A crawl down the Ogre, 40 years on

Tuesday 6th June 2017, 11:50am

One of mountaineering�s most enduring epics will be retold in a lecture tour which will visit some of Scotland�s smaller towns and villages rather than concentrating on the cities.

In 1977 legendary mountaineers Chris Bonington and Doug Scott made the first ascent of The Ogre (7825m) in Pakistan. That was just the start of the adventure. With the aid of newly discovered photographs, Doug will be telling a thrilling tale of hard climbing, team work and survival against all odds that has since become part of mountaineering folklore and extended the boundaries of what had been achieved before at that altitude.

Their subsequent descent in the dark immediately became an epic. Doug broke both legs just above the ankles. A storm blew in lasting five days, during which time Chris smashed his ribs and contracted pneumonia. With the selfless help of Mo Anthoine and Clive Rowland, it took them eight days to reach Base Camp.

It was another 24 years before The Ogre was climbed again.

Each evening will include a sale of Nepalese goods, cards and posters and the talks will be followed by an auction of signed framed mountaineering prints in aid of Community Action Nepal. Doug will also sign copies of his award-winning autobiography Up And About.

Profits from ticket sales will go to Community Action Nepal and Doug Scott CBE.

July

Tues 4 Isle of Arran High School canepal.org.uk / 01770 302113

Thur 6 Ullapool, The Macphail Centre canepal.org.uk / 01445 712071

Fri 7 Poolewe, Inverewe Garden & Estate canepal.org.uk / 01445 712071

Mon 10 Plockton High School canepal.org.uk / 01445 712071

Tues 11 Dunkeld, Birnam Arts birnhamarts.com / 01350 727674

Weds 12 Oban, The Corran Halls canepal.org.uk / 01631 567333

(For CAN and The Roses Trust)

October

Tues 24 Inverness, Eden Court eden-court.co.uk / 01463 234234

Weds 25 Arbroath, Webster Memorial Theatre webstertheatre.co.uk / 01241 435800