Chris Bonington
A Mountaineer, Writer, Photographer and Professional Speaker
Chris, the mountaineer, writer, photographer and lecturer, started climbing at the age of 16 in 1951. It has been his passion ever since. Chris Bonington is a highly successful expedition leader with an established reputation as an outstanding motivational speaker. He uses the superbly illustrated story of his two major expeditions to Everest as a case study that is linked and tailored to the needs of the client.
Chris Bonington is one of the most successful expedition leaders in the history of mountaineering and has established a reputation as an outstanding motivational speaker. He uses the superbly illustrated story of his two major expeditions to Everest as a case study that is linked and tailored to the needs of the client.
He has spoken to companies and organisations around the world and is a visiting lecturer at Craneld School of Management. He was honoured with the Founders Medal of The Royal Geographical Society in 1974, the CBE in 1976 and a Knighthood in 1996. He has held many honorary appointments and currently is President of the British Orienteering Federation and LEPRA (The British Leprosy Charity), Honoury President of Mountain Wilderness, a Trustee of Outward Bound, Chairman of its Risk Management Committee, Chancellor Designate of Lancaster University, Chancellor Designate 2005 onwards and Deputy Lieutenant of Cumbria 2004 onwards. He is also Chairman of Berghaus, Britains leading Outdoor manufacturer.nHe has presented many television programmes including the award winning Everest Years, Lakeland Rock and The Climbers and has written fourteen much acclaimed books, all of which have been bestsellers.
In 1970 he led the expedition that made the rst ascent of the South Face of Annapurna and in 1975 achieved another rst on Everest the Hard Way, up its huge South West Face. Four strong expeditions had tried and failed. He reached the summit of Everest in 1985 at the age of fty but the challenges that now attract him are the few exciting unclimbed peaks that are left in the Worlds further ranges.