Berghaus to host an evening of outdoor film premieres (including Bonington: Mountaineer) and a night navigation course at this year’s Kendal Mountain Festival
Berghaus is lining up a packed programme for its role in this year’s Kendal Mountain Festival (KMF). As well as presenting two major film premieres, the brand is giving visitors to the festival the opportunity to experience night navigation with endurance runners, meet other big names from the outdoor world, and win an adventure in the Berghaus Hub at the festival. The KMF will run from 16-19 November.
Outdoor films
On Friday 17 November, Berghaus will host an evening of film premieres in the Brewery Arts Centre. First up at 5.00pm will be the world premiere of The Berghaus Dragon’s Back Race, which tells the story of this year’s remarkable 300km race down the spine of Wales. Broadcaster and writer Mary-Ann Ochota – part of the crew that made the documentary – will introduce the film and afterwards chair a Q&A session featuring some of the leading participants.
Next up, at 6:30pm, will be the UK premiere of Bonington: Mountaineer, a major new biopic of Sir Chris Bonington by renowned filmmakers Brian Hall and Keith Partridge. The film looks back over Sir Chris’s long and illustrious career, from his rock-climbing days in the UK through to ground-breaking ascents on the high peaks of the Himalaya and more recent adventures, including his return to climb the Old Man of Hoy at the age of 80.
Following the premiere, Sir Chris will join Keith Partridge on stage for a Q&A session chaired by author and journalist Ed Douglas.
Night navigation
Later the same night, visitors can take part in a one-off night navigation course with Berghaus athlete Steve Birkinshaw and 2017 Berghaus Dragon’s Back Race stars Sabrina Verjee and Joe Faulkner. Birkinshaw won the race in 2012 and then went on to set a record for completing the Wainwrights in 2014. Verjee finished second in the 2017 women’s race, while Faulkner is the only person to have earned four coveted ‘Dragons’, having completed every race, including the first event in 1992.
Everyone who takes part in the night navigation will be given a free drink afterwards in Kendal’s Fell Bar and there will be opportunities to test out some of the new Berghaus products that will be in store in early 2018.
Meet and greet
Over the weekend of Kendal Mountain Festival, the Berghaus Hub in the festival’s Basecamp Village will bring different aspects of adventure to life, with workshops, Q&A sessions, and the chance for one person to win an expedition prize worth £2,500. The workshops will be led by a variety of experts, from Berghaus product designers to filmmakers, rope riggers and expedition planners.
One entry will be chosen at random on Sunday 19 November, and the winner will win an expedition to one of four iconic global locations. Throughout the weekend, the Berghaus Hub will also host book signings and ‘meet and greets’ with the likes of Sir Chris Bonington, Steve Birkinshaw and others.
For full details and timings of Berghaus activities at Kendal Mountain Festival and to book a place on the night navigation event, keep an eye on the Berghaus website, visit the Berghaus Facebook page, and follow @TheRealBerghaus (Twitter) and @berghausofficial (Instagram). To book tickets for Kendal Mountain Festival events, visit www.mountainfest.co.uk.
