Taos Mountain Film Festival, October 11-13, 2002

Royal Robbins

Timmy O'Neill

Tom Frost

Timy Fairfield

Beth Wald

Sanho Tree

Royal Robbins   FRIDAY, 6:00 PM and SUNDAY, 4:00 PM, PLAZA THEATER
SATURDAY, 3:00 PM, TAOS MOUNTAIN OUTFITTERS
SUNDAY, 8:30 AM, ALHAMBRA
Above all Robbins defined the term 'style.' Possessing a prodigious climbing strength and an indomitable drive, the success of his climbs was often assured from the rope-up. But it was how the climb was conceived and executed that fascinated the 'man in the white cap' not merely reaching the top. Occasionally ridiculed for his 'romantic' approach and sometimes embroiled in controversy, his insistence on a 'pure style' proved to be visionary and pre-dated many of the 'alpine' climbs in the Himalayas and the speed climbing of the present day.

Tom Frost   FRIDAY, 6:00 PM and SUNDAY, 4:00 PM, PLAZA THEATER
SUNDAY, 8:30 AM, ALHAMBRA
Climber. Manufacturer. Photographer. From The North America Wall to the Lotus Flower Tower, Tom Frost has pioneered sensational routes. In conjunction with Yvon Chouinard, he developed much of the innovative hardware that equipped the groundbreaking climbs of the golden age. But Tom Frost's lasting legacy will be the stunning images he brought from high on the cliffs. Years ahead of his time in technique and composition, his photos, which will be exhibited during the festival, chronicle the most significant advance of American climbing.

Timmy O'Neill   FRIDAY, 8:15 PM, PLAZA THEATER and SUNDAY, 6:00 PM, TCA
SATURDAY, 8:30 AM, LA FONDA
Tim's lightning ascent of the nose with Dean Potter, 3 hours and 24 minutes, shattered the record; his irreverent approach to the slideshow format has challenged the accepted format. A scathing wit and a thoroughly modern power point approach make his presentation a must for the young and young at heart.

Timy Fairfield   FRIDAY, 8:00 PM, TAOS PLAZA and SUNDAY, 6:00 PM, TCA
SATURDAY, 8:30 AM, LA FONDA
A brilliant sport climber, who has successfully competed for years on the European circuit, Timy has now returned to his native New Mexico. The drive that has kept him at the peak of the climbing world has now been directed into his interest in multi media art presentations. Timy will stage his show on Friday evening in the plaza and on Sunday evening, with Tim O'Neill at the TCA.

Dave Hahn   FRIDAY, 8:00 PM, TCA and SATURDAY, 8:00 PM, PLAZA THEATER
SUNDAY, 8:30 AM, ALHAMBRA and SUNDAY, 3:30, TAOS PLAZA
Dave chills out in winter as ski-patrolman in Taos. His summers are spent guiding on Everest and Mt. Rainier. His attempts to retrace Shackleton's crossing of the formidable South Georgia mountain range add to the legend of the explorer's great escape.

Beth Wald   SATURDAY, 5:00 PM, MICHAEL McCORMICK GALLERY
Her images have enlivened the pages of Life, Time, National Geographic, Outside and the NY Times. But those in the climbing world have been delighted for years by her shots from the crags. Beth will exhibit her gorgeous series on the gauchos of the pampas and, we hope, add a few stills from her recent trip to Afghanistan.

John Middendorf
SATURDAY, 8:30 AM, LA FONDA and SATURDAY, 1:30 PM, PLAZA THEATER
John Middendorf's name is synonymous with big walls. In 1992, he climbed the tallest big wall in the world, the Great Trango Tower, via a new route, The Grand Voyage, which remains unrepeated. He now divides his time between guiding on the Grand Canyon and developing ecological building technology.

Katie Lee   FRIDAY, 6:00 PM, TCA and SATURDAY, 8:30 AM, ALHAMBRA
SATURDAY, 4:00 PM, TAOS PLAZA
Don't let that pleasant grandmotherly look and mellifluous voice fool you. For decades, Katie Lee has been a caustic critic of water wasters, a thorn in the side of authority and an intractable defender of wild rivers. She will introduce films, perform her songs and sign copies of her book.

Don Briggs   SATURDAY, 8:30 AM, ALHAMBRA and SATURDAY, 3:45 PM, TCA
Don's river footages have been used in countless films. His adaptation of Ferde Grofe's "Grand Canyon Suite" remains the definitive tribute to this natural wonder.

Scott Ransom   SUNDAY, 8:30 AM, ALHAMBRA and SUNDAY, 8:00 PM, TCA
For decades, Scott has been at the forefront of adventure cinematography, both in the feature and documentary fields. Nominated for a British Academy Award he will present the film and the 'making of' Endurance.

Matt Samet   SUNDAY, 1:45 PM, PLAZA THEATER
SUNDAY, 3:00 PM, TAOS MOUNTAIN OUTFITTERS
Matt, Associate Editor of Climbing, will screen slides of trad climbing in Eldorado Canyon.

Craig Luebben
SATURDAY, 8:30 AM, LA FONDA and SATURDAY, 6:00 PM, PLAZA THEATER
SUNDAY, 3:00 PM, TAOS MOUNTAIN OUTFITTERS
Craig, is a renowned writer and climber who blends a humorous side with a comprehensive knowledge of safety and rescue in the mountains. He will show slides from his trips to China and Cuba.

John Fayhee   SATURDAY, 3:00 PM, TAOS MOUNTAIN OUTFITTERS
John is the editor of Mountain Gazette and has successfully revived that publication.

Renny Russell   SATURDAY, 9:30 AM, PLAZA THEATER
SATURDAY, 3:00 PM, TAOS MOUNTAIN OUTFITTERS
SUNDAY, 2:00 PM, TAOS PLAZA
Renny's book "On the Loose" was one of the first to be published by David Brower and the Sierra Club, and was their most popular, selling over a million copies. He will present a slide show and read from his new book "Rock me on the Water."

Gary Johnson   SATURDAY, 1:30 PM, TCA
Gary, New Mexico Governor, is the highest ranking elected official in the country to question the efficacy of the war on drugs. His stand has brought him vilification from his Republican party and created an unlikely alliance of political opposites.

Sanho Tree   SATURDAY, 1:30 PM, TCA
Sanho is a fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington DC and an expert speaker on the drug issue.

Sally Denton   SATURDAY, 1:30 PM, TCA
As an investigative journalist for print and television Sally has specialized in drug issues throughout the world. Her book "The Blue Grass Conspiracy, An Inside Story of Power, Greed, Drugs and Murder" exposed "a shockingly corrupt power structure" in Kentucky.

Warren Harding Memorial   SUNDAY, 8:15 PM, PLAZA THEATER
Last year's Guest of Honor, Warren Harding delighted us with his iconoclastic humor. His legendary energy was still evident as he rocked his wheel chair on the dance floor at midnight. Warren is gone, but we celebrate his memory with a memorial of film, anecdote and prose from his companions on the rope: Robbins, Frost, Denny, McCracken, Derryberry and Whitmore; and many others who admired him from near and afar.