Not all who wander are lost

Defiance - The Eiger Paraclimb from Finalcrux Films

Defiance - The Eiger Paraclimb from Finalcrux Films on Vimeo.

Winner of the National Adventure Awards for Inspiring Others...

http://www.scottishadventureawards.com/the-public-vote/

http://www.scottishadventureawards.com/the-public-vote/

Put it in the box... www.justgiving.com/TheEigerParaclimbLectureSeries

At Sherpa Union & Social Care Ideas Factory Eiger Paraclimb Lecture

No false pretenses...

It's funny when you meet an audience that get's you! But for people to get you, you have to show them 'you' and that can be scary depending on how your life has been.

I decided at the last minute to change the format of my Lecture drawing on more past experiences on what really lead me personally to the Eiger Paraclimb and the true reasons behind that journey.

Speaking to an amazing mix of individuals from the audience was simply such a relief to here of their own stories and personal journeys. We got each other and it makes all the pre-lecture nerves worthwhile.

Having a positive affect on others by just simply saying who you really were felt amazing. No super hero posturing, no charity model of disability, just diversity at it's best. Being truly different without pretense...

In the past I was so fucking angry about some of my past and never wanted reminding, but sharing some of it in the context of this audience from Social Care Ideas Factory in Glasgow was just a real shift for me.

We have raised some cash for https://www.justgiving.com/TheEigerParaclimbLectureSeries and hope to raise more...

Mark.

The Top Three Alpine Climbs of 2015 | Climbing Daily, Ep. 629

EIGER PARACLIMB LECTURE SERIES 2016 by Mark McGowan

LECTURE SERIES BY MARK MCGOWAN
 in association with FINALCRUX FILMS

The story of 3 days on the infamous Eiger sight guiding a world first, with blind climber John Churcher along with two other British Paraclimbers, Jamie Owen (Autistic), Alex Taylor (MS) and Scottish climber Colin Gourlay.

(Photo: Finalcrux Films)

If you are an organisation looking to book the lecture then please contact markmcgowan01@gmail.com for information

 

(Photo: Finalcrux Films)

"Defiance - The Eiger Paraclimb" Official Trailer 2015 from Finalcrux Films Showing at the Kendal Film Festival 2015

Made Summit at 3pm 26/07/2015

Interfearence...

When preparing for anything personaly challenging I suppose you need to take that step back from the busyness of what your caught up in to allow yourself mental quiet to reinvest the Core reason for engaging in such a thing.

For me, I'm switching off from the world to find that place that can remove all the external distractions that will only interfere with the required mentality to Paraclimb the Eiger.

My experience of people when they're scared, is that they project that fear onto you in extreme situations as anger or constructed reasons for you to do what they want. It's just survival.

I'm looking for a place in my head that manages my own fears down without them resonating the two feet through my voice and body language to the attached John whilst leaving enough mental space to communicate effectively in a language that Jay understands and keep a watchful eye on Alex's 'cognitive fog' when the  fatigue kicks in. All this with my climbing friend Colin's invaluable support. It was never going to be easy, but we are here now, as ready as we can be.

Learning to control your mind in extremis requires for me, a process of being as obsessively prepared as possible, then letting go of the small stuff and committing fully with a true belief.

It all feels a little surreal at the moment, like the drawing, but I know none of it is real until we are there on the mountain, on the Eiger.

Vamos!