2012 will mark the Swiss company Mammut's 150th birthday and for this it's running what it calls "The Biggest Peak Project in History". This entails a year-long project organising mountain ascents around the world. By August 2012, 150 summits will have been climbed. The sheer scale of the project is staggering.
Mammut's Eiger Extreme Range
At the same time Mammut have launched their new Eiger Extreme Range. This new range is available in the UK now and over the next few weeks UKC will be showcasing some of the key products from the range. See below for a gallery of images of the Eiger Extreme range.
But first, UKC and Rockfax Assistant Editor Paul Phillips reports from the Jungfraujoch.
I was fortunate enough to witness the grand start-up event with over 200 athletes, journalists, mountain guides and Mammut staff from across the globe.
After a few presentations, one particularly memorable one featuring the Eiger as a backdrop, we boarded the Jungfraubahn to head for the Jungfraujoch at 3,450m and Mammut's Anniversary Basecamp. The sea of bright red Hilleberg tents pitched with Swiss precision on the Aletsch Glacier were a sight to behold.
Although the party was great, a couple of beers at 3,500m and a 2:30am start led to an early night.
In the, early hours of the next day a team of guides and leaders in Swiss industry headed for an ascent of the Jungfrau (4,158m). This also marked the 200th anniversary of the first ascent of the mountain by the Meyer brothers of Aarau and two chamois hunters from Valais. I joined the rest of the journalists for an ascent of the neighbouring Mönch (4,107m).
The weather report wasn't great but we were lucky enough to have the sun peak through the clouds just as arrived at the final ridge before the summit.
The weather held out just long enough for me to get a nice shot of the basecamp on the way down before it was encapsulated in cloud and eventually hail.
Mammut's Eiger Extreme Range
See Gear News at UKClimbing.com over the next two weeks for detailed information, images and video about the jackets, pants, mountain boots, rucksacks and accessories from the Eiger Extreme Range .
MAMMUT EIGER EXTREME STOCKISTS
The Climbers Shop: Ambelside: 015394 32297 www.climbers-shop.com
George Fisher Keswick: 017687 72178 www.georgefisher.co.uk
Kountry Kit: Tavistock: 01822 613089 www.kountrykit.com
Outside/The Square: Hathersage: 01433 651 936 www.outside.co.uk
V12 Outdoor: Llanberis 01286 871534 www.v12outdoor.com
Tiso Aberdeen: 01224 634934 www.tiso.com
Tiso Rose St, Edinburgh:
Tiso Glasgow Outdoor Experience: 0141 559 5450 www.tiso.com
Tiso Perth Outdoor Experience: 01738 634464 www.tiso.com
Ellis Brigham: Covent Garden: 020 7240 9577www.ellis-brigham.com
Ellis Brigham: Manchester:0161 211 6200 www.ellis-brigham.com
Ellis Brigham: Aviemore: 01479 810175www.ellis-brigham.com
Ellis Brigham: Fort William:01397 706220 www.ellis-brigham.com
Snow+Rock: Covent Garden:0207 420 1444www.snowandrock.com
Snow+Rock: Kensington:0207 9370872www.snowandrock.com
Snow+Rock: Chertsey:01932 566886www.snowandrock.com
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