Ben Tibbetts is a Chamonix based alpinist, artist and adventure photographer who shoots in some of the most demanding conditions on the planet and works with some of the most successful brands in the industry.

His latest book 'Cabin Wild' is a stunning portrait of alpine bivouac huts scattered across the Alpine arc, brought to life through over 500 photographs and vivid, first-hand stories of adventure and discovery. Blending immersive mountain photography with accounts of alpine history, hut life, and the enduring bond between these remote shelters and the landscapes they inhabit.

Ben is an IFMGA certified mountain guide and has worked in extreme locations across the Antarctic, climbed many of the largest faces of the Alps and made first descents of steep ski lines both in the Mont Blanc massif and in Greenland, his extensive climbing experience enables him to move and shoot adeptly in exposed terrain with skilled partners and athletes.

Between expeditions to the Antarctic and Greenland Ben has spent much of the last decade on an epic project to climb and photograph the 82 highest peaks in the Alps for “ALPENGLOW” a large format book of photographs, stories and drawings describing “The Finest Climbs on the 4000m Peaks of the Alps” while also publishing the guidebook format “The 4000m Peaks of the Alps – Volume 1 : West”, a lavishly illustrated guidebook for alpine climbing and ski mountaineering, with detailed diagrams and comprehensive information on every route. Ben has climbed nearly all the routes, and brings a wealth of personal knowledge and experience to this topo.

More information on Ben and his books is available at bentibbetts.com and instagram.com/bentibbettsphotography

In part 2 Steve & Neil leave the training chat behind in part 1 and chat more broadly on new routes, where climbing is headed and Steve's climbing history.
Truly one of the greats of climbing, Steve McClure is one of the best rock-climbers in the world... having climbed the hardest sport route in the UK at 9b, numerous new routes at the grade of 9a and onsighted many at 8b+.
Despite being better known for his sport climbing achievements, Steve is no stranger to trad climbing with ascents of Lexicon, le Voyage, Nightmayer onsight to name a few.

Truly one of the greats of climbing, Steve McClure is one of the best rock-climbers in the world... having climbed the hardest sport route in the UK at 9b, numerous new routes at the grade of 9a and onsighted many at 8b+.
Despite being better known for his sport climbing achievements, Steve is no stranger to trad climbing with ascents of Lexicon, le Voyage, Nightmayer onsight to name a few.
In Part 1, Neil chats to Steve on aspects of his climbing and different approaches to training.