Last weekend I went to
the Banff Film Festival in Stafford, I nestled in to my seat in the theatre
full of down jackets and 40 something year old men and watched with awe,
excitement and sometimes fear as the intrepid jumped, climbed and paddled their
way across the screen. As inspiring as the dare devil acts were, for me there
was one overwhelming theme that ran through the first few films: Crossing the Ice, Wide Boyz and Flow Hunters were all about groups of
friends doing the things that they love… together.
I had a heart-warming moment
as I thought of a friend’s birthday trip I was part of only a few weeks ago in
Snowdonia. A T4, T5 and a VW Golf estate parked up in a lay-by housed 6
sleeping climbers one Friday night after work. We woke early took in the snowy
views, yawned and headed off up to the Llanberis Pass. We walked up and up and
up in low visibility, navigating through gaps in the clouds toward Parson’s
Nose. As two groups of three we roped up and started the ascent with two more
groups hot at our heels. We topped out on Crib Y Ddysgl and gently strode to
the top of Snowdon in almost white out conditions, then gingerly descended down
the Miner’s Path in the ensuing darkness. It felt good to get to Eric’s Café in
Tremadog that evening to eat birthday cake, drink wine and chat about the day.
The highlight of the
trip for me was at one point during the climb, a solo climber pranced quietly
passed us stopping only to ask quickly ‘are you with a guide or instructor?’ to
which I responded ‘no, we are just a group of friends!’ As I answered I was hit
with a huge sense of pride and I can still feel it now, I’m so happy and constantly
amazed that my friends and I have the ability and inclination to go on these
adventurous trips. We all look after each other, without the need for baby-sitting
or hand holding, there is little or no fear and no drama queens. Having capable
friends around you makes these trips even more memorable experiences, knowing
you can trust them with your life and that they are willing to trust theirs to
you makes the experience and the friendship much stronger. Plus it’s just more
fun to do things with your friends!
There was sadly one
massive thing missing from the film festival, this was the inclusion of films
about women (and no a cute film about a dog called Lily doesn’t count!). I know
there are excellent films out there for example Jen Randall’s film Push It about her and her friend
Jackie’s fun but remarkable ascent up El Cap; it even fits in with the
friendship theme. There is only one thing for it, I’ve decided that I and a few
of my female friends are going to have to get out there and start making films
about the things we are up to. I’ll have to start saving for a video camera!
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