John Arran
Recent Arran Achievements
Ascent of the exotic ‘Gondwanaland’ (800m, 7c), Madagascar 2006
‘Esoterica’ John on another mid summer challenge with Shane Ohly 2006
Angel Falls first ascent, 2005, and other big wall climbs in Venezuela on Cerro Autana and Acopán Tepui
500 routes in a day, and 100 Stanage extremes – on another day!
The Hostage and the Philosopher’s Stone – Exciting new route adventures in Kyrgyzstan
Dr Dolittle, unrepeated E10
Shows
Both Anne and John most often use a digital projector hooked up to a laptop, but 35mm slides are also an option for many of the talks. Video is usually incorporated into the presentation with sound clips and images to music. As well as giving an insight into top end climbing, the journey of reaching or escaping the often remote locations is always entertaining.
Angel Falls, climbing the world’s biggest waterfall
How an international team lead by John made the first free ascent of this spectacular face in 2005 after 19 days of effort and 31 pitches, 9 of them E7! The wall is 1000m high and overhangs by over 50m. This third-time-lucky success realised a dream for John and Anne, who first tried the line in 2002 after watching an Eric Jones BASE jumping video. The show features a close look at ledge-life and the best of thefreeclimber.com photography.
Gondwanaland – Mad in Madagascar & Lemur life
Amazing country, amazing wildlife, amazing people and amazing climbing! A brilliant trip with Gaz Parry, Jerry Gore and Giles Cornah. Not just an 800m granite wall encounter but a great insight into the idyllic sport-climbing off Madagascar’s north coast. The local people, fadi’s (taboos) and the unedited tales of Diego Suarez night club antics will offer a night to remember.
Grit Fest, 500 routes in a day
John relates how he and Shane Ohly succeeded in each climbing 500 routes in a day as a mid-summer challenge. A multimedia tour around some of the Peak’s best climbing, it includes many humorous interludes throughout this tiring 17-hour day. Many of the routes raced-up are easy enough for most climbers, but perhaps not all at once!
In the footsteps of Fawcett – 100 Grit Extremes in a day; plus a first ascent account of the unrepeated Dr Dolittle, E10 7a
A big effort and a long day out, another mid-summer Ohly, Arran challenge day. Contrast the long day of concentration with five minutes of ultimate intensity as John trusts all to a hand-placed knifeblade on what may be gritstone’s hardest lead.
‘Esoterica’
A short talk coupled with video footage of the making of the Slackjaw Film ‘Esoterica’. The ‘On Peak Rock’ Esoterica list combines charming classic climbs like the Kinder Downfall and the Matterhorn Ridge with vegetable-fests like Generously Cut Trousers and the ultimate nightmare of the tottering Mam Tor Gully. The challenge finished in the dark after 18 hours, 155 miles of driving, 5½ hours of approach and 423m of climbing.
Venezuela Extreme – A Climbers’ Earth from the Air
Inspired by the photography of Yann Arthus-Bertrand, this slideshow includes dramatic aerial shots over Venezuela’s remarkable Tepui rock formations, taken both from a Cessna and also from the climber’s perspective, high above the remote jungle of Amazonas and the Canaima National Park. It also features big-wall free ascents of Cerro Autana and Acopan tepui. With ancient rocks standing proud above the jungle floor, snow-capped Andean peaks, idyllic Caribbean archipelagos, impenetrable jungle, rare wildlife, curious creepy-crawlies and remote Indian tribes, this diverse and little-known country is more than worth a visit.
The Hostage – Superb granite new-routing in Kyrgyzstan’s Yosemite
Anne and John visited this valley with Ian Parnell and Mark Pretty at the same time as some Japanese tourists were taken hostage and the year before an American climbing team were kidnapped. They completed a number of new routes before fleeing the valley, along with the yaks, after being told that Taliban were on their way!
Behind the veil in Iran and the Sinai connection
Climbing in Iran, coaching the Iranian climbing team and trad new-routing in Sinai, as well as developing an extensive new bouldering area. Two fascinating countries with a lot to offer in bouldering, sport and adventure climbing. In 2002 Anne and John were lucky enough to be guests of the British Embassy and Iranian Mountaineering Federation in Tehran.
Other topics Anne or John would be happy to lecture on:
- Rock around the world
- New routing in the UK
- Exotic locations
- Combinations talks of any of the above in two 30 minute sections are also available, for example Madagascar and Esoterica.
- Expedition planning
Previous Shows
"Well that was stupendous. You can be sure that 99.9% of the audience wouldn't be able to go up there. I shall be dreaming of bromeliads tonight." Stephen Venables
“That's the best slide show I've ever seen here” The Alpine Club, London
“I really enjoyed that, thank you very much!” Kendal Film Festival
Photographs
See their gallery for some sample images illustrating John and Anne’s expertise as a photographers, as well as some of the topics of their shows.