Top Kiwi Mountaineer invited to prestigious mountain fest

11th June 2012

Top Kiwi Mountaineer invited to prestigious mountain festival

Kiwi Alpinist and Mountaineer, Pat Deavoll, has been asked to speak at the prestigious Banff Mountain Film & Book Festival, in November. Pat's autobiographical book “Wind from a Distant Summit” has gained plaudits and praise both in New Zealand and internationally. For a first-time author, Pat will be in illustrious company at Banff. Sir Chris Bonnington, Reinhold Messner, Joe Simpson, and Jon Krakauer are former speakers at the festival. This speaks to the esteem and regard to which Pat's writing is held around the world.

New Zealand Alpine Club General Manager Sam Newton said, "Pat's book is a social commentary offering a fantastic insight into the elite level of extreme, high-altitude alpinism.”

“Only a handful of people can climb at that level. Even fewer can convey the experience through good writing. That is why Pat is invited to such events and why we are lucky to have her at the club,” he said.

Of the invitation, Pat said she was, “Very surprised and very honoured to be invited to do this. Especially in view of the other authors speaking - Stephen Venables, Simon Yates, Andy Kirkpatrick."

"It is also really pleasing to know that my book has been taken seriously in the international field of mountain literature.”

Pat was raised on a farm in North Canterbury and educated in Christchurch. After becoming one of New Zealand's best whitewater kayakers, she worked as an outdoor instructor for many years, before retraining as a journalist. She began mountaineering in her late teens and has climbed at the elite level for decades.

In recent years, Pat has made a habit of mounting trips to the Greater Ranges of Asia. The objective being technically-challenging, first ascents at extreme altitudes.
She continues to undertake extreme mountaineering expeditions to the great ranges of the world. In July this year she will be travelling to remote Wakhan Corridor of North East Afghanistan to climb the unclimbed West face of Rahazon Zom.

Pat currently works as the Activities & Events Coordinator for the New Zealand Alpine Club in Christchurch.

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