Timy's Trip to Scotland

The Ft. William Mountain Festival, held in February 2007 and situated at the foot of Ben Nevis (the U.K.’s highest peak), welcomed us with open arms and open bottles of single-malt scotch.  Jeb Berrier, a man in possession of more creativity and talent than a dozen casts of Saturday Night Live, joined me to present our theatre piece to the fair denizens of this bucolic port town.  We shared a small 2-bed hotel room, more than a few toasts of scotch, and the famed hospitality and smiles of the Scottish Highlanders. I also gave an “off-keynote” Timmy O Show, classically parts comedy, poignancy, and adrenaline, which covered my ascent of El Capitan’s “Space” with my brother Sean. I also competed with the Scottish speed climbing champion in a ‘dry tool’ ascent of a 20-meter creosote-soaked telephone pole that led to a 10-meter stretch of climbing wall, all suspended from a massive crane – the winner got the red flare and we are currently tied with a win apiece.

The entire festival was couched in the history of Ben Nevis and the people that risk their lives and limbs in pursuit of Higher Meaning through brushes with Mother Nature’s brilliantly beautiful indifference.  We even had the opportunity to walk upon the heathered flanks of the “Ben” to the midway loch to take part in an impromptu ceremony to spread the ashes of a fallen climbing hero, the apotheosis of the dirtbag climber, Charlie Fowler. We passed the peace pipe, the single-malt, read poetry and sang dirges and finally released Charlie onto the wind and into the wild.

I am looking forward to my return to Ft. William in 2008 to sail upon the Ezra and climb the Old Man of Hoy off Scotland’s northern coast with friends.

“Timmy O'Neill, the mad cap American climber, presented a fantastic lecture on our Mountaineering evening, as well as play about his interpretation of the discovery of George Mallory. (Timmy)...entertained our audience in his usual hilarious way. It was a great night, which is still mentioned often by local people.

Timmy selflessly found the time to talk to an assembly of local high school kids, a task he obviously relishes. He...is a fantastic ambassador for the States and the World of climbing.”

Lex TROEDSON
Chairman
The Fort William Mountain Festival

‘Mallory Revisited

"Everest hard man Dr. Steven "Death Zone" Clark shares his thoughtful insights and priceless artifacts from the rarefied zone of 8000 metres, as well as a new and completely fresh view of the Mallory mystery. This theatre presentation is revealing...it's shocking...it's hilarious! Meet the legendary Timmy O'Neill, who is joined by partner-in-crime Jeb Berrier. You've got to see it... to believe it!"

"Timmy O’Neill took the time to speak to a packed assembly hall at Lochaber High School, Fort William during the Fort William Mountain Festival 2007. This was an opportunity for young people to hear from the world’s most inspirational climber and learn from his experience and enthusiasm. There were over 250 young people who attended the presentation and both pupils and their teachers were treated to ‘Urban Ape’, one of Timmy’s famous DVD’s and then a talk about climbing El Capitan with Timmy’s brother Sean who is paralyzed from the waist down. Timmy talked about climbing with people who have physical disabilities and encouraging the young people in the audience to get out into the wonderful landscape in Lochaber and enjoy trying new things even if they think they cannot do it. The young people had the chance to ask Timmy some questions at the end of the session and one class were so inspired they came back to the hall to ask some more. This is the first time that the Fort William Mountain Festival has worked directly with schools in the area and the success of Timmy’s visit has encouraged the organizers to see this as a vital part of future festivals."