A PHOTO TAKEN BY ALBERTO IÑURRATEGI IN ANNAPURNA WILL ILLUSTRATE THE POSTER OF THE 8TH EDITION OF THE BILBAO MENDI FILM FESTIVAL
The photograph, taken by the mountaineer of Aretxabaleta (Basque Country) in 2002, illustrates the poster of our mountain, climbing and adventure sports film festival, which this year will be held from the 11th to the 20th of December.
Alberto Iñurrategi took this photograph at the culmination of his fourteen eight-thousanders. The 16th May 2002 crowned the summit of Annapurna with the French mountaineer Jean Christophe Lafaille. He added the finishing touch in a sublime way, as he chose a route with very little chance of success: the East Ridge that can be seen in the image. It was opened in 1984 by Erhard Loretan and Norbert Joos. This route has been attempted in numerous times, but not repeated until Iñurrategi and Lafaille did it in 2002.
It was a technical, difficult, extremely long, demanding and high risk itinerary, due to their vulnerability. In addition, it stands out the temperance they had when choosing the access to the summit and carrying it out.
The climb even transcended. It was the fourteenth eight-thousander of the alpinist from Aretxabaleta and it acquired its very own significance, as it became the most important activity that had been carried out in the Himalayas that season, and also one of the greatest landmarks of the Basque climbing in the highest peaks of the planet.
Alberto Iñurrategi reached the satisfaction combining his personal ethics with the essence of mountaineering, not reaching the summit at any price.
The commitment, integrity and determination of Alberto illustrate perfectly the values that we want to transmit from the Bilbao Mendi Film Festival.
