The latest news from the Kendal Film Festival is that Kenton Cool will be auctioning the jacket he wore while he was guiding Sir Ranulph Fiennes up the Eiger. The aim of the auction is to raise money for Oxfam - and to provide a dedicated mountain-lover with a smelly jacket:-)
Kenton Cool climbing the Eiger North Face
Cool's Eigerwand jacket will be joined by the jacket Andy Cave wore on Fitzroy's East Face and which kept him alive for a night at the summit without any bivvy gear. It's obviously a nice toasty one, although its place in mountaineering history is probably even more of an attraction.
Cave and Cool are both at pains to point out that the jackets aren't in as-new condition - what, after a mere stroll up the Eiger North Face?:-) - but Granger's have kindly restored them to the best possible condition. So yes, we were joking about it being a smelly jacket…
If you fancy getting your paws on either item, the auction will take the form of a closed bid. All you have to do is write down on a piece of paper how much you'd be willing to pay, and the highest bidder goes home with a famous bit of kit - and the knowledge that the money's going to a good cause. Sounds like a good idea all round.
With a bit of luck there'll be a few more items on offer as well - celebrity socks, famous fleeces, the possibiilities are endless. We'll keep you posted when we hear more from the festival organisers.
Donate your old gear
The auction marks the launch of the Fabric4Life initiative which is a partnership between Granger's and Oxfam.
From now on, you'll be able to take your unwanted mountaineering kit to any Oxfam shop and in return you'll receive a free bottle of Granger's '2-in-1'.
Granger's will then exercise their prowess in the cleaning and re-proofing departments, to restore your old clothing to working condition, so that it can be sold in Oxfam shops around the country. It means that Oxfam raise extra funds and your heaving gear cupboard gets a spring - or autumn - clean, so everyone's happy.
The first Fabric4Life items will go on sale at the Oxfam shop in Kendal during the festival - so get out your pennies and head down there if you need a new jacket but can't afford to buy Kenton Cool's. And if you can't make it to Kendal, he scheme will be coming to an Oxfam shop near you later this autumn.
Mor einformation about the scheme on the Granger's website, and for full details of events at the Kendal Mountain Film festival visit www.mountainfilm.co.uk.
