Women in Adventure

The Eiger is one of the most iconic mountains in the world. Famous for its North Face, it has made it into many books and films. It's a mythical mountain that fascinates climbers all over. For those willing to give it a try, there are other routes on the mountain. Julia Lyubova, along with a Swiss guide Dani Arnold, take on the Mittellegi route on 22-23 July 2021. It is a centenary year for the Mittellegi route which was first climbed on 10 September 1921. But also it is 150 years since Lucy Walker became the first woman to climb the Matterhorn. Lucy Walker was also the first woman to stand on the summit of the Eiger in 1864. For alpinist Julia Lyubova, it is also a milestone climb. Having ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in the knee in a skiing accident earlier in the year, Julia was devastated to hear her surgeon say that the Eiger was off the books this year. However, with commitment and hard work, Julia stood on the summit of the Eiger on 23 July 2021. The journey was not easy, coming under a rockfall, putting a crampon through a leg and ripping trousers, were some of the hiccups Julia and Dani experienced on the way. Follow the journey, to find out what the Eiger attraction is... A film by Julia Lyubova. Find her on Instagram: @juliainthealps

It has been a long dream of Julia Lyubova as a mountaineer to climb the Matterhorn. The world famous mountain that sits at the top of Zermatt in Switzerland has attracted thousands of climbers over the years. At 4478m it is considered to be one of the most difficult climbs in the Alps. In this film Julia Lyubova and local Zermatt guide Andreas Steindl go on an epic journey to climb to the summit of the Matterhorn. It is no easy task but they make it in 3.5 hours and enjoy the views from a very windy summit. But this is only half of the story, the journey back down is even harder... A film by Julia Lyubova. Find her on Instagram: @juliainthealps

“We are under lockdown, and big days no longer mean mountains they mean big days of changes.” 'Walking Through It' is a short film documenting the monotony and restlessness of lockdown life. Using spoken word to explore the emotions of feeling trapped within your own neighbourhood and unable to access the parts of you that make you feel alive. A film by Frankie Dewar www.frankiedewar.co

There was a time when Amira Patel had never hiked, and upon her first 3km hike up Rivington Pike with her mother, Aysha, she struggled. A few years on, and Amira has now inspired and created an outdoors community of over 1000 Muslim women in a social hiking group called ‘The Wanderlust Women’.

Getting into turquoise blue waters would be a dream for most, but for Abbie Barnes it is one of her biggest fears. Her reasons for fearing the coast are vast, but things are different now. She is determined to show that mental illness doesn’t have to hold you back from turning places of destruction into places of construction, and that with the right support and mindset, anyone can rise above the fear. A film by Abbie Barnes - www.spendmoretimeinthewild.co.uk

This film explores the mental health and well-being benefits of wild swimming through the unique experience of Pauline Latchem. A film by Reuben Worlledge @reubenworlledge4717

A short film of my first solo wild camp and hiking the mountain Y Garn.

Splintered Awe

You know bike packing?! We’ll it’s a little like bike packing… but you swim! This short film shares a brief introduction to the sport of swimpacking as we follow Annie on a short winter camping adventure.

The idea of being “slow” has been around for a while: we have had slow food, slow TV, slow travel. Susanna Thornton is a slow adventurer.

A girl's weekend like no other. Wanting an adventure that had never been done before (and that could happen on their doorstep), friends Bex Band and Emma Rosen attempt to packrat and hike between the longest, highest, and deepest lakes in England. Battling achy arms, bas weather, mum-guild and painful backpacks that are definitely not made for short people, the friends come away realising the importance of being ok with finding a middle ground.

‘Walk On’ follows the journey of Wilderness Guide and Explorer, Eliza Brown’s 20 day epic to become the first known person to travel the length of the Scottish highlands with a pack pony. Eliza initially attempted the route last year on foot but a dislocated kneecap on day two led to the abrupt abandonment of her mission. This year, aided by Pansy the Fell Pony, Eliza tries once more to tackle the 400km of mountainous and boggy terrain to the reach to northern coast of Scotland, a route which has seen more people fail than succeed. This story documents the characters that help her along the way as well as inviting people to rediscover and connect with their more primal selves as Eliza promotes the importance of self- sufficiency in the wild. What begins as a quest to prove herself as a wilderness guide evolves with every step further North into something much greater and more meaningful than simply testing herself. A film by Grace TSP @Dark.Art.Pictures Featuring Eliza Brown @elizabrownexplore