Tag: Alpine Climbing

Posted on

Enormocast 331: Mick Fowler – Fortune, Turn Thy Wheel

Subscribe

On Episode 331 of the Enormocast, I have the distinct honor of sitting down with everyone’s favorite alpine climbing taxman, Mick Fowler. Despite having been gainfully employed since his early 20s at His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, Mick built a climbing resume to rival any professional climber or full-time dirtbag. Or maybe it was because of his limited free time as a bureaucrat that Mick was so focussed. Either way, over four decades he amassed bold ascents on rock, chalk, ice and seastacks at home in the UK, and technical alpine ascents in the greater ranges abroad. His brilliant run of climbs that included three Piolet D’Or awards hit a snag when in 2017 he was diagnosed with cancer of the anus and the resulting treatment left him with a stoma and forced to use a colostomy bag. Mick recounts the years and ascents that followed in his new book Eternal Alpinist: A Bottom to Top Climbing Memoir. Now in his 70s, Mick has adapted and pushed on with his love of Himalayan Alpine first ascents.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

Posted on

Enormocast 328: Matt Cornell – The Right Reasons

Subscribe

On Episode 328 of the Enormocast, we sit down with alpinist and Michigander, Matt Cornell. That’s right, one of the world’s best alpinists grew up in the mountain-less upper Midwest dreaming of vertical playgrounds beyond his home State’s borders. Despite the pressures of modern suburban expectations, Matt moved into his hatchback and become a climbing bum post high school. But it was a suggestion of a mentor that convinced Matt to move to Bozeman and become an ice climber. After a season or two of bumbling his way into the hard-nose and hard-knock scene in Hyalite Canyon, Matt’s fuse was lit and the greater ranges beckoned. An epic or two later, Matt’s burgeoning skills finally started to knab him first ascents and coalesced a crew of like minded climbers around Cornell. Epically, but not finally, Cornell, Jackson Marvell, and Alan Rousseau did what some would say is the finest alpine style ascent of all time on the North Face of Jannu in 2023.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

Posted on

Enormocast 324: Ines Papert – Only One Life

Photos: Klaus Fengler, Torje Stenkjaer, Ines Papert Collection
Subscribe

On Episode 324 of the Enormocast, I sit down for the second time with German climber Ines Papert. The first time was way back in 2016 when Ines and I climbed together in Indian Creek and found time torecord an interview. At that time, Ines was the single mom of a teenager but still managing the life of a pro climber. As her boy gained more independence in the following decade, Ines’ career flourished as she climbed all over the world focusing on alpine climbing in the greater ranges. This interview finds Ines contemplating aging, her life as a mom, and her motivations as a rock climber and ice climber as alpinism takes a back seat for now.

Ines on Instagram

Ines’ Website (surprisingly up to date trip reports!)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS