The Quest: Malcolm Bass

 

Narrative

On today’s episode of The Firn Line, we’ll get to know UK-based alpinist, Malcolm Bass.  Over the course of a 30 year alpine career, Malcolm has pushed the limits of exploration of the mind, and the mountains.

From early caving expeditions in his university years, across unclimbed walls of rock and ice in the fabled Alaska Range, to a string of monumental ascents in the Himalaya, Malcolm epitomizes the character and spirit of a true alpinist.

I recently got a chance to talk with Malcolm about his life in the mountains, the friendships he’s forged along the way, as well as the other components in his life he finds meaningful.

Music

• Lonely Mountain / Evan Phillips / Silhouettes (2015)
• Isis / Evan Phillips / Unreleased (2017)
• The Prey / Evan Phillips /  Unreleased (2018)
• Air Below / Evan Phillips /Unreleased (2018)
• Astro Magnet / Evan Phillips /Unreleased (2018)
• The Search / Evan Phillips / Unreleased (2017)

Links

Evan Phillips
Patreon

Sponsors

Alaska Rock Gym
Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria
The Hoarding Marmot
Behind The Sun Therapeutics

Malcolm (front) and Simon Yearsley on the summit of Yogeshwar (6700m, Garwhal, India) after first ascent of south face with Julian Clamp (photo) on their first trip to the Himalaya in 1992
Malcolm leading on the first ascent of Distant Lights south face of Kahiltna Queen/Humble Peak 2003 with Simon Yearsley
Malcolm (lower) and Paul Figg on the second day on Janhukot c 6000m. Photo: Guy Buckingham.
Paul Figg making the last few moves to the summit of Janhukot. Photo: Malcolm Bass
Malcolm prioritising photography over rope work as Paul reaches the summit of Janhukot. Photo: Guy Buckingham
Malcolm (black helmet) and Paul Figg celebrate reaching the summit of Janhukot. Photo:Guy Buckingham
Malcolm gets a good weather forecast on the Inreach at Janhukot base camp 2018. Photo: Hamish Frost