David Hamilton – Lectures
High Altitude Mountaineer & Guide
David Hamilton is one of the world's leading high altitude mountain guides. A professional expedition leader and public speaker since 1987, he has led more than 100 climbing, trekking and skiing projects in the world's great mountain ranges.
David has guided more than 30 separate expeditions to Himalayan peaks higher than 7,000m, 21 of them to peaks over 8,000m. Included in this total are 13 trips to Mt Everest (1999 - 2019) David has climbed to the summit of Mt Everest 10 times and is one of the few people who has climbed the mountain from both the NepaIese and Tibetan sides. In 2003 he led the expedition which enabled Sibusiso Vilane to become the first black African to summit Mt Everest. In 2005 his clients included veteran British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes.
David's Himalayan experience spans all the Asian countries containing the world's highest peaks: the Hindu Kush, Pakistan Karakoram, Indian Himalaya, Mongolian Altai and the high peaks of China, Nepal and Tibet.
His expeditions over the years have visited most of the world's other major mountain ranges, from the European Alps, Russian Caucasus and the Andes of South America, to the mountains of East Africa and the frozen wastes Antarctica. He has organized and led expeditions in Greenland, Norway, France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Russia, Mongolia, Turkey, Iran, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, USA, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Antarctica.
David's talks include more than just a 'factual' account of his exhilarating and breathtaking trips. In addition to his extensive experience in the world's popular mountain ranges, David also enjoys small-scale exploratory trips to remote and little known wilderness areas. Returning to these places year after year, he has become knowledgeable about the local communities and is able to give a very personal and first-hand account of the world’s mountains people who call them home.
He has amassed a collection of over 50,000 high-quality images illustrating a lifetime of mountain adventures. The early expeditions were photographed on colour slides, which have been converted to digital format. The more recent adventures have been recorded using digital photographs. He has given over 200 lectures about his mountain adventures to a wide variety of audiences in the UK and overseas. These include the general public, sports clubs, lecture associations, camera clubs, universities, schools, military, travel shows and business events.
Adventure Talks: Mountaineering
21 years of Mt Everest
The story of 13 expeditions to the world's highest peak between 1999 and 2019, showing how climbing Everest has changed over two decades. With many dramatic high altitude pictures taken above 8000m this talk gives a real feel of 'what is like to stand on top of the world'. This is a rare chance to see how Everest is being changed by increased visitor numbers and compare the challenges of climbing the Southeast Ridge from Nepal, and the North Ridge from Tibet.
Karakoram Climbs
Highlights from a dozen expeditions spanning 15 years climbing the highest peaks in the Karakoram Range. Featuring rock climbs in Baltistan, the mighty Baltoro 8000m peaks and the Hindu Kush mountains on the Afghan frontier. This talk focuses on climbing some of the region’s most iconic peaks including Masherbrum 7821m, Chogolisa 7668m, Tirich Mir 7708m, Hidden Peak 8068m, Gasherbrum II 8035m, Broad Peak 8047m and Muztagh Ata 7564m.
Seven Volcanic Summits
Climbing the highest peak of volcanic origin on every continent is a unique travel and cultural adventure. Fewer than 30 people have completed this little known mountaineering challenge. This show features ascents of: Ojos del Salado (6893m) in Chile, Kilimanjaro (5895m) in Tanzania, Damavand (5671m) in Iran, Elbrus (5642m) in Russia, Pico de Orizaba (5610m) in Mexico, Giluwe (4368m) in PNG, and Mount Sidley (4285m) in Antarctica.
The Seven Summits Challenge
In a mountain guiding career spanning over 30 years, David has led numerous expeditions climbing each of the ‘7 summits’ multiple times. He is able to give a unique perspective on climbing some of the world’s best known and most popular mountains: Everest (8,848m) in Nepal, Aconcagua (6,961m) in Argentina, Denali (6194m) in Alaska, Kilimanjaro (5,895m) in Tanzania, Elbrus (5,642m) in Russia, Vinson (4,892m) in Antarctica, and Carstensz (4,884m) in Indonesia.
Adventure Talks: Ski Projects
TransAlp Ski
The story of the world’s greatest ski expedition. This is a day-by-day account of a multi-year ski tour following the entire arc of the European Alps from Menton on the French Mediterranean coast to Vienna. The route follows high mountain trails and passes along the crest of Europe’s highest mountain chain frequently crossing the frontiers of France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria. This was a journey of 102 stages completed over 129 days covering 2,113km with 115,058m ascent.
Trans-Pyrenees Ski
This is an account of the first winter crossing of the Pyrenees by a British team, completed in 2020. The journey started on the Mediterranean coast in mid-January aiming to reach the Atlantic by late March. Over the course of the expedition the two skiers encountered a huge range of challenging weather and snow conditions. The journey of 44 stages was completed over 63 days, covering 724km with 54,000m of ascent.
Karakoram Ski Traverse
The story of the first-ever ski crossing of the Karakoram Himalaya from Hunza to Baltistan via the high peaks and passes of the Pakistan-China frontier. This demanding 37day journey covering over 260km, was completed by a 6 person team in the Spring of 2004. The description of this journey is interwoven with historical details of the 'Great Game' explorers who first visited this region at the end of the 19th Century, discovering many of the high passes on the Karakoram watershed.
Travels with skis
The sport of ski mountaineering combines the commitment of expedition climbing with the exhilaration of downhill skiing. In a career spanning more than 30 years David Hamilton has led numerous challenging ski expeditions around the world. Highlights include: Norway (Jotunheimen & Lyngen), Europe (Alps & Corsica), Russia (Elbrus 5642m & Caucasus Traverse), Turkey (Ararat 5137m & Ala Dag), Iran (Damavand 5671m), Alaska (Denali 6124m), China (Muztagh Ata 7546m), Karakoram, (Biafo/Hispar & Shimshal to Hushe), Antarctica (South Pole and Mt Vinson).
Adventure Talks: Antarctica
Mount Vinson Ski Expedition
David Hamilton has climbed Antarctica’s highest peak, Mt Vinson (4892m) 23 times. This is the story of self-supported 2 man ski expedition in 2010. Over the course of 14 days the team travelled over 90km and climbed three of Antarctica’s highest peaks: Mt Vinson (4892m), Mt Shinn (4611m) and Mt Rutford (4477m).
Journey to the South Pole
David Hamilton has led 5 ski groups to the South Pole. Each of these ‘last degree’ journeys travelled form 89° South to the Pole, a distance of 111km. This talk covers the practicalities of ski travel on the Antarctic Plateau at an altitude of over 3000m where temperatures drop below -30°C, and concludes with a look at the facilities of the USAP Amundsen-Scott base at the South Pole.
Antarctic Life
Highlights of working in Antarctica for 15 seasons with the ALE operation at Patriot Hills, Union Glacier, Mount Vinson and the South Pole. This talk gives an insight into providing logistic and support services to scientists, tourists, climbers and skiers visiting Antarctica. This is a behind the scenes look at how a 60 person staff team operate an Antarctic base for a three month season each year and look after more than 400 visitors.
Business presentations
This talk can be tailored to suit a variety of different business audiences. Illustrated with dramatic photographs of climbing Mt Everest the talk concentrates on the skills and aptitudes which climbers need to succeed on the world's highest peaks and draws parallels with the factors which contribute to success in a modern business environment.