Mallory Man To Speak At Kendal Film Festival

Top American mountaineer, Conrad Anker, will be appearing at the Kendal Mountain Film Festival in November to - and we quote - 'answer his critics and lay old ghosts to rest'.

Despite some serious climbing credentials, Anker is probably best known in the UK for his involvement in the expedition that discovered the body of George Mallory high on Everest.

One of the party who actually found Mallory and searched him for personal effects, Anker wrote a book describing the expedition - The Lost Explorer: Finding Mallory on Mt. Everest - and has been subjected to extensive criticism by those who regard the incident as grave robbing. Anker himself has experienced personal tragedy with the death of his climbing partner and close friend Alex Lowe in an avalanche.

As the Festival release puts it: 'Presenting a lecture on Everest at 8pm at Rheged on 13th November as part of the Festival Weekend, 12-16 November, Anker is ready to answer to his critics on the 'grave robbery' of Mallory's body, as well as explaining how the terrible punishment meted out to him in the death of Alex Lowe has been laid to rest - in a rather unusual way.'

If you want to know more about Conrad Anker, check out this profile on the Outside web site. See also Conrad Anker.com.

Regular updates about the festival and tickets are available on www.mountainfilm.co.uk or from the Brewery Arts Centre on 01539 725133. Prices from £6 to £50.

See previous OM articles below for more details.