Top Picks for Kendal Mountain Festival 2016

© Kendal Mountain Festival

The trailer for Kendal Mountain Festival was released this morning; a nice change of pace from world affairs. This made us all extremely excited about the prospect of a weekend in Kendal with fellow climbers and outdoor enthusiasts. We've compiled a list of the films and events that we're most excited about throughout the festival.

Hard Rock - A Tribute to Ken Wilson - Director: Paul Diffley

Paul Diffley's tribute to one of climbing's most prolific publishers, who sadly passed away earlier this year. Ken reflects on his life, his work and the changes he has seen in the climbing world. One of Ken's most famous books 'Hard Rock' is used as a backdrop, as Steve McClure, Calum Musket and Michaela Tracy pay tribute by climbing a route from the book. A wonderful, , nostalgic look at the golden era of British climbing and a thought-provoking look at a man coming to terms with his dwindling connection with climbing. Playing in the BMC's Breakfast Session on Sunday morning - you'd better rush to get your tickets!

Hard Rock - A tribute to Ken Wilson

Blocheads - Director: Alastair Lee

If you want action, roughly 8ft above the ground, this is the film for you. Alastair Lee follows some of Britain's best boulderers in slow motion, delves into bouldering's somewhat controversial past and captures the horrendously high lines from the current generation. The line up includes Dan Varian, Ned Feehally, Jerry Moffatt, Michaela Tracy and Alex Waterhouse. Blocheads will premiere on Friday 18th Nov and play in the 'Conviction' screenings throughout the festival.

Alex Megos - Rock Phenomenon

Alex is one of the superstars of the modern climbing scene. But before we get into his 'phenomenal sport climbing achievements' we have inside information that he's a very funny bloke. For a German. And that he won't drone on about climbing, we're more likely to hear about his big road trips. Plus he's very keen on Yorkshire Tea. Get your tickets HERE.

Pete Whittaker - El Cap solo; what can possibly go wrong?

Stop Press. Pete Whittaker has ditched Tom Randall and gone to Yosemite by himself. Soloing. He heads to the valley with a new rope-soloing system and a big wall objective in mind. Come and listen to Pete regale us with stories of what will undoubtedly be a huge learning curve. Get your tickets HERE.

Run Forever - Director: Nick Brown

A new documentary from UKClimbing and UKHillwalking featuring Nicky Spinks, a beef farmer from Yorkshire and one of the UK's best fell runners. In 2006, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, turning her world upside down. 'Run Forever' looks at Nicky's inspirational life and her record breaking attempt of a double Bob Graham Round in the Lake District; a 132 mile route, with 54000ft of ascent, that only one person has completed in under 48 hours. Run Forever is playing throughout the weekend in the 'Space' screenings.

Dear Alison - Director: Chris Prescott

A short from UKClimbing made in collaboration with Dark Sky Media. Dear Alison' is a poem featured in the anthology 'No Map Could Show Them' by critically acclaimed poet Helen Mort - a collection of poems centring on women making their mark and forging their own paths throughout history, both in the wilderness and in modern urban life. 'Dear Alison' is a personal tribute written by Helen to the late British mountaineer Alison Hargreaves - a mother, a wife and a talented climber who faced criticism due to her risk taking and her decision to continue climbing as a young mother, before her untimely death on K2 in 1995. Dear Alison is playing throughout the weekend in the 'Vision' screenings.

Link Sar West - Director: Jon Griffith

The story of Link Sar West follows a team of alpinists over the course of four years as they try, and ultimately fail, to make the first ascent of this Karakorum 7000m peak. More than just a story about climbing, the film reveals the harsh realities of what new routing is like in the Karakorum Himalayas - from terrifying storms to illness high up in the mountain. It is also a story about the raw beauty of the mountains in this part of the world, contrasting heavily with epic scenery of humans suffering and finding their mental and physical limits in this unforgiving environment. Shot by photographer Jon Griffith, including never-before-taken aerial footage in these high altitudes, the film promises footage of wild, scary, and remote locations that few have ever seen. Link Sar West is playing in the 'Conviction' screenings throughout the weekend.

Link Sar West  © Jon Griffith
Link Sar West
© Jon Griffith

Kendal Mountain Festival 2016

Kendal Mountain Festival is by far the largest and most varied event of its type in the world - it is also the main social event for outdoor enthusiasts in the UK.

'Kendal' is one of the leading festivals of its kind in the world. It is an internationally-known event, attracting film premieres from around the globe. Film makers, TV producers, adventurers, climbers and world-class lecturers gather to take part in four packed days of the very best films, speakers, books and exhibitions covering all aspects of mountain and adventure sports culture. It is also the main social event for outdoor enthusiasts in the UK and 2016 will be our 17th straight year.

- Book tickets on the KENDAL MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL SITE

- Grab a Film Pass here: FILM PASS


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