Trailblazing Women top the Bill at the Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain Festival
Tuesday 19th Feb 2008 10:21:43
A trio of fearless females will join the line-up at this year’s Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain Festival from 14 to 18 May 2008.
The action-packed event will feature talks from some of the most celebrated explorers from around the globe, as well as opportunities to get involved in your own adventure – whether it’s walking, climbing, mountain biking or water sports.
Among the speakers at Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake will be three amazing women – Dervla Murphy, Jo Gambi and Justine Curgenven. Each has conquered amazing heights and each has a very different story to tell.
Dervla Murphy is an Irish nurse turned travel writer, who has ventured to some of the most remote landscapes in the world - on bicycle, pony or foot.
She set off on her first solo trip from Dublin to Delhi in 1963 armed only with one change of clothes, a toothbrush and a .25 automatic pistol in her backpack.
Since then she has explored Madagascar, Nepal, and Africa, often encountering life-threatening situations - including being attacked by wolves in the former Yugoslavia and running into Kalashnikov-toting soldiers in Ethiopia.
She will be interviewed on stage at the festival by the Chairman of the Wainwright Society and presenter of Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, Eric Robson.
Eric says: “Dervla is a truly formidable woman – she’s nearing her eighties yet has lost none of her spirit for travel and adventure. She reminds us all that life is for living.”
Award-winning adventure film maker and expedition kayaker Justine Curgenven will premiere a new documentary charting her toughest challenge to date – sea kayaking 1700 miles around New Zealand’s South Island.
Justine started out only last month (January), together with Barry Shaw, and hopes to complete the circumnavigation in April, just a month before her appearance at the Keswick Mountain Festival.
She says: “This is one of the most challenging circumnavigations that can be undertaken in a kayak. The swell on the south and west coasts rarely drops below 2 metres, with hundreds of miles between sheltered landings. Gales are common and can arrive quickly, so we have to expect many surf landings and launchings.”
If she is successful she will be the first woman to complete the epic journey. Either way, she will share the highs and lows of her adventure in a film that will also show the stunning scenery and wildlife of New Zealand’s South Island.
Also speaking at the festival is Jo Gambi who entered the Guinness World Records for the fastest female ascent of the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. She is also only the second British woman to have climbed Everest’s North/North East Ridge.
Even more remarkably she tackled the Seven Summits alongside her husband Rob whilst he was in remission from cancer for the second time.
In spite of many setbacks and facing death high in the Himalayas, they persevered and fulfilled their dreams. Jo will reveal their very moving and romantic story of survival with words and pictures.
Martin Lankester from the Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain Festival says: “We’re proud to have such a fantastic set of speakers who promise to thrill, move and entertain festival audiences. These three women sum up the essence of the festival. Their determination and grit in the face of real danger is awe-inspiring.”
With increased sponsorship from Jennings Brewery, this year’s mountain festival is packed full of opportunities to enjoy your own adventure.
Expert guides will also help visitors to follow in Wainwright’s footsteps on the high fells like Scafell Pike or on more gentle walks through the lowland valleys. Other activities will include canoeing, climbing and navigation courses.
New additions to this year’s event include a Bike Village and an Activity Base on the shores of Derwent Water where you can experience a flavour of what’s on offer at The Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain Festival.
The many other activities will include canoeing, climbing and navigation courses.
Tickets for the talks are on sale from the Theatre by the Lake by phoning 017687-74411. A full programme of activities can be found at www.keswickmountainfestival.co.uk.
