Kendal Mountain Festival 2014, November 20-23 – Climbing Gear News

The annual Kendal Mountain Festival will soon be upon us, taking place from the 20th to 23rd November and the 2014 line up promises to be as good as ever, with a super mix of speakers, films and socialising for you to enjoy!

High calibre alpinist, Ueli Steck is confirmed as one of the speakers this year.

 

‘Kendal’ is the biggest event of its type in the world and it’s the main social event for outdoor enthusiasts in the UK. As ever there’ll be hundreds of film screenings including high-profile premieres plus loads of speakers and special guests making this a must-do long weekend in the Lake District.

 

This year an exciting mix of speakers will appeal to travel and adventure fans, armchair alpinists and activist climbers alike. Characters such as Australian adventurer, author and filmmaker Tim Cope who spent the best part of a decade travelling Central Asia by bicycle, boat, skis, horse and camel, turning these experiences into award-winning films and books. And Steve Fisher – three times voted the world’s best all-round kayaker by top pros, the South African paddler and filmmaker has made over 100 ‘first descents’ across the world, including the man-eating Inga Rapids on the Congo.

Uber-alpinist Christophe Profit makes an appearance at this year’s festival.

Climbers will queue to hear uber-alpinist Christophe Profit, the Frenchman who ripped up the mountaineering rule book in the 1980s with a string of ultra-fast ascents across the Alps, almost always without a rope. Then there’s the ‘Swiss machine’ Ueli Steck, past holder of the Eiger North Face speed record – 2hrs 47mins, solo. Ueli has had a busy couple of years to say the least, with stories to tell including his ultra-fast ascent of Annapurna’s South Face and being caught up in the high-altitude Sherpa fracas on Everest.

 

Recounting decades of pioneering through their new books will be three very different personalities: Martin Boysen, Martin Moran and Steve McClure. All three climbing legends will be lecturing and talking about their biographies, sharing their experiences.

The RAB party is ure to provide plenty of opportunities to socialise, sample the local ale and maybe even get on the dance floor!

Together with the art exhibitions, literature, the RAB Party plus the Boardman Tasker literary prize, it promises to be another unmissable year. The organisers say that there are more surprises to come, so watch this space!

 

Dates are 20-23 November with tickets already on sale.

You can buy tickets and view the full programme of speakers and events at the KMF 2014 website.