Don Whillans Towers of Paine (First Ascent of Central Tower)

First Ascent of Central Tower
Torres del Paine National Park

[@davidcoleman757]

Whillans climbing with a tab on had me in fits. What a marvelous film.

[@algojeff]

What a treasure this document is ! Thank you sommuch for sharing.

[@technomickdocumentalist2495]

What an excellent film, very comical too. Loved the “ I have a fear of dehydration “ … and below him is about 100 empty glass bottles . 🤣🤣 👌👍

[@petergray4704]

Brilliant. A gem. Don Whillans. What a legend!

[@tonycurtis4088]

The don impression had me smiling. Brilliant!

[@fertlhuber]

best expedition report I ever saw. Whillans voice ist extraordinary funny. Today he would do comedy.

[@JG-sp9tm]

Amazing - what a find. Thank you.

[@ivancsapod]

Wow! What a film, I'm really amazed! Thanks so much for uploading it! Watching this footage I can't stop thinking about the senselessly wasted life of Don Whillans. I'm just reading the book The Villain: The Life of Don Whillans from Jim Perrin, and I almost feel actual pain when reading about the self-destructing lifestyle of this exceptionally talented climber, hoping that in the next chapter I'll read about how he gets out of his downward spiral. But no, it only gets worse. What a pity...

[@richardwest6358]

You obviously don't understand a thing about Whillans

[@TheSecondof5]

Wonderful film. Thank you.

[@JuliusCaesar888]

Awesome doc, never saw this one thanks.

[@KarelSeeuwen]

My first harness was a Whillans sit harness. Thinking back, maybe this is the reason I had so much trouble making any children.

[@bazcardinal1176]

Awesome film. Love the old school rappelling.

[@user-kb5fi1hm3u]

Absoulute CLASSIC.. No bullshit old school climbing.. Way to go. Guiness and McClellans

[@paulmorrey4298]

Great video Thanks for sharing

[@joriah69]

Wonderful, many thanks

[@Trish.Norman]

Thank you❤.

[@-TheRealChris]

Thank you so much for the upload! Really enjoyable!

[@Matt-fl3ou]

"This modern lightweight expedition included 700 cans of Guinness" 👌

[@georgeormerod2531]

That was just enough for Whillans

[@cullyx2913]

Fantastic doc

[@Greebstreebling]

Don as usual wearing his unique climbing helmet. He would've been happy here - no French mountain huts in which to not get any sleep prior to a climb :) :) Hawser laid ropes were alwys good fun...

[@Truman747]

I have found lots of rusty equipment nearly central tower and very old ropes, carabiners hahaha nice souvenir! Thanks guys!!! Legend!!!!, 🏞️🥾⛰️🇨🇱🇬🇧

[@themeatpopsicle]

Thank you Planetmountain for sending me this way!

[@brendangallagher8087]

Fantastic discovery this. Brlliant Don impression by McNaught-Davies

[@ihbcsomerset6966]

Fantastic

[@ruffrider5100]

Props to Brian Clough for doing Don’s voiceover. Young man!!

[@3vimages471]

Don Whillans ..... what a Brit.

[@TAZAR_II]

You know it’s a good expedition when packing a case of Heinz 57 sauce.

[@alk6225]

superb

[@somjasa]

Brilliant! 😸

[@arransadventures7319]

Don smoking whilst climbing is real boss shit

[@titothetroddler]

Absolutely fabulous, Don Whillans as hard as nails ❤

[@nicennice]

Don Whillans best kept secret innovation was that that flat cap was made of carbon fibre before carbon fibre had even been invented! Genius.

[@michaelgallagher3640]

Climbing the boat in his underoos. HAA!

[@conchosewing]

I dont understand how they managed to climb(free solo it by the looks of it) with the sheer weight of their steel balls :D

[@randydewees7338]

Just incredible, two ropes break. BREAK! And both Don and Chris escape with their lives.

[@penninewild5970]

Brilliant documentary, superbly narrated. Love the old expedition stories. Thank you

[@Judymotto742]

Legends💯

[@PNWBob]

Great video. Good to see Whillans in his prime.

[@chowbai]

I've got a morbid fear of dehydration

[@neilparks2651]

Brilliant viewing. Given that the film appears to have been completed long after Whillans death, surely what we are listening to is somebody imitating Whillans, not Whillans himself. Wonder who's voice it is...Jim Perrin?

[@markbutler9076]

i loved this...what pioneers!!

[@georgesheffield1580]

Pre sticky rubber , crude crampons , crude ice axes ., nylon but not modern rope .

[@archstanton_live]

Belay rope sometimes just tied around their waist, no harness, not even a swami belt.

[@Jools1478]

I'm honestly no fan of abseiling but Wow! Rope round the body.

[@warshipsatin8764]

why arent you a fan of abseiling?

[@Jools1478]

@@warshipsatin8764 . Depends on the scenario. Tired after a long multi-pitch in the mountains there's a high chance of error. And particularly plenty of chance to get the ab rope stuck 😲

[@Baha45315]

Did the guy have a separate rucksack for his cigarettes 😁😁

[@hni7458]

Last Bonington video I saw, can't remember what Mt but one of the >8,000ms, coming down to base directly he just pulled out a bottle of whisky from under his down jacket - unforgettable man he was, sorry, he is.

[@Flaaaaanders]

Omg they are wearing briefs not boxers!

[@hegemonersmith1048]

Excellent stuff, a bit of the old British jingoism notwithstanding!

[@brendangallagher8087]

Pretty sure its tongue n cheek and a little self mocking,

[@Noname47122]

It’s not really jingoism. It’s a riposte to jingoism, fighting fire with fire.

[@h.p.b.2956]

bridge built in 1928, 80 years ago.... so filmed in 2008?

[@FiveLiver]

The first film was Oct 1962

[@cubehole666]

Was this narrated by the people how do Thomas The Tank Engine?

[@paulthompson3304]

No

[@tu0ootu]

Yes

[@drubber007]

Maybe

[@rocnoir4233]

It was narrated by the late Ian Mcnaught-Davis,an accomplished climber and IT guru. He pegged his nose to imitate the accent of Don Whillans.

[@paulthompson3304]

@@rocnoir4233 He sounded more like Frank Sidebottom 😂

[@langrtsihirbazmuratmutlu9835]

British ropes unsafe :)

[@Kiltoonie]

Bizarre how these class attitudes prevailed. Oh well, never mind.

[@simonrangeley]

Which class are you referring to? Some of the party definitely came from the upper and middle class but Don Whillans is as working class as you can get.