The warm autumn came to a dramatic halt with snow falling in Derbyshire. Personally I’d have feet of the stuff all winter, but the forecast was for a warming weekend, yet it still set me alight for the Kendal Mountain Festival. Snow and Ice are my favourite things, and to see the festival under a blanket of the white stuff would be wonderful. The Lake District escaped the dump however and though initially cold, there was nothing to kick underfoot.
I took the train north and walked into the town where every year, the world’s mountaineering and climbing community meet to share their work, experiences and films. I always feel a little flat in the few days beforehand, but the request to open Kendal Christmas Lights soon picked up my energy. Marching drum bands, stilt walkers, choirs and dancers were surrounded by huge crowds as the Mayor switched on the lights in town. I still feel it’s far too early for Slade, but everyone sang along..!
The film festival proper (for me anyway), began on the Friday morning in the Brewery Arts Theatre with the film collection – Climb Red. Climber Jamie Logan and Film Makers Kate White and Tom Burke joined me on stage and my energy levels continued to grow.
Base Camp grows and grows, and I prefer to visit before it turns into a scrum. There were so many friends – old and new, supporters such as Grangers and Terra Nova Extremities, old friends from Ordnance Survey, The London Mountain Film Festival, Glacier Books – the list goes on. I spent an afternoon just enjoying good company and promoting the coming documentary ‘Frostbitten’, which I hope to bring to the world’s Mountain Film Festivals next year. Support has been wonderful and my thanks goes to everyone who is getting behind the project.
My Friday ended with the wonderful film ‘Amka”. In 2001, Polar Explorer, Lonnie Dupre and his partner John Hoelscher circumnavigated Greenland. It took them five years to complete the project, traveling the northern half by dog-team and the southern half by kayak. A circumnavigation of Greenland had never been completed before and has not been repeated since. In 2022, Lonnie returned to Greenland for the first time since his circumnavigation to assemble a dog team, train them and travel with them, alongside Inuit hunters throughout northwest Greenland. Amka, meaning “one with a friendly spirit” in Inuktun, is the story of this return to Greenland.
What impressed me with the film, besides the stunning views, the people and the dogs, were the open signs of traditional inuit life. Hunting is part of their life. We in the western world can be squeamish about such subjects, and I feel we have become disconnected from where our food comes from. I’m a hunter myself and know exactly what I eat, but I also have to deal with the mess. Buying fodder from a plastic box and insisting it’s dirt cheap, does nothing for our connection with the food we eat.
Storm Bert arrived with a vengeance on Saturday morning. The security fencing around base camp collapsed, water was dripped through every venue as folk ran through the downpours, but we’re outdoor folk and should be used to this..!
I opened Climb Red again to huge applause and screams for the audience, before I donned my best corduroy breeches, long socks and shirt for the opening of Henry Iddon and Max Leonards Book ‘Mountain Style’. It was a hugely enjoyable and informative event, combined with the launch of the book, which I’m in..! Henry asked if I had any images of old Montane kit, which he used in the book. I brought the Chonos Smock out of my wardrobe and modelled it on stage. I’m just glad after all these years, that I can still get in it..!
Sunday dawned with a relaxing air, and I caught up with friends from my 94A Raleigh International expedition to Chile. The festival is a melting pot of the outdoor world and it was great to spend time with Tim and Jayne. We may creak a little these days, but still wear huge smiles as we reminisce about times gone by.
My finale was to present two sessions of the Best of Kendal, which took me late into Sunday evening. As a presenter, we have to be prepared. A file corruption took one show down for a few minutes, and it was my job to keep everyone happy and entertained. It’s what we do as for many, presenters are the face of the festival. Thankfully everything from then on went without a hitch and it was time to put what’s left of my feet up and look back on another crazy weekend.
See you next year..?