Recorded for The Beckoning Silence DVD Extras, Sir Chris Bonington describes his experiences on the Eiger North Face. I claim no ownership or copyright on this material and provide for educational purposes only.
I could listen to Chris speak on mountains without end. Both he and Messner, in very different ways, have any amazing talent of climbing but also conveying the journey and almost taking you there. I can hear and feel the snow crunching and the axes chipping into the ice as they level themselves up - mesmerising.
I met Chris a few months ago absolutely a brilliant speaker could have listened to him for days he was happy to pose for photographs and sign autographs a real gentleman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Chris always talks so eloquently and pleasingly about mountaineering. I get everything he says, the addiction is natural and understood whenever fear is involved (which is a healthy surviving instinct) adrenaline is addictive, it just is. Not wanting to paint a sarcastic picture but addicts don't quit when they see their friends die, and i don't mean just mountaineering but all forms of addiction. I used to do windsurfing and while nowhere as dangerous as mountaineering, it can be a bit scary on the ocean in high wind and currents. But it seems progress especially mental progress requires challenge. I won't get into mountaineering because i don't find the rewards worth the risks. Especially i don't like how much of it is random like being at the wrong place at the wrong time. There are just too many examples of it. I am quite happy to observe mountains from afar :)
As far as I know [I could be wrong] he lived for a long time in Hesket Newmarket which is North Lakes. It's getting on for Carlisle which is nearly Northumberland lol!
