Chris BONINGTON (Sir)

Born in Hampstead, UK, in 1934, Sir Chris Bonington has spent decades climbing the world’s mountains. His desire for adventure began early on with a trip to Dublin when he climbed his first peak, The Little Sugar Loaf (335m), in 1951. In the ‘50s he started putting up new routes in Britain and especially the Avon Gorge near Bristol where he opened up the big Main Wall with routes called Macavity 1955 and Malbogies 1957. In 1958 he completed the first British ascent of the South West Pillar of the Dru above Chamonix in the French Alps. In early 1960 Chris was part of the successful joint-services expedition to Annapurna II (7,937m). A year later he went to Chamonix to make the first ascent of the Central Pillar of Freney. In 1962 he and Ian Clough became the first Britons to climb the North Wall of the Eiger. Chris’s career as a photo-journalist blossomed in that decade. In 1975 he led the expedition to summit Mount Everest from the Southwest face. In 1977 he summited the Ogre, with Doug Scott. In 1983 Chris made the first ascent of the West Summit of Shivling (6,501m) in the Garhwal Himalaya in India and in 1985 reached the summit of Everest in the company of a Norwegian Expedition. In 1990 Chris joined forces with the sailor Robin Knox-Johnston and went on an expedition to Greenland.

In 1996 Chris was knighted for his services to sport and in acknowledgement of everything he had given back to the environment that had nurtured his career.

Chris made his home in Cumbria forty years ago. It is in Cumbria that most of Chris’ major expeditions were planned, and it is to Cumbria that he returned after triumphs and tragedies. Chris is an honorary life Vice-President of the Campaign for National Parks and Ambassador for the YHA. He is also involved in charities that support some of the least fortunate members of society.