‘Death Zone’ mountaineer Nirmal Purja to headline Fort William Mountain Festival
Fort William Mountain Festival 2020 has announced that a 36-year-old Nepalese mountaineer and former Gurkha in the British Special Forces, Nirmal Purja MBE, will headline the festival with a truly inspirational talk.
The mountaineer will talk about his Herculean achievement where he summited all 14 ‘death zone’ mountains (over 8,000 metres) in a record-obliterating six months.
In its 16th year, organisers of the Fort William Mountain Festival will once again stage a stunning line-up packed full of inspiration, education and entertainment, action and adventure, at venues in and around the bustling Highland town of Fort William, at the heart of the Outdoor Capital of the UK, from Wednesday to Sunday, February 19 to 23, 2020.
The programme includes presentations from world-class outdoor adventurers, adrenaline-filled and thought-provoking films from the festival’s international film competition entries and the Banff Centre Mountain Festival World Tour; a number of award nights, including the Scottish Awards for Excellence in Mountain Culture and the Photographer of the Year Award; thought-provoking environmental discussions; and a collection of quality fringe events, including winter mountain skills workshops, yoga classes and bike and running themed nights.
Rod Pashley, chairman of The Highland Mountain Culture Association, organisers of the Fort William Mountain Festival, said: ‘Celebrating the wild landscape that surrounds us in Fort William and Lochaber is the inspiration behind the mountain festival. The mountains, glens, rivers and coastline influence our culture in many ways, whether it is the beauty of the landscape, our engagement with it or the opportunities we find in it.
‘The Fort William Mountain Festival has something for everyone with a love for the outdoors. We are especially pleased to announce our main Saturday night speaker will be the remarkable Nims Purja, who has successfully climbed all 14, 8000m peaks in less than seven months. An astonishing record and achievement. Normally this takes seven years.
‘Of course, the festival is not just for high adrenaline adventure enthusiasts. It is for everyone who appreciates the great outdoors. With the best winter walking, climbing and snowsports conditions of the year, visiting Fort William and Lochaber in February for the mountain festival is the perfect time of year to experience the stunning landscape first-hand.’
To find out more about the Fort William Mountain Festival 2020 and to buy tickets, go to mountainfestival.co.uk.
For up to the minute news and event updates, go to www.facebook.com/fort.william.mountain. festival.