"Nordwand" revisited....a small Alpine Display

[Heeresbergführer]

Grüß Di' Bergkameraden,

As a 'newbie' in the Lounge, I have a great interest in period mountaineering items. Here's a post I did last year on another forum of my display for the movie "Nordwand"...I look forward to your comments.


Had the great opportunity to see to finally see "Nordwand" on the BIG Screen at a movie theater last week. What a fantastic film! It was being shown in Washington DC as part of a German Film Festival sponsored by the Geothe-Institut-DC. I was invited to provide a display of my 1930-40's mountaineering equipment and clothing for an Alpine Party-Reception after the showing of the film. Here are a few photos of my display:

Berg Heil!
Patrick

 

[nobodyspecial]

Excellent posts and photos, thank you. I loved the movie.

 

[Mr. Godfrey]

Yes Patrick, a fine display.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Mike K.]

Wow! Great collection. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Mr. Godfrey]

Hello Patrick

May I ask where you got the collection of pencil type sketches of equipment, etc that are shown as cards on the left hand side of the first photo, from?

Also what are they from?

They look jolly interesting and would like to see them in more detail, so finding how I may get a copy, etc would help. (unless you kindly uploaded them all here, but that's a big task

Thanks once again for sharing your photos, I love to look at them.

Kind regards
Ian

 

[Oldsarge]

It's chilling to think that men actually succeeded in climbing mountains in gear that 'primitive' (by today's standards). Of course, their casualty rate was nothing to sneeze at but still, they succeeded more often than not. An age of "iron men and manila rope" as it were.

 

[Heeresbergführer]

Grüß Di' Ian und Bergkameraden,

Thanks for the kind remarks. As for the sketches used in my display, they come from various period mountaineering books and manuals (civilian and military) that I have in my collection...mostly German, Austrian, and Swiss techniques.

Berg Heil,

Patrick

 

[DanielJones]

Patrick: On the Reenactment Forum that you belong to I had been a lurker & there was one thread of interest that you might want to post here. I think it was called Project Edelweiss, and it involved the GJ Edeweiss period hike and camping trip. All done in period gear & equipment. Found it quite interesting & informative. I can't recall if you were part of that bit of experimental archaeology or not but maybe if you recall the event you could post some pics here as well with a bit of narrative, or even start a new thread on it. I think that the pictures I recall were from near the end of the thread of your journey in the mountains. Thanks in advance if you decide to share here.

Cheers!

Dan

 

[Mr. Godfrey]

Thank you Patrick.:eusa_clap

Wow, what a great collection you have. I love those sketches and thank you for scanning them. I would have loved to have visited your display and look at you collection.

Maybe one day, you will scan them all for archiving and we can see them all in their full glory.

May I be a real pain and ask if you would be so kind as to make a small list of the books you mention, Title and author, nothing much
pretty please


Danke Schön,

Ian

 

[Heeresbergführer]

Patrick: On the Reenactment Forum that you belong to I had been a lurker & there was one thread of interest that you might want to post here. I think it was called Project Edelweiss, and it involved the GJ Edeweiss period hike and camping trip. All done in period gear & equipment. Found it quite interesting & informative. I can't recall if you were part of that bit of experimental archaeology or not but maybe if you recall the event you could post some pics here as well with a bit of narrative, or even start a new thread on it. I think that the pictures I recall were from near the end of the thread of your journey in the mountains. Thanks in advance if you decide to share here. Cheers! Dan

Servus Dan und Bergkameraden,

Project Edelweiss is a fantastic period mountaineering event. I wasn't able to attend this past July, but I did attend last summer's event in the French Alps. I posted a write-up in the WWII section on this forum:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?54617-Reenacting-10-000-Feet&highlight=Project+Edelweiss

And made a short film about the event:

[video]http://vimeo.com/groups/backpack/videos/25541788[/video]

Look forward to reading your comments.

Berg Heil,

Patrick

 

[Mr. Godfrey]

Beautiful little film, I really enjoyed watching it. Looked like a real good day out.

Two questions Patrick if you don't mind (always the questions :eeek

1a) Where did you get the trousers from (Orginal or repo?) ?
1b) Same for the breeks?

2) How do they compare to modern clothing while climbing and hiking?

It made me want to lose about 6 stone and wish I was 20 years younger so my knees could take it


Thank you for the link and posting.
Regards

 

[Heeresbergführer]

Servus Charles,

1a) Repro trousers...some are Berghose from Lost Battalions, others are M-43 trousers from various makers.

1b) Breeks(???) not familiar with that term, but if you mean the "Bundhose" or "Knickers" (guess that's "undies" in your neck of the woods! ) they are converted surplus Swedish Army wool trousers.

2) As to how they compare with modern clothing while on the go...guess that's a matter of personal preference. I like the wool stuff over most modern items. It's much harder wearing and will last a long time. Biggest disadvantage is weight and compactness. All the old gear is big and heavy which makes the going a little slower, but then you get to take in the views and appreciate the climb longer! I also like to ski in the wools!

As to age, I was the 'Alte Muli' (old mule) of the bunch at 50 years of age with another guy who was 47, the rest of them were in their mid 20's. Plus I made the whole climb up and back with a huge blister on my foot!

Berg Heil,
Patrick

 

[Mr. Godfrey]

Danke Schon, Patrick.

Thanks for the info. Yep, Knickers are my wifes underwear, mine are "pants" in this neck of the woods. You are correct though about the Bundhose, I use that style in moleskin or corduroy for some of my outdoor pursuits, never bothered with a tweed pair for some reason? perhaps now is the time. I must say you and your chums have such style.

Well done to you for that hike with a blister :eusa_clap, I had one like that in Sulawesi once, a two day trek no problem then get the blister, must have taken me three hours to walk three miles (t'was a tad hot) before I could rest it for the night.


I think it would be coming down that would finish my knees off

Thanks again for sharing.