Long-serving NZ Mountain Book Competition judge Allan Uren joins us as MC for this year’s Words & Wine readings. Wanaka-based Allan is a jack of all trades when it comes to climbing and considers himself lucky to still be doing it after nearly 35 years. A writer himself, Allan has contributed to The Alpinist, Wilderness, NZ Geographic, and 1964, and is co-author of the Mt Aspiring Region mountaineering guidebook.
Allan will also be reading from finalist Brian Hall’s book High Risk: Climbing to Extinction.
Brian, who is currently overseas, is an IFMGA certified mountain guide, with expeditions to Mount Everest (in winter), K2, Jannu, Nuptse, Makalu, Baltoro Kangri, Shivling, Ogre 2 and peaks throughout the Andes. His main focus in recent years is facilitating safety, rigging and location advice on film projects. His credits include the BAFTA award- winning film Touching the Void.
In High Risk, Brian Hall recalls eleven of his climbing friends who risked, and too often lost, their lives to stand on the top of the world’s highest peaks at a turning point in mountaineering history. The book takes the reader back to a different era, through the voices of those who can no longer speak.
