Kendal Mountain Festival 2011 - Who's There?

© UKC Gear
Kendal Mountain Festival - Ticket Information, Lectures, market research, commercial notices Premier Post, 8 weeks @ GBP 25pw

The line up for this year's Kendal Mountain Festival includes some big names from across the world. We have gone through the programme and looked at all the speakers, events and names involved and the summary is below. As ever this promises to be the biggest social gathering of climbers and mountaineers in the UK calendar so get your tickets early since demand is certain to be high.


Thursday 17 November

KENTON COOL IN CONVERSATION - Thursday 17 November 19:30 to 21:00 - Buy Tickets
With a profile as high as any British mountaineer around today, Kenton Cool's career has seen him guide the vertigo-challenged Ran Fiennes up the North Face of the Eiger, make a remarkable, record-setting nine ascents of Everest and complete the first British ski descent of an 8000m peak. Settling down on the sofa, Kenton will talk about his remarkable climbing career with Stephen Venables.

You can also catch Kenton Cool on Saturday afternoon with his Ski 8000 lecture about skiing two Himalayan giants – Manaslu and Cho Oyu (buy tickets)

photo
Kenton Cool appears twice at KMF 2011!

FREE-FLIGHT NIGHT - Thursday 17 November 19:30 to 22:00 - Buy Tickets
Fresh from an astounding 5th place in his first Red Bull X-Alps, once local boy Jon Chambers presents his story on the epic trans-alpine Paragliding adventure. Expect adrenaline and action from the world of aerial adventure featuring jaw-dropping films from around the planet.


Friday 18 November

Things get really moving on Friday culminating in an excting evening of film premieres and social events. The full programme is here on the KMF web site.

BOARDMAN TASKER AWARD - Friday 18 November 13:00 to 14:30 - buy tickets
Julie Summers in conversation with this year's short-listed authors and the Award Ceremony:

  • Steve 'Crusher' Bartlett - DESERT TOWERS
  • Tim Hannigan - MURDER IN THE HINDU KUSH
  • Bernadette McDonald - FREEDOM FIGHTERS
  • Joe Simpson - THE SOUND OF GRAVITY
  • Ian Smith - SHADOW OF THE MATTERHORN

HUMAN PLANET-MOUNTAIN TALES - Friday 18 November 14:00 to 15:30 - buy tickets
Human Planet is the landmark BBC series that describes man's survival in the most extreme environments. Each episode focuses on how people adapt to their surroundings: oceans, deserts, arctic, jungles, mountains, grasslands, rivers and cities. Series producer Dale Templar has worked at the BBC as a producer and director for over 20 years, specialising in remote locations and she talks about the challenges – and fun – of working in every one of the Human Planet extreme environments.

ENDURANCE SPORTS NIGHT - Friday 18 November 17:30 to 19:30 - buy tickets
Our first Endurance Night kicks off with The Epic Tri:
In April 2011, Ant Emmet and Bruce Duncan set out to complete a huge challenge - The Bob Graham Round: 65 miles, 42 Lakeland summits, 27,000ft climb within 24hrs. The John O'Groats to Lands End cycle ride: 874 miles, 60hrs. The Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race: 125 miles, 77 portages within 24hrs. All of this non-stop. Hear their story, with planetFear's Dave MacFarlane showing clips and out-takes from his film of their attempt.
Also on the agenda for this event is Ben Bardsley, a schoolboy international cross country runner with an unhealthy appetite for BMX biking. Join Ben as he enthuses about two of his favourite adventure racing experiences - the Raid Gauloises, Kyrgyzstan and the Arctic Team Challenge, Greenland.

THE LONG HOPE PREMIERE - Friday 18 November 18:00 to 19:20 - buy tickets
A major premiere film for the Friday night is Paul Diffley (Hot Aches, and winner of the People's Choice Award in 2010 for his film The Pinnacle). The Long Hope is the story of Dave MacLeod and Andy Turner's inspirational first free ascent of The Long Hope Route on Hoy. At 500m this is the UK's biggest cliff combining dodgy rock, puking fulmars and a mind-blowing finale up a leaning headwall. At the premiere will be filmmaker Paul Diffley, Dave MacLeod, Andy Turner, Dave Turnbull and first ascentionist Ed Drummond.

The premiere of the film the Long Hope is on Friday Night at KMF  © Paul Diffley / Hotaches Productions
The premiere of the film the Long Hope is on Friday Night at KMF

You can catch Ed Drummond lecturing on Saturday morning (buy tickets). Also on show in the evening session Ian Mitchell in conversation with Julie Summers about his new book on Alexander Kellas (buy tickets).

BIKE NIGHT - Friday 18 November 20:00 to 22:30 - buy tickets
We are delighted to welcome legendary bike filmmaker Clay Porter to Kendal. Behind the scenes takes, insights into the skills and stories from travels far and wide makes this event unmissable. Clay's fanbase is truly global and this is sure to be sell-out event!

MARMOT NIGHT - Friday 18 November 20:30 to 22:00 - buy tickets
OK, it's not Sue Barker - and he certainly didn't go out with Cliff Richard - but with John Horscroft asking the questions, Kendal's A Question of Climbing really is about one of only two sports that matter (according to Ernest Hemingway, the other one being Bull Fighting). And it's bound to be hilarious. So join John and our teams of celebrity adventurers for an evening of knowledge testing and downright buffoonery.

MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT PUB QUIZ - Friday 18 November 21:00 to 22:30 - ">enter your team

Mountain Equipment Kendal Pub Quiz image

A new Friday night sensation will be the Mountain Equipment Pub Quiz. So get your team of five together and book your ticket for the cosy fug of the Malt Room to meet up with your celebrity team captain. And yes guys, there will be PRIZES. Lots and lots of really good mountain stuff from Mountain Equipment, who are sponsoring Kendal's first ever pub quiz in their 50th Anniversary year (the gear they're giving away won't however, be that old!). The whole shebang will be pulled together by that master of mountaineering mirth Andy Kirkpatrick (who isn't actually sponsored by Mountain Equipment, but he's the funniest guy we all know so who cares!).
Submit your questions to Mick Ryan who is putting the questions together for this event.


Jerry Gore will talk about the Ecrins including his ascent of Unchi Maka (400m 8a) with Gaz Parry  © Jerry Gore
Jerry Gore will talk about the Ecrins including his ascent of Unchi Maka (400m 8a) with Gaz Parry

Saturday 19 November

The Saturday is always the main day of the Festival - lots of lectures, lots of films, lots of people. The main lectures and events are detailed below. A full programme is here on the KMF web site.

MOONFLOWER BUTTRESS - Saturday 19 November 9:30 to 10:30 - buy tickets
Earlier this year top British alpinists Matt Helliker and Jon Bracey headed for Alaska to try a new line on the stupendous Moonflower Buttress of Mt Hunter. It's a huge face in a very remote, committing location. Matt and Jon will pick up the story but you can be sure it wasn't a straightforward objective!
In association with Patagonia

THE ECRINS MASSIF - EXTREME ALPINISM AND AGEING - Saturday 19 November 9:30 to 10:30 - buy tickets
Mountaineer, businessman, father, ex-Royal Marine - Jerry Gore's life has been eventful to say the least. His enduring passion is for big wall climbing with first ascents from Borneo to the Bugaboos. Jerry talks about these experiences and how being diagnosed in 2001 as a diabetic hasn't slowed him down in the slightest. Less well known than the Mont Blanc Massif, the Ecrins is nevertheless a truly great range with lots of potential for exploration and some epic routes. Jerry has not only made these stunningly beautiful mountains his home, but has set about his own personal odyssey to both overcome the debilitating effects of diabetes while undertaking cutting edge, exploratory climbs of great quality on three extreme walls.

Also in the morning session you can cactch renowned Pakistani mountaineer Nazir Sabir talking about his life amongst the Himalayan giants (buy tickets), and Ed Drummond describing some of his great adventures (buy tickets) and an insight into the Alpine Club Library presented by Jerry Lovat (buy tickets).

CHALLENGE 737 - Saturday 19 November 16:00 to 15:30 - buy tickets
On 12 July 2011 Richard Parks made history by becoming the first person to climb the highest summit on each of the world's continents and stand on all three poles - South Pole, North Pole and Everest summit - in the same year. An incredible feat, achieved within seven record-setting months. From South American rainforests to -40C in the Arctic to the hypoxia of Everest, the brutal back-to-back challenges provided the ultimate test of courage, strength and nerve.
In association with Rab

Other afternoon attractions are Kenton Cool wtih his Ski 8000 lecture (buy tickets), K2 Where Extremes Meet with Jim Wickwire (buy tickets), And Peter Berg talking about Edward Whymper (buy tickets).

THE NORTH FACE NIGHT Part 1 - Saturday 19 November 18:00 to 19:30 - buy tickets
After bursting onto the UK climbing scene with impressive technical and bold ascents of several 'last great problems', James Pearson hit the headlines with the first ascent of The Walk Of Life in North Devon, immortalised in the film Committed. James then quit the UK and moved to Austria to concentrate on sport climbing and training, but has recently returned to the UK and applied himself once again to trad climbing with spectacular results such as the first ground-up ascent of Pembroke super-route Muy Caliente (E10). Let one of Britain's most talented and colourful rock climbers give you the inside story about his career, plus his recent trip with Alex Honnold to Chad.
Sponsored by The North Face

Other early evening events for the Saturday include photographer John Beatty who shares his superb images and stories from 25 years of worldwide assignments (buy tickets), plus Cameron McNeish and Richard Else talk and show exclusive footage from BBC Scotland's new series profiling a new long-distance trail from the Scottish border to Cape Wrath (buy tickets).

Lynn Hill is the headline attraction on Saturday evening  © Lynn Hill collection
Lynn Hill is the headline attraction on Saturday evening

SNOWSPORTS NIGHT - Saturday 19 November 18:00 to 19:30 - buy tickets
The legendary Snowsports Night just gets bigger and better. This year we're honoured that ace filmmaker Nick Waggoner from Sweetgrass Productions (Signatures, Hand Cut) is coming across from the USA to present his new film Solitaire along with an insight that makes him the award winning snowsports filmmaker of the moment. Plus as always we'll have the best selection of winter sports entertainment from around the world.

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A FREE CLIMBER - Saturday 19 November 20:00 to 21:30- buy tickets
Lynn Hill is the iconic American climber acknowledged as one of the most accomplished rock athletes in the world. With a gymnast's combination of power, grace and endurance, her impact on the sport is arguably second to no other woman. Described by Ed Douglas as 'the ultimate rock chick', a long list of outstanding achievements culminated in 1993 in the first free ascent of The Nose on El Capitan. Writer Jon Krakauer summed it up: "Lynn Hill isn't just one of the best female climbers in the world, she is among the greatest rock climbers of all time."
In association with Patagonia

THE NORTH FACE NIGHT Part 2 - Saturday 19 November 20:30 to 22:00 - buy tickets
Last winter three alpinists headed to Pakistan with the intention of being the first to climb Gasherbrum II in winter. Simone Moro, Denis Urubko and Cory Richards anticipated that climbing an 8,035 metre giant in the depths of the Himalayan winter might be a tad challenging, but even they had no real conception of how deep they would have to dig into their reserves of strength and motivation to keep moving upwards day after day in freezing temperatures, high winds and dangerous snow conditions. Simone, Denis and Cory are in Kendal to recount this story of total commitment.
Sponsored by The North Face

RAB PARTY - Saturday 19 November 22:00 onwards - buy tickets
The traditional Saturday night party in the Brewery Arts Centre - dance to the best disco in town (rumour has it there will even be some ABBA).
The RAB party is of course sponsored by Rab



Sunday 20 November

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Johnny Dawes and his book are on feature on Sunday

Sunday offers an excellent continuing programme of lectures. For the full programme including venues see the KMF site here.

IMPOSSIBLE WALL - Sunday 20 September 9:30 to 11:00 - buy tickets
Sean Villanueva O'Driscoll, Ben Ditto and brothers Nico and Olivier Favresse describe their Greenland big wall adventures on the yacht Dodo's Delight. Expect laughter, film and music - this team doesn't take serious situations seriously. Boat captain, ex-Royal Marine and chaplain Bob Shepton will also be on hand.
This lecture is sponsored by Black Diamond

Also on show on the Sunday morning is veteran climber Colin Mortlock in conversation with Julie Summers (buy tickets) and Jan Faull with The Great White Silence (buy tickets).

FULL OF MYSELF - Sunday 20 September 12:00 to 13:15 - buy tickets
Johnny Dawes brought E8 to Britain and was an outstandingly elegant and forceful climber creating some of the great lines of the 90s. To do this he became of master of the 'Head Game' and learnt to deal with the complete lack of 'margin of error' that this involved. He's now got around to writing his autobiography – Full of Myself. In a special presentation - followed by a question and answer session hosted by Julie Summers - he'll talk about both his new book and past and continuing adventures, to give a profound insight into what it's really like to be a climber at the cutting edge.

COLD WARS - Sunday 20 September 14:00 to 15:15 - buy tickets
Andy Kirkpatrick talks about his new book, reading excerpts and telling of the climbs and non-climbs behind its writing. A funny and sometimes moving departure from his normal style.

MUST GET ... FITTER, STRONGER AND BETTER - Sunday 20 September 14:00 to 15:15 - buy tickets
Nick Bullock describes two years (2009-2011) of full-time climbing, falling, failing and even a little bit of success. Including two expeditions to Annapurna III in Nepal, Scottish and Welsh winter, summer rock climbing in North Wales and winter new routing in Lofoten, Norway.
Nick's lecture is sponsored by Mountain Equipment

AWARD CEREMONY - Sunday 20 September 18:00 to 19:30
The pinnacle of the weekend - the oscars of the mountain world! Find out who won at this glitzy, star-studded ceremony, hosted by our patrons and generous sponsors. Entry free with any other Festival event ticket.

BEST OF KENDAL - Sunday 20 September 18:00 to 19:30 - buy tickets

The Kendal Mountain Festival 2011

Kendal Mountain Festival - Ticket Information, Lectures, market research, commercial notices Premier Post, 8 weeks @ GBP 25pw

HOW TO BOOK TICKETS

The dates are 17 to 20 November and tickets are available now. Book online - www.mountainfest.co.uk - or by phone 01539 725133 - news as it happens at www.mountainfest.co.uk

ACCOMMODATION

Easily accessible from the M6 and by train and there are plenty of accommodation options in and around the town but you need to be on your toes as they fill up very quickly over the Mountain Festival weekend.

For all your questions, accommodation and travel needs go to www.golakes.co.uk here you will find all the information you should need for your visit to Cumbria, alternatively call the accommodation booking line on 0845 450 1199.

www.mountainfest.co.uk

Kendal Mountain Festival Sponsors 2011  © KMF
Kendal Mountain Festival Sponsors 2011



26 Sep, 2011
Pretty sure Pearson's Walk Of Life was in Committed Vol. II not E11...
26 Sep, 2011
geek! Although I did think that maybe didn't make sense as it's a benchmark E12.
26 Sep, 2011
Yeah mate, super geek me!!! WOOOOOPEEEEEE!!!

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