The Asgard Project :: Our objective is to produce a groundbreaking film about the first free ascent of Asgard’s NWface, regarded as one of the most difficult big walls in the world.

Leo Houlding is rapidly building a reputation as the world’s premier adventure climber.  Still in his 20s, he has already set the climbing scene alight with bold ascents, outrageous stunts and ambitious firsts around the globe.  Leo recently completed a major film shoot that saw him reach the top of Everest for the soon to be released drama documentary, The Wildest Dream.  He is now focusing on his next big adventure - the Asgard Project.

A 1400 metres high tower of granite, Mount Asgard is located in a remote glacial region of Baffin Island in Arctic Canada.  Leo’s objective – over two weeks, to plan and complete the first free ascent and flying descent of the north west face.  Achieving this feat will be right at the cutting edge of climbing and adventure.

Every aspect of the Asgard Project will be captured in high definition by award winning film maker Alastair Lee.  Collaborating as a climbing and filming team, Leo and Alastair are determined to both produce a groundbreaking film and achieve an outstanding climbing first.  To make all of this possible, they are being given substantial support by Leo’s main sponsor, Berghaus, and leading mobile communications company Nokia.  A third key member of the project team is another Berghaus sponsored climber, Carlos Suarez, from Spain.  Carlos has known Leo for several years and shares his passion for bold climbing and airborne adventures.

Preparations for Asgard are well underway and Leo has already completed three crucial training expeditions, to Riglos in Spain, Brento in Italy and the world famous Yosemite National Park in the USA.  On each trip, Leo and climbing partners have tackled major big walls and tested and refined the techniques that will make the difference between failure and success on Asgard.

As well as adapting climbing methods and improving his fitness, Leo has been testing an advanced lightweight wing-suit that he plans to use for the descent from the summit of Asgard.  He has also been supplied with some prototypes of new Berghaus products and will be putting them to the test throughout the year.  Every element of the project has to work at an optimum level if there is going to be any chance of Leo achieving his goal.  He’s pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of big wall climbing and, in doing so, he’s increasing the risk of failure, or worse.

Leo Houlding comments:
"For me, this is the greatest challenge I have set myself to date.  I’ve been to the top of the world, suffered career threatening injury and completed some amazing adventures, but the Asgard Project is going to test me more than anything that has gone before.  To succeed, everyone in the team will have to be at the very top of their game from start to finish and I’m under no illusions that this is going to be extra dangerous.

The style of climbing, the equipment we are using, the nature of the descent and the speed at which we will be doing everything – all of those factors add to the risk.  Not only that, but the region is polar bear territory, so we’ll have to make sure we stay off their menu, which is an added worry.  But the training has gone really well so far and I can’t wait to get started on the main objective.”

Leo, Alastair, Carlos and the team will head to Asgard during August and regular progress updates will be appearing on www.theasgardproject.com throughout the expedition.

Berghaus athletes Leo Houlding, Sir Chris Bonington, and Mick Fowler are among the greatest living adventurers, according to national newspaper the Telegraph.

The three athletes were acknowledged in the Telegraph’s ‘top 20 great British adventurers’, in recognition of the new boundaries they have set, and genuine firsts they have achieved in their respective careers. 

Climbing protégé Leo Houlding takes eighth place within the top ten.  Leo is cited as ‘a pioneer of para-alpinism – climbing huge rock faces then BASE jumping back down again’. Leo goes on to describe the sport as ‘…bloody dangerous and highly addictive.’

Sir Chris takes second place on the list of leading adventurers.  Described as ‘arguably the most prolific climber of the world’, his first ascents and exploration of unknown mountains has secured his place among the elite.

We’re sure that Leo’s expedition to climb Mount Asgard will help confirm his as a truly great British adventurer.

World famous Berghaus sponsored athlete Leo Houlding has announced an expedition to climb Mount Asgard on Baffin Island which will push the boundaries of extreme climbing.

For most of the year the fjords on Baffin Island are filled with frozen sea ice, but for a short period in the summer the ice melts and with 24 hours of daylight the area becomes a climbers paradise with mile high granite walls and spectacular scenery.

To reach Mount Asgard Leo and his team will trek 30 miles across Baffin Island in the Arctic Circle carrying 25kg of equipment.  The team will then climb the mountain without using artificial aids which could take up to two weeks, during which time the team will live on hanging port-a-ledges.

The team will then descend and Leo and one member of the team will then attempt the extraordinary feat of climbing the same route in just a single day.

Leo is now training hard having already completed a training climb in Riglos, Spain, with fellow Berghaus athlete Carlos Suarez in which they climbed and base jumped off two 300m towers. Leo commented:

‘The Asgard project has begun with a flying start. We have completed the first phase in Riglos, where we exceeded our expectations and set the perfect tone for rest of the project.’

The expedition will take place from 30 July – 8 Sept and there will soon be a micro-site set up to follow the expedition’s progress.

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