The First Ascent of the Central Towers of Paine - DVD

In October 1962 a very strong climbing team left Britain sailing from Liverpool for the 10,000 mile journey to distant Patagonia. Little did they realize as they passed through the Caribbean that, not far away, the Cuban Missile Crisis between Kennedy & Khrushchev was reaching its climax.

'There are many great climbers in the world but few are geniuses - Don Whillans was one of them.' Chris Bonington.

When a strong Italian team arrived with the same objective, Don Whillans vented his frustration 'It appeared that they'd even promised the Pope that they would climb the Central Tower. It was news to me that the Pope was interested in climbing I thought he was high enough up already...' he renamed Amando Aste - the Italian leader - 'Nasty aste'. The name stuck.

More Whillans one liners and lovely reminiscences by Chris throughout. The film shows two reconstructions when both Don & Chris fell down the towers when the hemp ropes snapped. And there is this image of Don hung like a gorilla...

This extraordinary film has been re-mastered from the original Kodachrome and was Chris Bonington's favourite film at this years Kendal Film Festival. 'Well he would say that wouldn't he - he was in it!'