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Everest Veteran Added to Banff Mountain Film Festival Line-up

A veteran mountaineer who has reached the highest point on earth seven times will highlight this evening’s presentation at the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Pete Athans, known in some circles as “Mr. Everest”, will speak in the Eric Harvie Theatre tonight, Saturday, November 8, at 8 p.m. Athans’ presentation will also be simulcast to the Margaret Greenham Theatre.

Due to circumstances beyond the festival’s control, Mauro “Bubu” Bole will not speak this evening, as originally scheduled.

Mountaineer and cinematographer Pete Athans has led 15 Everest expeditions since 1985. He has attempted five different routes from the Tibetan and Nepalese sides of the mountain, and has attained the summit seven times — more than any other climber not of Sherpa descent.

Athans’ accomplishments on other peaks are equally impressive – including Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, Manaslu, K2, Annapurna South, Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam, Pumori, and most recently the eastern Himalayas.

The 2003 Banff Mountain Film Festival features two films to which Pete Athans has contributed, National Geographic Television: Surviving Everest and The Dark Side of Everest.

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The 28th Banff Mountain Film Festival
Presented by:
National Geographic and Dunham Bootmakers
Sponsored by:
Eagle Creek Travel Gear, Patagonia, Chevy Avalanche, eVENT Fabrics,
And MSR - Mountain Safety Research
With assistance from:
Lake Louise Ski Area and PETZL

The Banff Centre is Canada’s centre for creative excellence in the arts, leadership development, mountain culture, and conferences. Mountain Culture at The Banff Centre promotes understanding and appreciation of the world’s mountain places by creating opportunities for people to share – and find inspiration in – mountain experiences, ideas and visions.

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