Inspire series Tim Macartney-Snape Misadventures Big & Small

From not being able to even get to the base of an intended objective to losing all climbing equipment at the very base of the mountain and many other misadventures, Tim explains how uncertainty has been at the core of all his significant adventures from the first Australian ascent of a 7000 m peak to simultaneously the first Australian ascent of an 8000m peak and Mount Everest.

Since his first expedition to the Himalaya in 1978, on which he became the only member of the 15 strong university club group to reach the summit, Tim has been back almost every year trekking and climbing in the remoter parts of the world's greatest mountains. Apart from their unmatched scale, the Himalayan/Karakoram mountains present the added challenge of high altitude where even their bases are as high or higher than the tops of the highest mountains in Europe, North America and Australasia.

Tim’s presentation will focus on a few of his notable ascents but these accounts will be embellished with details of the cultures and natural environment that these mountains rise above.

Tim Macartney-Snape led the first Australian expedition to Mt. Everest in 1984 when the team pioneered a new route on the north face of the mountain and startled the mountaineering world by making the ascent without bottled oxygen and no Sherpa support.

He returned to Everest six years later beginning the three month climb on the Bay of Bengal walking over 1000km to Base Camp. From there he climbed alone and without the assistance of fellow climbers Sherpas, or bottled oxygen, reached the summit on May 11th climbing the full 8,850 meters for the first time ever.

The Inspire Adventure Series is a regular monthly event aiming to get you inspired by presenters who will be sharing their outdoor adventures through multimedia slide show. Besides watching the presentation and Q&A, there will be a time to connect, chat, exchange ideas, motivate each other – and maybe even to find a partner for your next adventure.

If you have a chance, please bring children and teenagers, we'd love showing them too!

Paddy Pallin is planning to deliver nine sessions in 2025 from March to November.

Paddy Pallin will provide some snacks and drinks for the evening, please bring your own food if you have any dietary requirements. You are also welcome to BYO drinks including liquor.