Photo: President Gordon Ward greets the Torrens family, with club members Robin Semple and Nigel Kane (L)

Talk by Mr. Barry Torrens on 'Climbing Gran Paradiso and Mont Blanc'

Club President Gordon Ward welcomed members and special guests, our speakers' wife and children, who had not heard the full story of their Dads' epic adventure. The President then introduced our speaker for the morning Mr. Barry Torrens, who told us all about his determination to raise money for Cancer Research UK and his climbing Gran Paradiso and Mont Blanc. With the talk Barry had a spectacular PowerPoint show of his achievements - mainly taken on his mobile phone, so he didn't have to worry about taking a heavy camera along! (as you can see below):

Barry began his talk with a brief introduction about how he first became involved in fund raising for Cancer Research UK. His Mother, Aunt and other family members have become victims of that terrible disease. The chances of contracting Cancer are increasing with every year, and this can effect around 1 in 20 of the population - every year well over 300,000 are diagnosed. Research is greatly improving treatment and survival rates, there is not a cure 'just around the corner', not in our or even Barry's lifetime, but perhaps in the children's lifetime this may be a reality.

Barry realized that to raise some meaningful donations, you had to do something a bit more challenging than 'sitting in a bath of beans', and that if it was more 'noticeable' then the costs of doing the event shouldn't eat into the donations. Barry decided that whatever the final event, he would cover all costs 100% from his own pocket. It all seemed 'a big mountain to climb' to make a significant statement AND donation - and that was it - why not climb the biggest mountain in Europe 'Mont Blanc'.

Once the goal had been set, there were some preliminary considerations to tackle, publicity (with a difference!) for the overall aim and a small matter of getting fit enough to face the challenge. The publicity came in the shape of some motorcycling friends and 'Barry's Biker Babes' - a motorbike rally from Belfast to Portrush with some notable young ladies (Miss Northern Ireland, for instance) riding pillion. The fitness was another challenge. Strict diet and lots of exercise, gym work pounding the Portrush Strands took of three stone and produced a leaner, fitter Barry.

With his kit purchased (some via 'eBay' and saving cash) flights and climbing guide booked, Barry set of for Northern Italy to scale Gran Paradiso - the highest mountain in Italy and a vey good training climb for higher feats to follow. As the photo (not from Barry this time) shows, this was clearly no afternoon stroll.

Before going on to the next stage in the adventure, Barry took us through some slides of his equipment - in particular the snow/ice walking 'Crampons' which look lethal (see below), and he had the photos to show the damage they could do the fellow climbers! Altitude Sickness was another problem - fortunately not for Barry, but some members of his climbing group suffered a lot.

Mont Blanc was still to be faced, so Barry and the guided group of climbers set off for the French side of the mountain and the 'Hut' (see picture) to rest and prepare for an assault on the summit. The Hut is about 1/3 of the way up, has no running water and built at a cost of €15m - some hut! Changing from his rock climbing kit to his snow gear, the guide led Barry and the group out at 1.00am on 22 July, to start their assent on a mountain that averages 12 rescues a DAY and 100 fatalities each year. Barry was also aware that just the day before, a sudden change in the weather conditions had led to the death of a woman climber taking the same route as he was expecting to take.

By the time full daylight arrived the group had reached on of the more tricky parts of the climb. This was an extended ridge along the path to the summit. It was around 50cms (or 18 inches) wide and had a drop of 1000+ meters either side. If that wasn't sounding dangerous enough, this being a very busy mountain in the way of groups of climbers was where people descending had to pass the people ascending. The only way to do that little trick was to step off the ridge and hope (pray!) that your crampons and spiked pole would stop you slipping, and thereby testing that the rope between the group of four climbers, held you and them in place.

Eventually, Barry reached the summit at 9.58 am. The weather was on the turn and ALL the group had to do was get back to the 'Hut'. Fortunately this was achieved without and really serious problem, but not entirely trouble free by 5.00pm. Although the temperature at the base of the mountain was about 27C in Chamonix, at and near the summit it was -10C. Barry discovered that he had a pinhole in one of his books, this let in damp, which froze his toes. Luckily the group reached the hut before the frostbite became serious enough to mean amputation of the toes, but even now Barry said that his right big toe was still totally numb.

What started of for Barry as an attempt to raise some money for Cancer Research UK with a target of £2000 has (deservedly so) had its target revised upwards a few times now? Currently Barry has raised over £19,000, and donations are still coming in. Barry said that he was proud that there were so many people in Northern Ireland who were so generous, and through their generosity, work in fighting cancer here in NI has made to province a world leader in Cancer care. (And surely we are also proud, that there are people such as Barry, who care so much about others they are prepared to take on such challenges to raise the much needed funds to fight this disease - well done Barry!).

The members were enthralled by tale of true-life adventure Barry told and were keen to ask some questions. Among these were: 'Did anyone slip into a crevasse on the climbs?' - We had one fright on Gran Paradiso, one of the group fell part way, but the roped together others managed to hold their footing and eventually pulled him free. 'How was the Hut built?' - By ordinary construction workers, working in very difficult conditions and everything had to be helicoptered into place. 'Is the route to the top sign posted?' - No, the snow covers and changes to route regularly, that is why it is essential to go with a guide who has years of experience and really knows the mountain, many of the deaths each year are people who think they can do the climb unguided. 'How do you get insurance for something like that?' - Fortunately there are specialist mountaineering club insurances, but it's not cheap! 'How do you decide who makes way for who on the ridge?' - In general the rule of thumb is that that descending has the priority. 'What experience did you have in climbing before you went?' - None!

The vote of thanks was proposed by Graham Kane, who spoke for us all when he said that Barry enabled us to share in a fantastic experience, with some memorable photos to illustrate the talk. We had all listened with fascination to the story, and it was simple great that Barry was doing so much to help Cancer research. The President passed on the thanks and reminded members that there would be a retiring collection at the end of the meeting and again on 4th March. The members showed their appreciation.

Mike Turner - Secretary

For more information about Cancer Research UK, visit:
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org

To find out more about a relaxing holiday climbing Mont Blanc, visit:
http://www.chamonix.net/english

Note:
The Gran Paradiso (4061m) is the highest mountain entirely within Italy and a constant snowy companion on the Southern alpine skyline from the Mont Blanc Massif. Often climbed as a poor weather alternative to Mont Blanc the Paradiso has much more to recommend than just it's fine southern alpine climate. Lying in the Gran Paradiso National Park this is charming high alpine area set above the Italian Valsavarenche & Vallee d'Aoste.