Kevin Sene mountain heritage trust
The Mountain Heritage Trust
Kevin Sene describes their presentation at the Blencathra weekend
During this year’ s weekend, we were pleased to welcome David( Monty) Monteith to give a presentation on the Mountain Heritage Trust, along with fellow trustee Malcolm Jackson.
The Trust was founded in 2000 and is based in the grounds of the Field Studies Council’ s Blencathra centre. In addition to the head office, facilities include a library of mountaineering literature and a temperature-controlled archive that houses some of the most significant material on British climbing and mountaineering in the UK, Alps, Himalaya and the other great ranges.
“ From the first rock climbs on Napes Needle, to daring first ascents in the Greater Ranges, and incredible feats of competitive athleticism; the Mountain Heritage Trust archive of films, images, books and artefacts echoes with some of Britain’ s most iconic achievements and its boldest personalities.”
( From the Mountain Heritage Trust website.)
After an introduction to the Trust, we then had a chance to look at examples of the kit that climbers and mountaineers once relied on just a few decades ago. These included a length of hemp rope, an early wooden shafted ice axe, wool climbing breeches, hobnailed boots, and a pair of slip-on
Part of the Mountain Heritage Trust’ s library( credit: Mountain Heritage Trust)
PHOTOGRAPH Chris Howes: Monty who gave the talk has an impressive background in climbing, walking and skiing in the British Isles, Antarctica, Africa, the European Alps, New Zealand, Norway, and the USA, and is a former Director of Mountain Safety and Training at Mountaineering Scotland.
black gym shoes, once de rigueur for rock climbing.
We then split up into two groups for a tour of the library and archive. In addition to an impressive array of books, journals, magazines and images, the library houses collections from some of Britain’ s greatest climbers, including Joe Tasker and Sir Chris Bonnington, who is a patron of the Trust. Many OWPG members will be familiar with the Boardman-Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature established to commemorate the life of Joe Tasker and his climbing companion Peter Boardman.
In the archive, in addition to a large collection of ice axes, crampons and other climbing paraphernalia, historically significant items included clothing worn by Sir Chris Bonington, Doug Scott and Pete Boardman on expeditions, equipment from the 1975 Mount Everest expedition including Dougal Haston’ s oxygen equipment, and a prototype of the Whillans Box Tent. And there were some surprises too, such as a display of climbing wall models used for the design of early climbing walls.
Overall, then, a
fascinating visit, and one which generated a lot of discussion, particularly from some of our members with distinguished climbing backgrounds themselves.
Monty and Malcolm noted that OWPG members are very welcome to visit the library and archive by prior arrangement to help with their research, such as on books, magazine articles and videos. And if any
Some archive items brought along to the talk
member has any historically significant documents, photographs, diaries or equipment they wish to donate, please do get in touch.
Longer term, the Trust has ambitious plans to develop the library and archive further and as a charity would welcome donations to support this ongoing work and help in spreading the word, such as at climbing clubs and venues. The website for donations and further information is: https:// www. mountain-heritage. org
Winter 2025 OUTDOOR FOCUS 7