After a tiring night that I remember little of, the team sets out with state of the art gear...

Is that a Whillans Alpiniste (always wanted one) and a Dru (had one, fell apart)?

Hi Mick
Definitely a Whillans, and yes, I think that is a Dru. Mine's the Millet in the foreground.
The Whillans was actually a well designed sac, compared to most of the dross at the time!

I`ve still got my Alpiniste, though I dont take it out on the hills much these days.Much better than the "Joe Soap Expendable" (apologies to Ian McNaught Davis).

The Whillans was much fatter at the top than at the bottom. Much like his rucsac, in fact.

Brutal, Jon

Is the cowboy a very youthful Malc Cunliff by any chance?!

It is indeed. I'm guessing he's not youthful any more...
I've no idea where he got the hat.

Now this is interesting. I don't know him at all, but a friend by the name of Ken Hipkiss once told me a tale that involved both him and Malcolm. They wanted to practice prussiking and so abseiled from a bridge over the Manchester ship canal down to water level and prussiked out... except that Malcolm got stuck quite near the water for a long time. Long enough, in fact, for an enormous ship to appear and start bearing down on him. I guess that was the motivation he needed! Have you or Dave ever heard that tale? Do either of you know Ken? I haven't seen him since the 70s.

No, that's news to me. But I wouldn't have put it past him!
You'll notice that it's him starring in my photo of the top of the Geant Icefall that so horrified your sensibilities as a guide.
Sounds like a great story, worthy of many evenings in the pub.

This one? http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.html?id=155156

No - much worse.
This one http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.html?id=129577

Ah, yes.

Oh deary me, I seem to have started something now ... and no, I hadn't heard the "hazard to shipping tale" either! I also have to admit to once being of the mindset that when it got badly crevassed, it was simply every man for himself! :) Pete - Are you still in touch with the no longer youthful Malc? If not, I could PM you his contact details if you like.

No, I haven't seen him since a bit after Hoy. I seem to dimly remember him helping me to get rid of a case of wine that I'd acquired very cheaply. It's astonishing how many friends you have as a student when you have a case of wine...

In my experience, just a bottle would do ... :)

That's a lovely tale about the Manchester Ship Canal - evokes the enthusiastic craziness of our youthful climbing. The glacier photos... eek!