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 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 - Daz Streatham
....details to follow....
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 - 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. 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.
Winter lecture series 2012
The MCofS winter lecture series is being hosted at the Mountain Café for the third year running. Simon Steer will kick start the season on the 28th December 2011.
Join us from 6.30pm till 7.45 for dinner & drinks, with the talk starting at 8pm & finishes at 9pm.
We are offering an evening meal at £10 per head with bread & some sweet treats on the table also. This is a great chance to eat some nice food, be sociable on a cold winters night whilst being educated and entertained by some of the countries most experienced and entertaining outdoor speakers.
The lectures are free but booking is essential as numbers are limited - just call or email us.
Email us at:
mail@mountaincafe-aviemore.co.uk