John Cunningham Climbing Ben Nevis 1976

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14 жыл бұрын

Rare footage by Yvon Chouinard, initially created for National Geographic featuring John Cunningham climbing an unspecified climb on Ben Nevis.
No permission was granted to put this up, but I felt this is footage that should be shared with people (I also didn't realise how popular it would become!). If the creators are unhappy with this then I can take it down.
A few points of interest ...
The 'climb' is actually a montage of different shots, I'm not sure the exact climbs, but my best guesses, based on the forum posts that have gone up, and an email are that the initial shot zooming in is Zero gulley (see • jc ben nevis 1976 flipped ), except that the shot has been reversed so that the footage flows the same way. The middle section, with the avalanche is possibly Garadh Gully
page 189 of Creagh Dhu Climber
"part of the film was supposed to be fictional," says Chouinard, with John playing a hard case from a rundown part of Glasgow. He rides on his motorbike across Rannoch moor, solos something and then slips and falls but no-one knows if it is real or imagined, it was kinda surreal. The film never got to be seen because in another section, filmed in China , half the film crew were caught in a terrible avalanche. The director was killed and I broke a couple of ribs."
Chouinard also mentions the filming in his 'Climbing ice' book (page 157 in the original 1978 version). He mentions being caught in an avalanche near Comb Buttress, by a cornice collapse on Number Two gully.
The ferry crossing is actually the Corran ferry, but probably made to look like the Bally one. the bally ferry closed in 75 because the bridge opened, so I guess it was a substitute to make the movie look like it was set in an earlier time.
Cheers to anyone who has discussed this video.
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Пікірлер: 50

@frederickmagill9454 2 жыл бұрын

I met JC about 45/50 years ago on a Dumbarton district outdoor training corse. JC was the climbing instructor we had on the Cobbler and on the Buichaille. I was a complete novice and had never heard of the Creag Dhu or Johnny C. He was a magnificent person to be with, great humour and really down to earth with us his pupils. I was very sad when I heard of the events which caused his death, he was a great instructor and a pioneer climber. A great vid which brings back memories of the times I met JC on the training course.

@romandial 14 жыл бұрын

ah yes the good ole days of chouinard alpine hammers, piolets, and rigid strap on crampons with super gaitors on leather boots. When ice climbing was a fringe sport done by a brave and crazy few. Thanks for posting!

@WizWise 5 жыл бұрын

Glad that I found this video, I have just re-read "Creagh Dhu Climber - The Life & Times of John Cunningham" by Jeff Connor. I am always proud to say that I was once a student of John's. When he was working at Liverpool's I. M. Marsh college with Ron James. I was there as an in service teacher specialising in Outdoor Education. Sadly he was lost on Angelsey South Stack whilst I, & others on the course, were back at the college, it came as a great sadness to all his students. I remember those days fondly & how he could inspire us to greater things, I also remember how he had a knack of appearing alongside you, just as you were tackling the crux move of a rock climb ! Sadly missed but many thanks for your inspiration John, & to Paul for posting this video.

@PaulMJCunningham 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks David. It's always great to here stories of how Dad inspired others.

@jackmckay3254 12 жыл бұрын

nearly42,000 viewers,,,,paul you are totally justfied in putting this up.....these videos i treasure,,the best of times was the month i spent with the lads,in 1956?..in wales and in LANGDALE...where i made the mistake of challenging,jc to a wrestling match..i was 19 and VERY cockyl,,when i picked myself up...??? I ALWAYS HAD THE GREATEST RESPECT FOR HIM..and have great memories of him,,he was such a pleasure to be with,,THANX Paul...from BALLOCH JACK

@BetarennaLondon 14 жыл бұрын

Briliant video. As someone who is just starting out mountaineering, it's great to see john climbing and so fliudly, very inspirational to see him climbing solo as I would like to do!

@johndcorcoran6550 11 ай бұрын

Paul I knew JC when I spent a year at I M Marsh. He was a huge influence on my life! I met you too camping in Langdale, but then you were a babe in arms! JC taught me to ski and sold me a set of skis and poles that had been part of the payment he got from Chouinard for making this film. The skis are long gone, worn out, but the poles I still ski with. I have spent a lifetime teaching climbing and outdoor pursuits in NZ on his recommendation. He said that NZ was probably the best place in the world for Outdoor Education. Like in most thinks he was right. My Hero!

@PaulMJCunningham 11 ай бұрын

Hi John, thanks for the story! I lived in Queenstown between 2014 and 2018 guiding and teaching mountaineering, it's an amazing place!

@johndcorcoran6550 11 ай бұрын

I am in Dunedin now, if you were still there, I would have come over for a pint! Where are you now?

@PaulMJCunningham 11 ай бұрын

@@johndcorcoran6550 I'm back in Scotland. I have a good friend who live there, always climbing at long beach

@johndcorcoran6550 11 ай бұрын

@@PaulMJCunningham Just down the road! I live in Port Chalmers. If you come back this way, we should meet up!

@PaulMJCunningham 11 ай бұрын

@@johndcorcoran6550 that's where he lives 😅. I've been there a few times. Not sure I'll be back any time soon, but I'll be sure to be in touch if I am, likewise if you're in Scotland, get in touch

@bollockchops123 14 жыл бұрын

he rode through the highland winter on his motorbike..without gloves. Brilliant bit of film, cheers mate.

@lyallbaybum69 14 жыл бұрын

Wonderful! Thank-you kindly for this wee film of a LEGENDARY man.

@ripsawridge 14 жыл бұрын

Really nice, thanks for sharing!

@gallusguy 14 жыл бұрын

Thanks for posting this Paul,although Stuart Johnson emailed it to me this morning. Mo-bike [Norton?] no helmet, no gloves, climbing the distilery gates north of the Fort. Great scenes, great memories. GG

@bobbynobrain 14 жыл бұрын

Great video. The zoom-in shot looks like zero gully, but the film has been flipped horizontally so everything's in reverse. The shots of John moving quickly up ice with an icicle in the foreground nearer the end of the film reminds of the initial icefall of Glover's Chimney, but I'm only guessing. Yvon Chouinard showed this film at the Fort William festival last year, and it's great to see it again. Thanks, Jamie

@CubensisRecords 8 жыл бұрын

badasss movie, badass climber. Thanks!

@lukaszwys 9 жыл бұрын

Great movie! Great Climber!

@robrjarvis 14 жыл бұрын

Cheers Paul - real pleasure to see him flowing up the ice like that. Think the starting gully with all the spindrift is Garadh. Here's hoping for some conditions like 76 in 10.... All the best, Rob.

@jingshelpmaboab 14 жыл бұрын

Fantastic video, as many have said very evocative of the era - for me, fastening crampon straps in spindrift particularly so! I like JC's wee skips up the ice... compare that with most folks' battering away at every step.

@Optophobia 14 жыл бұрын

Great film Paul. Very inspirational.

@Hawking1969 12 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Inspiring.

@HazelAgnes48 11 жыл бұрын

Nice wee video. I've been to the summit of Ben Nevis twice bu took the tourist route. Hazel.

@TheEvilscotsman123 13 жыл бұрын

Fantastic video.

@PaulMJCunningham 14 жыл бұрын

It's actually a mixture of shots form different climbs. I haven't quite worked out where he is when it zooms in from a distance...

@highadventur 6 жыл бұрын

Great flick.. thaaank you!!!

@paulmitchell5349 5 жыл бұрын

One of the greats.

@dpbimages 14 жыл бұрын

Brilliant!

@frenchfree 4 жыл бұрын

I was on the Ben at the time. Notice Chouinard ridged crampons and he curved his own tools with the leashes taped to the shaft. He curved my brothers old Ashenbrenner wood shafted axe and Aid said it was the best tool he'd used until Chacals arrived.

@slyspeeder 4 жыл бұрын

The motorbike route seems a bit confused: first he's going down Glencoe, then he has turned back up past JC's cottage, then he is crossing the Corran ferry.....very scenic though!

@PaulMJCunningham 4 жыл бұрын

If you're confused by that, try to work out what climb he's on...

@PaulMJCunningham 4 жыл бұрын

also, see the last paragraph of the description for info on the ferry

@ftryew 13 жыл бұрын

touch of class

@andrewdavid68 14 жыл бұрын

Great little film.

@frederickmagill9454 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, 👌👌👍👍

@largeformatlandscape 2 жыл бұрын

Davy Gunn was telling me that this is part of a longer film? Any ideas where the full film might be found as this is great footage.

@PaulMJCunningham 2 жыл бұрын

My understanding is that this was originally going to be part of a Nat Geo documentary, but the show got cancelled after the crew making the other half were in a plane crash. Yvon sat on the unedited footage for a while and eventually decided to put together this short film. I don't know if there is much else.