Otley Mini Mountain Fest 2013

Friday 12 to Sunday 14 July

Challenge yourself

Following the huge success of the first mini mountain festival in 2012, we decided to do it all again and this time it will be even bigger and better – and at a warmer time of the year!!

The theme for this year’s three day event is ‘Challenge Yourself’. The weekend will feature prizewinning films, inspirational speakers, stalls, climbing wall, art workshops, quizzes, treasure hunt and photo competition – and an opportunity for you to ‘Challenge yourself’ on Sunday14 July.

Keep checking here, and on the Courthouse’s What’s On page, for details of events as they are confirmed.

Friday 12th July – 7.30pm

Derry Brabbs

We are delighted to welcome renowned photographer Derry Brabbs for an illustrated talk, based on his work on the Wainwright books, and on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage. Be prepared to be entranced and inspired.

Saturday 13th July – 12 noon to 4pm

Otley MiniMountain Festival Open Day

Stalls, Information, Opportunities, Quizzes, Cave, Climbing, Films, Talks, Cafe.

Click here for details of the the free morning or afternoon Bouldering and Abseiling guided sessions. Then telephone the Courthouse  Box Office (01943 467466), or pop in, to book your place.

Saturday 13th July – 7.30pm

Wide Boyz

Fresh from its People’s Choice Award at the Kendal Mountain Festival, and winning the Best Climbing Film Award at the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival we will be screening ‘Wide Boyz’ – the everyday story of two Sheffield lads who train for two years in a Yorkshire cellar before setting off to the USA to conquer ‘Century Crack’ – the climbing world’s toughest off-width monster. Many thanks to Hot Aches productions.

With second feature tbc.

Challenge Sunday – 14th July

A series of challenges for beginners, intermediates and more experienced enthusiasts – all led by experts.

Get yourself signed up for the challenge of your choice – and meet people with whom you can continue your interest after Challenge Sunday.

Walk Challenge: the renowned ‘Six Dales Trail’:

An 18 mile walk from Otley to Pateley Bridge led by Otley ‘Walkers are Welcome’. £5 will cover the cost of  return Transport from Pateley Bridge. Full details of the Challenge, and details of how to register, can be found by clicking here.

A reasonable level of fitness is required.  We will be walking up to Clifton, past Timble Gill Beck, along Fewston Reservoir to Blubberhouses, up to Thruscross Reservoir to Glasshouses and onto Pateley Bridge.  It involves some moderate climbing and can be muddy in parts.
No dogs are allowed on this event.

Cycling Challenge:

We have teamed up with the rather excellent ‘Otley Cycling Festival’ to provide a range of cycle rides for all abilities – slap bang in the middle of this year’s Tour de France – and on Bastille Day. For a full list of what’s on offer, and information of how to get involved click here. Participants can just turn up at Weston Lane Football Club on the day (most rides start at 9am) – but prior Registration is required for all those aged 17 or under.

Rides include 15 miles for Families; 25 mile Social ride; Women only ride; 40 mile ride (13-15 mph on the flat); 60 mile ride (16-18 mph on the flat); 80 mile ride (fast!); 5 mile cycle path ride around Otley (start at 12 noon).

Fell Run Challenge

Every Sunday at 10.30am a three mile timed run is organised on Otley Chevin by the appropriately named RunSunday group. The run (NOT race!) takes place on the trails of Otley Chevin on a two lap course – and first-timers can of course limit themselves to a single lap. You will need to register at the RunSunday website in advance – and once you’ve registered why not give it a try immediately … just turn up at the start about 15 minutes before the off. Runners take turns marshalling the event – again you can volunteer to marshal via their website – but register first.

It would be great to see a really big turn-out on 14th July.

Climbing Challenge

We have again teamed up with Lost Earth Adventures to offer a chance to improve your rock climbing skills on local crags. If you have never climbed before and would like a safe, expert-led introduction to the sport, or if you have dabbled and would like some pointers on how to improve your skills then this is the challenge for you. If you have just knocked off you fifth E9 then maybe look to one of the other challenges on offer today.

Click for details of the (free) Sunday Climbing Challenge here. Then telephone the Courthouse  Box Office (01943 467466), or pop in, to book your place.

Photographic competition – Challenge Yourself!

Following on from last year’s hugely successful competition (never has the Cell corridor at Otley Courthouse looked so liberating) we will be running a competition this year with the theme ‘Challenge Yourself!’. In a nutshell we are looking for pictures of people in a challenging situation – from a crucial rock-climbing move, to a successful toss of a pancake; from a tough scramble, to a first bike ride; from a mud-spattered runner, to a novice swimmer. There will be prizes for the best three pictures – and an additional prize for younger photographers.

Interested? – click here for full details and an entry form.

Last year’s event …

Otley’s first celebration of all things Mountain related – it was a weekend to engage, enthrall and enlighten experts and novices alike. Otley and the surrounding area enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery in the country – we had local experts and internationally renowned climbers sharing their knowledge, skills and expertise, activities for all ages, film shows, stalls and talks, with fairtrade food and drinks.

There were free abseiling and bouldering sessions on Otley Chevin, free guided walks, and Arts workshops for 6 – 12 year olds.

There was a great response for our photographic competition !! It was judged by Doug Scott on Friday 30th November. The entries were a great attraction on the Cell corridor.

The main events were:

Friday 30th November 2012 at 7.30pm

Doug Scott Lecture : Big wall rock climbing

Best known for being the first British climber to summit Everest in 1975, Doug Scott is also an outstanding Big Wall climber including major ascents on the vertical and overhanging rock of the Dolomites, Norway, Yosemite, Patagonia, Baffin Island and the Himalaya. In this globetrotting lecture, illustrated by Doug’s dramatic photography, you’ll hear how he went from climbing crags near his boyhood home in Nottingham using his mother’s washing line as a rope, to adventures on the mile high vertical granite of the Arctic’s Mount Asgard – without the washing line! His stories chart the changes in climbing styles over the last 40 years and feature a “who’s who” cast of world class climbing partners including Peter Habeler and Paul ‘Tut’ Braithwaite. Hold on tight…

also:

Community Action Nepal stall
Photo Competition (judging by Doug Scott – great prizes)

Saturday 1st December 2012

From 12 noon – 4pm

Events and activities for all the family:

Download a timetable of Saturday’s events here

Climbing tower – expert tuition and advice for adults and children, novices and experts.
Bookable bouldering sessions on Otley Chevin – with trained instuctors
Local walks
Rolling programme of short films throughout the afternoon with guest speakers – including Kendal Mountain Festival hit – Driven to Despair.
Information stands and talks about local climbing, bouldering and walking
Stalls – climbing, walking and bouldering equipment, books.
Photographic exhibition
Climbers from local climbing walls
Art activities for the under 12’s – build a working volcano
Delicious food and drink from our Cafe

Attendees:

Air Ambulance

charity providing emergency response to 5 million Yorkshire folk

BMC

the British Mountaineering Council – Working for climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers

Chevin Trek

Otley’s specialist shop for walkers and climbers – 15% off rrp this weekend with your Chevin Trek Keyring – Fri, Sat Sun.

Cicerone Press

award winning publisher of walking, trekking and climbing guides. With John Smith – author of Cicerone’s Via Ferrata guides.

Community Action Nepal

supporting community projects throughout Nepal

Empire Adventure

will be providing our Climbing Wall for the day

Friends of Chevin Forest

increasing the enjoyment of our own local “mini-mountain”.

Harrogate Climbing Centre

great indoor climbing and bouldering venue

Heather Dawe

paintings of mountain scenery

John Sparshatt

author of Otley’s very own long distance footpath – The Six Dales Trail

Leeds Wall

Leeds premier indoor climbing centre

Lost Earth Adventures

York based adventure travel company

Otley Walkers are Welcome

Otley’s community based walking groups

Otley Walking Festival

Otley’s annual walking extravaganza

The Wainwright Society

Keeping alive the fellwalking traditions promoted by AW

Water Aid

Using practical solutions to provide clean water.

7.30pm

Andy Turner and The Long Hope

with support from ‘Hot Aches’ productions …

Andy Turner, one of the UK’s leading winter climbers will introduce ‘The Long Hope’ – a film documenting the epic ascent of St. John’s Head by Dave MacLeod.
Andy features in the film and will be giving a talk about the experience as well as hosting a Q&A session.