Everest - Top Of The M6...

Just in case it hasn't sunk in yet, this year is the 50th Anniversary of the first ascent of Everest by Hilary and Tenzing and to commemorate it, the Helly Hansen National Mountaineering Exhibition will be showing what it says is 'the largest ever collection of Everest material'.

The Rheged-based exhibition is going to have a major makeover and from May this year will be themed 'Everest - the top of the world'. It is, says Chris Bonington, 'absolutely right that it is Britain's own National Mountaineering Exhibition that should be leading the worldwide celebration of the first ascent of the world's highest mountain.'

Bonington, who led the expedition which first climbed the mountain's SW Face and later summited himself by the normal route, characterises Everest as 'both an amazing mountain and a peculiarly British love affair.'

The re-vamped exhibition will combine original artifacts, graphics, photography and film to tell the mountain's story. Visitors will also have the chance to take part in a competition to win a trek to Everest Base Camp with KE Adventure Travel. Younger visitors will be able to win a day out in the Lakes with Chris Bonington and his notoriously dodgy navigation (though we didn't tell you that last bit, okay?)

During May and June there's also an Everest Lecture Festival in Rheged's own auditorium with a series of talks from Everest mountaineers and experts including members of the 1953 expedition, Bonington, Doug Scott, Rebecca Stephens and Steven Venables.