time’s experience in the Scottish mountains, in his lecture on Avalanche Awareness. Or more importantly…. what causes them; ‘thinking traps’ that put you at risk; how to avoid being avalanched and reducing the consequences if you are caught in one.
The Mountain Cafe, Aviemore
This famous cafe must be the perfect venue to spend a winter's evening after a day on the hill. The cafe will be open from 18.30 onwards - use the entrance around the left hand side of the building. Food is available at 19.00; there will be a choice of meat or veggie at an excellent price of £10. Pre-booking is essential if you would like a meal. Call the Mountain Cafe direct on 01479 812473. The evening talk will begin promptly at 20.00. The Mountain Cafe winter lecture series will run on Wednesday evenings, this winter’s speakers are:
28th December
Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team by Simon Steer
Simon is an experienced mountaineer who is also the Deputy Team Leader of the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team. In his fifteen years of mountain rescue, he has been involved in a great number of incidents and his recounting of some of these, supplemented with a few minor epics of his own, makes for an entertaining talk.
25th January
Di Gilbert (MIC)
Di Gilbert is tickled pink to be asked back to speak as part of the successful MCofS Winter Lecture Series. In the past 12 months, Di has finally put a big fat tick next to climbing all the Munro’s, squeezed into a GB lycra suit for the World Ski Mountaineering Championships and killed off a few more brain cells for the great cause of high altitude mountaineering. A climbing career spanning more than 20 years and over all seven continents, Di is still the happiest when back on home turf – preferably frozen with a dusting of the white stuff. Di runs her successful mountaineering business www.digilbert.co.uk based out of the Spey valley where she seeks out the best conditions to inspire others to discover more of the ultimate playground. Di’s lecture will focus on lessons learnt during her journeys in the great outdoors.
1st February
'Are we really going out in that??' by Daz Streatham
A 'mouse in the company of giants' within this year's lecture series, Daz is living proof of the dangers of being friends with the MCofS Mountain Safety Advisor! Daz's talk takes a light hearted approach to highlight the pleasures and perils of Scotland's winter mountains and how to optimise your chance of making it back in time for last orders!
Daz has been mountaineering throughout the UK and overseas since his teens. Spending the last 17 years actively involved within both military and civilian Scottish Mountain Rescue; participating in countless incidents across Scotland. Now working as a paramedic; Daz will draw upon his personal experiences as a Mountain Rescue Team Leader, Search & Rescue Dog Handler and accidental avalanche participant!
8th February
Summit & Survive by Adele Pennington (MIC)
Adele is always around in the Scottish Hills in winter and her enthusiasm never seems to dwindle. Outside Scotland, Adele has climbed all around the world and has made ascents of numerous Himalayan giants including Everest, Cho-oyu and Manaslu. In 2010 she returned from Makalu, where she turned back just 150m from the summit in a battle of survival. In 2011 Adele faced her fears and went back to Makalu, this time successfully reaching the summit. Adele's talk "Summit and Survive" will re-live these experiences and highlight how safety and common sense are key to survival in the mountains.
15th February
Tamsin Gay
Tamsin Gay grew up in Scotland and spent her early life trying, and failing, to keep up with her older brothers in pursuit of various outdoor activities. Whilst still unable to burn off her brothers, the formative years spent suffering left her well equipped to deal with the rigors of all aspects of mountaineering but particularly Scottish Winter where she finds the greatest rewards.
For the past few years Tamsin has worked as a freelance mountaineering instructor for various organisations including National Outdoor Centres Plas y Brenin and Glenmore Lodge. Tamsin is one of only two speakers who deliver the BMC Winter Lecture Series and we are delighted she can join us here in Aviemore.
22nd February
Title: Hill's, Thrills and a few spills! by Mark (Chadders) Chadwick MIC
Mark has been playing in the hill's from a young age. Growing up in Gairloch surrounded by the Torridon and Fisherfeild mountains, it was hard for him not to be drawn to their majestic appeal.
Since leaving school Mark has created a life for himself working and playing in the outdoors. He now lives in Aviemore, working part time at Glenmore Lodge, part time freelancing and spends as much time as possible out and about playing. As well as climbing and mountaineering Mark can be found ski touring, sea and river paddling, biking and playing in the Alps.
Mark has had a run of good conditions on his last few Alpine trips (the highlight being an ascent of the Eiger North Face) as well as some challenging weather out in India new routing. Mark's lecture will help to bridge the gap between battles fought in the Scottish winter and how they help to prepare you for adventures to be had overseas.
Tiso Stores.
We are running lectures from Tiso Stores in Inverness, Perth, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. All the lectures will start at 8pm. Pre-booking is advised for the Tiso lectures - free tickets are available in store. Meals are also available at 7pm in store at a cost of £5 per person.
Wednesday 25th Jan 8pm @ Tiso Edinburgh Outdoor Experience, 41 Commercial Street, Leith
Heather Morning
Heather has over 30 years experience climbing, skiing and mountaineering in the Scottish Hills and Greater Ranges. She has also been actively involved with mountain rescue in the Cairngorms for over ten years and is the owner of the ‘four legged celebrity’ search & rescue dog ‘Milly’.
For her day job, she works as the Mountain Safety Advisor for The Mountaineering Council of Scotland. Heather’s lecture focuses on Scottish Mountain Rescue and the role that Search & Rescue Dogs play in within this.
Thursday 26th Jan 8pm @ Tiso Glasgow Outdoor Experience, 50 Couper Street, Glasgow
Heather Morning
Heather has over 30 years experience climbing, skiing and mountaineering in the Scottish Hills and Greater Ranges. She has also been actively involved with mountain rescue in the Cairngorms for over ten years and is the owner of the ‘four legged celebrity’ search & rescue dog ‘Milly’.
For her day job, she works as the Mountain Safety Advisor for The Mountaineering Council of Scotland. Heather’s lecture focuses on Scottish Mountain Rescue and the role that Search & Rescue Dogs play in within this.
Thursday 2nd Feb 8pm @ Tiso Aberdeen
Di Gilbert (MIC)
Di Gilbert is tickled pink to be asked back to speak as part of the successful MCofS Winter Lecture Series. In the past 12 months, Di has finally put a big fat tick next to climbing all the Munro’s, squeezed into a GB lycra suit for the World Ski Mountaineering Championships and killed off a few more brain cells for the great cause of high altitude mountaineering. A climbing career spanning more than 20 years and over all seven continents, Di is still the happiest when back on home turf – preferably frozen with a dusting of the white stuff. Di runs her successful mountaineering business www.digilbert.co.uk based out of the Spey valley where she seeks out the best conditions to inspire others to discover more of the ultimate playground. Di’s lecture will focus on lessons learnt during her journeys in the great outdoors.
Thursday 9th Feb 8pm @ Tiso Perth, Inveralmond Roundabout.
Heather Morning
Heather has over 30 years experience climbing, skiing and mountaineering in the Scottish Hills and Greater Ranges. She has also been actively involved with mountain rescue in the Cairngorms for over ten years and is the owner of the ‘four legged celebrity’ search & rescue dog ‘Milly’.
For her day job, she works as the Mountain Safety Advisor for The Mountaineering Council of Scotland. Heather’s lecture focuses on Scottish Mountain Rescue and the role that Search & Rescue Dogs play in within this.
Thursday 16th Feb, 8pm @ Tiso Inverness Outdoor Experience, 2 Henderson Road, Longman Estate, Inverness
David “Heavy” Whalley BEM. MBE.
Heavy has been involved in 38 years of in mountain rescue and was involved in over 1000 rescues. Heavy spent his working life in the RAF and rose to the dizzy heights of Team Leader for the RAF Kinloss, Leuchars Mountain Rescue, and was a member of the Torridon Team. He is now retired and spends his spare time on the mountains. Heavy has many stories of rescues and mountaineering, he is a larger than life character and guaranteed to provide an entertaining evening.
