THIS IS CURRENT A ROUGH AUTO TRANSCRIPT
FRAN: This podcast is part of the Tremula Network, adventure and outdoor podcasts off the beaten track. To find out more, head to tremula.network or find us on socials.
[MUSIC starts - ON THE OUTSIDE theme - Bassbeat by Alex Norton: "Funky and upbeat, jangling guitars, a fat bassline and a full horn section create the perfect soundtrack to a late summer block party."]
FRAN: (over music) Hello and welcome to On The Outside, the podcast sharing diverse views on what’s happening outdoors.
[MUSIC ends]
The Kendall Mountain Festival National Tour began last week. As you know from our episode way back in 2021. Kendall is the UK's biggest outdoor festival and they have now packaged up the spirit of Kendall with films and guest speakers to do the tour of the uk. And I thought the star to the tour would be a good chance for me to catch up on our Kendall coverage. I could not make it to Kendall in November myself, but I managed to convince one of our panelists that you know quite well to represent the podcast up there. In a moment you will hear the post festival conversation I had with her. Plus she asked a number of different people, three questions about the festival. Have you been to Kendall before? What's been your favorite part? And would you like to see anything improved or done differently in the future?
Now, before I cut to that Kendall chat, I just want to say this is not an advert for Kendall. The festival team did ask on the outside to go up and they gave us use of the media room. But this show does not get advertising as you know. It is run on passion by myself and the panelists and on the support from you, the listener. So if you are in a position to support the show financially, please head to patreon.com/on the outside podcast you can see there are a number of support options available there. And if you've listened to our show on money in the outdoor sector, you know exactly why that monetary support is so important and where the Patreon money goes to. If you can't, I see you too. Every listen of the podcast carries so much weight and thank you for choosing to listen to these conversations and speaking of these conversations, let's cut to the chase. Here is our obligatory episode on Kendall Mountain Festival 2022.
[IDENT]
FRAN (to ANI): Do you wanna do your introduction <laugh>?
ANI: I was just muting myself. Right. Okay. Hi everyone, I'm Ani Barber. I am a disabled outdoor enthusiast who's passionate on disability access and inclusion in the outdoors. I enjoy things like wild swimming, climbing and hiking.
FRAN: Beautiful. And obviously a lot of, you'll probably recognize Annie's voice. She's probably the second most on the podcast. I think you neglected to say that Annie, that you are also the founder of the blog Outside Our Way. Oh yeah. Which is on the All the Elements website. And that's one of the reasons I'm gonna speak to you today because as part of your blog, you were uh, down in Kendall back in November speaking to a few people and I also got you to do a little bit of on the outside work whilst you were there. Do you wanna give us a little bit of a rundown of your Kendall experience and how that was and what you were doing with outside our way?
ANI: Yeah, it was really cool. It's my first Kendall experience actually. So I didn't know what to expect, but it definitely wasn't what I expected. Also, I was there as part of sort of the press doing a couple of interviews with two of the disabled panelists, um, that were doing a talk and that was Ed Jackson and Darren Edwards, both Epic guys. But also whilst I was there you had me run around and ask people a few questions for on the outside podcast. And as I am like the deputy of this podcast, <laugh> <laugh>,
FRAN: Self-appointed, but I'll take it,
ANI: <laugh>, self appointed, self-appointed deputy, um, I thought I'd run around and do it whilst I'm there.
FRAN: Yeah. Beautiful. So what we are gonna do today, you're asking people a couple of different questions about their Kendall experience and we're just gonna have some talking heads from some of those folks today. Who would you like us to start with?
ANI: I do believe it was, uh, Jackson. I spoke to Ed Jackson who for those of you who don't know, ed Jackson has a spinal cord injury. Don't know the specific vertebra. Um, he did tell me but I'm not aware of it. And he ever since has been an advocate for adaptive adventures being outdoors with his spinal cord injury. And originally he was told he'd never be able to walk again and he walked into the interview. So <laugh>, he's done well for himself and he's, you know, he's worked with Burke house to do adaptive equipment with the different needs that he has. And he's a very, very open guy about like how his disability affects him, not just with his hiking and moving but also you know, his bladder and bowels, his sexual functions, all sorts of things like that, you know, really, really goes into the deep of it and encourages also other people to be really open and honest about their feelings and their emotions and what's going on with them at the moment. So pretty cool guy.
FRAN: Yeah, lovely. And if you want to read more about Annie's talk with Ed on those aspects, she is gonna be writing up blogs from the conversation she had at Kendall, but for now we're just gonna listen to Ed's forts on the Kendall Festival itself.
ANI (at Kendal): Um, so have you been to Kendall before?
ED: I have. Last year was my first year. Absolutely. Love it. Last year was so weird for me cuz I was walking around. I'm quite new to this world. Like I was in, I was a rugby player before and now I'm two years basically in and out of hospitals. So it's only really been three or four years that I've been involved in this sort of world. And uh, last year I came here for the first time and it was that moment when all Instagram handles became real people. I was like, oh look, it's anxious and adventurous and there's, so it was bizarre cause they had only, you'd only, especially cuz of Covid, you'd only really seen each other through Yeah. Instagram handles. So that was quite a bizarre sensation. And then it's nice coming back this year knowing more people doing more things. Like I'm doing a talk this afternoon, um, on a, on adaptive adventure, got my ticket, which I'm a bit nervous about cuz my wife's there and um, I'm showing some footage from a Nepal climb I did earlier this year that nearly went very, very wrong. So I I, but I think it's important to share both sides of the story, not just the big successes and you know, but she might tell me off it might be the last time I'm allowed to go <laugh>
ANI (at Kendal): <laugh>. Well yeah, she has to find out at some
ED: Point. Yeah, exactly. Breaking
ANI (at Kendal): The news to like a date before
ED: I know I've kind of, she knows right, right. But she hasn't actually seen yet and I think it's quite intense some of it.
ANI (at Kendal): What have you enjoyed most so far or looking forward to the most?
ED: Actually I went to um, a session at 12 o'clock yesterday where Cold House, which is another boathouse session, but Cold House had adapted six films and made them more accessible by putting the subtitles, the audio descriptions, sign language on them, which is really cool in itself, right. Because it's not that expensive to do for big media companies, especially for big films. So there should, it makes sense that there should always be those options for everything coming out that should be mandatory. But the films are incredible that like there was a film called Free to Run About and which is a North Face monster film about an ultrarunner who's um, encouraging women in Afghanistan to start running clubs. Um, and it was just beautifully sharp and beautifully made. So that was a good start to Kendall. But I love just wandering around the base camp and bumping into people, which is really nice. Cause I think in this outdoor community you go off and you live in your own different pockets or you live all over the, in Kendall's case, all over the world, you know, people come from. So it's often only here you get to come and chill out with each other and hang around with each other. So, um, those have been the highlights so far. Hopefully talk my uh, my session later with Darren and Steve goes to plan. Um, and that becomes a highlight but who knows what 20
ANI (at Kendal): <laugh>, it's definitely something I'm looking forward to. Um, there's only two tickets I bought and that was one of them.
ED: Oh great. That's nice know. Thank you. Yeah,
ANI (at Kendal): It's gonna be really cool. Um, yeah I heard about the cult house thing was, that was really impressive. They even got like looking for a BSL climber that was top tier. Yeah. Um, is there anything you'd like to see done differently next year?
ED: Not off the top of my head. Oh, I'll tell you what, there, there was a problem last night down, this is very surface level, right? There was a problem last night down at the base camp because there's three coffee stalls, which were amazing and one bar and then when it turned to like seven o'clock to keep the bar run right around the whole thing and back inside. Um, so more bars at the base camp. Sure. So, so that, that's how, that's how well they're doing. That's the only thing I can come up with.
ANI (at Kendal): <laugh> fantastic. Yeah. <laugh>, I mean yeah it's not a problem if you've got massive cues for them I suppose.
ED: No.
FRAN: Yeah. So that was really interesting what he spoke about with Cold House's film, having the BSL there. Do you have any thoughts on that Ani?
ANI: Yeah, no it was, I did hear about it that they were gonna be doing something like it on Instagram before. I think it's a really good step forward. It shows that the film just wasn't just to show them this disabled person, it was also to make it accessible to their community, you know, this deaf climber. And I do think he's got a good point. You know, we could, we be including captions in more outdoor films if not all outdoor films nowadays and perhaps even have B S L you know, at more talks, more panels, things like that. You know, can we make these spaces a bit more accessible in those cases?
FRAN: So who's the next person that we're gonna hear from?
ANI: Uh, the next person I spoke to was Darren. Darren Edwards. And he was a part of that talk adaptive adventures that Ed Jackson was hosting. Darren is also someone who's had a spinal cord injury. Uh, his was from a climbing accident. Um, so he is always been a bit outdoorsy. I think he, however, can't walk. He is paralyzed I think from the waist down and uses a wheelchair. I mean he's done some mega stuff. Uh, he was part of, or even ran I think this kayaking expedition with like war veteran and other spinal cord injury and disabled folk from Lanza to John o Gros. And it was good. I think he really enjoyed it and I, I like the fact that he wasn't an experienced guy. Okay. He just kind of was like, okay, this is a way I can do a thing and this is what I'm gonna do.
And he was actually quite not like the the best at kayaking to begin with. And he's also doing a ski expedition I think with Ed Jackson. That will be really cool to see because they're both learning different ways to adapt things for themselves cuz it's not really been done before and it's not common knowledge of how to make things adaptive for them. So yeah, pretty cool guy. Honestly the happiest person you'll ever meet. Really positive. It was really hard to have an interview with him because we sat down and was like, yeah so tell me about yourself. He was like talking to me and I was like, no, no, this is not the point of the conversation <laugh>. But yeah, really cool guy.
ANI (at Kendal): Have you ever been to Kendall
DARREN: Before? It's my first year.
ANI (at Kendal): Ah, mine too.
DARREN: Yeah. Yeah. I've been really, I didn't know what to expect but it's actually been brilliant. Really like it.
ANI (at Kendal): Fantastic. Um, what are you, what have you enjoyed the most so far? Or what are you like most looking forward to?
DARREN: What I've enjoyed the most in the four, three hours I've experienced is in base camp. Just like the people on, on the stage. Like I, I didn't look at the program, I just sat and listened to two talks, both which were really fascinating in different ways. And then I've looked at like there's so much on, isn't there so many different types of speakers from your Canton cools that uh, everybody knows Yeah. To people that, you know, I listen to someone that I've never heard of before and now I've followed them on social media and you know, so I like that.
ANI (at Kendal): Fantastic. Yeah, there's so many different things and so many people I've not heard of. Um, is there anything you'd like to see done differently next year?
PIP CLARE: Hm.
DARREN: Not from what I've seen. Not
ANI (at Kendal): From what you see, no. Cool.
DARREN: Fine. Sweet. Hey step,
FRAN: The next one we're gonna hear is really interesting cuz this is Claire and Pip who did a joint interview. Uh, can you give us a little bit of a insight into their relationship and how you, how you got to know them?
ANI: Yeah, so Claire and Pip are mom and daughter, Pip's daughter, Claire's mom and I met Claire and Pip on the online disability social that we host, um, on all the Monds. Uh, they've been a regular there, they've been very outspoken about ways that would make things more accessible for rare conditions like Pippas as well as autism, um, and learning disabilities. And when I saw that Clare and Pip were going to Kendall and also what their apprehensions were about Kendall Mountain Festival attending this year, I wanted to see what they had to say. I wanted to get their opinion and I also thought it would be a good chance to interview them for outside our way as well.
CLARE: What's your name?
PIP: My name's Pip.
CLARE: And are you happy to be recorded? You have to say yes.
PIP: Yes
CLARE: <laugh> and my name's Claire Beton and I'm happy to be recorded. I'm Pip's mom.
ANI (at Kendal): Have you been to Kendall Mountain Festival before?
PIP: Yes.
ANI: What have you enjoyed?
PIP: The parade.
CLARE: The parade?
ANI (at Kendal): Okey dokey.
CLARE: Anything else? Did you enjoy meeting anyone new yesterday? Who did you meet yesterday? You forgot? Yeah, I mean you overwhelmed <laugh>, you were so thrilled meeting Cece yesterday. Weren't you Another adventurer to do things with? Yeah. Who's and you can help her and she can help you.
ANI: Final question and then I'll let you go. Um, what would you, what would you like to be done differently next year?
PIP: Leave in college
CLARE: Are you'll of left college won't you? So you can come to the whole festival
ANI: What do you think could be done by Kendall Mountain?
CLARE: Yeah, do you remember the first time you came there was a big truck cinema and they showed the films with the lights up as a relaxed performance. Do you remember that? It was great. Really good. And they haven't got this year that this year have they? Which is a shame. It was called dementia-friendly but it worked just as well for you and that was really good. The other thing that'd be really good is if we could plan ahead a bit more, particularly if we could get the paper program well in advance cuz it would help you to mark things up or if we could have a bit more indication about whether something Has a really complex plot or Is visually and cognitively more accessible. That's quite a big ask and that would be quite cutting edge. But it would be a really useful thing because we have to plan and if PIP is coming here next year with your own personal assistant, we may well have to plan around shifts or move people in advance and that is gonna be such a big challenge isn't it? And mum will still be here, don't worry, I'll still step in and help but it'll be all new for us won't it? Having new helper. And also it'd be nice to have somewhere, somewhere, somewhere or maybe a quiet hour in the main tent to look at the brands. There's no way you can cope in that tent for more than a minute or two. That's
Speaker 8: The base 10.
PIP CLARE: Yeah. So to have a quiet tower in the tent where there's no music or you know, uh, speakers, uh, you know, I'm practical enough to realize that would have to be a, a pretty antisocial time for everyone
PIP CLARE: <laugh>. A quiet, a quiet half hour or hour where you could look at the brands and be guaranteed peace and quiet in there so you could concentrate and our friend John who's going to take you around who's blind also says the lighting in there is dreadful.
ANI: It's not great. No
CLARE: But other than that, you know, Kendall's making a real effort to be inclusive, which is great.
ANI: That's all I need from you both.
CLARE: Thank
ANI: You so much for taking the time out and I bet that was hard.
CLARE: I'm grateful prepared to sit still for more than 20 minutes is amazing. So well done you a for <laugh>. Oh no, don't be silly for um, both inviting us and you know, thank you teasing stuff out because it makes me think as well.
FRAN: I think it'd be really nice. Annie, if you could just give us a little bit of an insight as to how you conducted that interview and if there were any adjustments that you needed to, to do to take into account when you were doing that one.
ANI: Yeah so um, in the media room, which is, well I did the interviews for outside Our Way for all three of the interviews you get a 30 minutes slot but because pip can get quite overwhelmed, um, it can take time for her to answer or to get to the bottom of things that she might wanna say. I asked for a bit of a longer slot and the media room very kindly said, yeah you can have an hour. Which also gave us time to have a break midway, which we said we could do. We paused, went and got a tea, had a break, let pip you know, just sit in silence for a little bit and calmed down when she'd started to shut off. Not when you know, she was already not happy at all. And just, just those two small things were like a massive made made it a lot more tolerable and, and I think enjoyable for PIP and it, it was easy things just having a break for five, 10 minutes and adding an extra half hour just made the difference.
FRAN: Yeah, fantastic. And obviously we have to say thank you to the Kendall Media team for being understanding of that extra need there and I think you said that the media room was much quieter than the rest of the festival as well so it was a little bit of a nice sit down in a quieter area <laugh>.
ANI: Oh it was so nice. It was so I don't, I wouldn't have survived that. Please can I have a press thing again next year Frank I'm not gonna survive it again. I'll try. I promise you I can't survive it.
FRAN: I will try. I will try. So the next voice that you're gonna hear is one that you will possibly recognize from previous episodes. She is a friend of the on the outside podcast and used to do the social media for a little bit. Uh, this is Frankie Jeweler's Forts on the Kendall Festival. Have you been
PIP CLARE: To Kendall? Man,
FRANKIE: I've been my first timers four years ago and I've been every year since then ev all the festivals I think this year has been my favorite and like this, the first year I came I really loved cause it was my first time and it was all new and it's been really hard to top that like new experience but this year has just felt like such a huge leap and the speakers, the stories that I've heard, the films that I've watched, there's been so many people that I've been able to see myself in and really relate to their stories. But also there's also been so many people with a wildly different lived experience to me and being able to get an insight into their life and their experience has been so valuable and there's a real sense of strength in the change that is happening. Like all these people working in all these different areas. I think when we come together you can really see how much impact is actually going on.
ANI (at Kendal): Would you say it wasn't like that? Like in the previous years have you seen a change in the sense of there's been an increase in that variety of lived experiences just
FRANKIE: Absolutely, definitely. Uh, the sort of, I had this real moment the other day I'd been watching Amira talk about the new track mates hab and how that is basically a new piece of outdoors gear that had not existed previously. And it, and it was interesting because I'd gone straight to that talk from a talk about the opening up the outside program and after Amira's talk I was going onto the queer space. Those, the opening up, the outside program, the nicu, the queer space, these are all things that hadn't even been thought up four years ago. So to see them all in existence now is amazing. Cool.
ANI (at Kendal): Um, what would you like to see done differently next year?
FRANKIE: I really appreciate how much the festival is growing and changing. I think that's incredible and actually I think that potentially a lot of the reason why the festival is growing so much is because there are so many different stories and voices coming through. But the more it grows the more complicated it gets to book. And to see, you know, to navigate the program and book tickets on the website, it can get really confusing. I've had a lot of people come in for the first time saying that they're so overwhelmed they dunno where to start. And so I think something there that could help people simplify that process if it's their first time, different ways of navigating their website, thinking about that journey for people of how they actually access the sessions that they really are passionate about and want to go to in a way that isn't stressful and isn't overwhelming and doesn't make people feel before they've even got here.
Like they're the ones doing something wrong. Maybe even there could be something around like a guide for people, you know like if this is your first thing, here's some feedback from people that have been before or you know, it doesn't necessarily have to be a whole new website, it could just be like tips and support for people or you know, sort of like if you are a cyclist, here's five sessions you might be interested in. If you're a runner, if you're a swimmer, whatever it might be to just help people who haven't been navigate it a little bit easier.
ANI (at Kendal): Perfect.
FRAN: Uh, who are we gonna hear from next Ani?
ANI: So one of the other people I spoke to was um, another mother and child relationship, <laugh> Amara and her son uf. Originally I was only gonna interview Amara but her son was like no I can do this better. So we gave him a shot and he did do quite well actually Amara is a part of the boots and beards group up in Scotland and I believe she also helps run the um, Bonnie Boots group, which is like the women's subset of boots and beards. It was her first time at Kendall Mountain Festival and she had a really good opinion of how it was for her as a Muslim woman with a child.
AMMARA: Yeah, I was looking forward to meeting all the brands that were here at the festival, getting to network, meeting new folk, talk about what the work that we do up in Scotland and it's been a great opportunity to meet new faces.
I think next year I'd like to see a little bit more diversity. There was diversity this time round but more representation of the Baam community. Um, as nature has no color and it's for everyone to access. It was a very well organized event. Um, they did really well. However it wasn't really, it was not that accessible. Uh, everything was dotted around and also there was a lack of halal food. There was not really much available And also um, I noticed that there was no alcohol-free drinks either for anyone who doesn't drink for religious reasons or for sober reasons. Um, and I think it should be an inclu that if we have halal food or alcohol-free drinks then it'll be a little bit more inclusive.
YUSUF: You just noticed that today?
AMMARA: I don't noticed that today.
ANI (at Kendal): Come little man. Okay. Okay. I'm gonna ask you three questions. How have you been to Kendall Mountain Festival before?
YUSUF: No, never,
ANI (at Kendal): Never been to Kendall Mountain Festival. Okay.
YUSUF: The worst thing that I like was that you could do these activities there like get points or you could get prizes or stuff like that.
ANI (at Kendal): Yeah. Yeah. Okay. And what would you like to be done better next year?
YUSUF: What I would like to be doing better is that I want like everything to be free. Like because like when uh, you have to get tickets for everything, you have to pay for everything and uh, everything was really busy too and I wanted to not really be as busy because that like the whole inside of the tent was just busy like most but mostly outside wasn't really as busy as I thought. Like crowded.
ANI (at Kendal): Yeah, I Agree. I agree. Cool. Thank you so much
YUSUF: How I take this off?
FRAN: So we've got two more people to go.
ANI: So the next person is somebody I've already interviewed for outside our way Theora or the as she goes by, I've known Thea for quite a while. Uh, she reached out to me originally but we met last year when she was down this way from Scotland, um, when she was coming to Women's Tra Festival. Thea is undiagnosed chronically ill so I really love her perspective on things. She's just a really nice person in general. I've known her for a long time and I wanted to see how she was getting on at the festival with her symptoms in her condition. Is this your first time at Kendall Mountain Festival?
THEA: This is my first time at Kendall Mountain Festival. Uh, so far my favorite event was the Spine Race for Mountain, um, the film premiere. It was a really good environment and the film was great and it was nice seeing everybody come up on stage afterwards and kind of talk about their experience doing the race and also running the race. Yeah, probably the film premier I think next year if I could see more representation from more adaptive outdoor individuals. Um, saw the talk with Ed Jackson and I really, really enjoyed it. However, I wish that they had someone other than just men on it and I also wish it wasn't so accident focused because I felt a bit like, although one of them they did have like a degenerative health condition, they didn't seem to have something that affected them like previously as much. And even the speakers themselves seemed to talk mainly in an accident focused way and I felt really excluded during the talk just because like really like important stories and experiences. But as someone who experiences the outdoors and like a way where I have to do adaptive climbing and adaptive hiking and everything, um, I feel like they could have touched upon that a bit more. Um, so next year it would be nice if they had maybe a few more talks and was a bit more inclusionary of people other than men.
FRAN: And the last person that you had a, a proper chat with about the Kendall Festival was Katie?
ANI: Yeah, I know Katie through Thea. I'd never met Katie before but I mean I wish I'd spoken to her more cause she's cool <laugh>. Um, she was the companion of Thea at Kendall Mountain Festival and she was obviously very conscious of Thea, um, which was nice to see and also nice to hear a different perspective on that. So yeah, this is what she had to say.
KATIE: This is my first time at Kendall Mountain Festival. Very exciting <laugh>.
ANI: Um, and what have you liked, what have you enjoyed about
KATIE: Festival? Um, it's really lovely to be have a sort of central location where people have got so many different passions but all about the outdoors in nature, all in one kind of space for these kind of collective few days in particular. The spine race film I thought was really, really lovely. I sort of a representative of the weekend for me because I love the passion of the race organizers, the people that are crazy enough to compete in it. But from that and only did we see the amazing runners like Jasmine Paris. We also saw the amazing runners who don't necessarily win but are there as well. And I just thought that I was really pleased to see a film that was about the race in its entirety and it was also about the volunteers that put the tea out, um, for people as they pass by and I thought that was a real celebration of what it can mean to be interested in the outdoors and doing these kind of events, not just who came first who made the podium. So I really enjoyed that. Hi.
Um, I think there's definitely a move towards a good variety in terms of the programming. I think that I could kind of see the efforts that have been made in terms of who's asked to speak and things like that. I kind of, in terms of like the core values of the festival, I'm kind of wondering what they are at the end of this kind of weekend. I don't know if I could kind of give you three words that sum up it from the organizers. So I wonder if they kind of know themselves and would like, like to make that really clear. There was a big move from all the sustainability, from a lot of the sponsors and things here this year. But in terms of what that then means when they're also here to sell new kit, I'm just, I'm intrigued by that element of the festival. <laugh>, thank you very much. And more female toilets, <laugh>? Yes. We need her more just like emphasize
ANI: And
KATIE: More female toilets. If we could also have more female toilets please or gender neutral. I'm very happy with either solution.
ANI: Very much.
FRAN: Thank you Katie for giving us a, a short interview there. Fantastic. Now we do have one more voice for this episode that I would be remiss to not put in. Annie, who was the last person that you spoke to?
ANI: Um, the last person is Matt Barber, my husband.
ANI (at Kendal): Now being recorded please can you say your name and then you're happy to be recorded?
MATT: Matt Barber. I'm happy to be recorded. Thank you very
ANI (at Kendal): Much. Have you been to Kendall Mountain Festival
MATT: Before? I have not been to Kendall Mountain Festival before. We
ANI (at Kendal): Don't have to make it sound like I'm like making it
MATT: Converter <laugh>
ANI (at Kendal): A ransom video.
MATT: I have not been to Kendall Mountain Festival before. Thank you <laugh>. I've enjoyed meeting people I've already known but don't see often. Okay. I'd like to see more halal food.
FRAN: Thank you Matt for giving us a little bit of your voice there. Obviously we hear from Annie quite a lot on the podcast but Matt is there in the background supporting her quite a lot as well so it's nice to give him a little bit of mike time.
ANI: And of course he did mention food cuz that's just all he really is obsessed with <laugh> food, football. And then me <laugh>.
FRAN: Ani thank you so much for taking your time during the, the festival to do some of those interviews. It's really nice to get a a, a bit of a range of voices just telling us what they thought. Both people that have been to the festival before and people that are going for the first time. Uh, do you have anything in particular to, to kind of like round us off with your own thoughts for what you learned or any of the events that you went to that you particularly enjoyed?
ANI: I will say I was a bit worried cuz I knew that it was sort of throughout the entire Kendall town and I was a bit worried about how I would be getting from one place to the next, to the next to the next. But it wasn't actually that far away from each other. I was often going from, I can't remember the name of it, but where the media room was an art thingy and then it's just down the road to base camp and it was quite easy to do that and I didn't find it too much of a trouble for me. It was a lot busier than I thought it would be. I think my advice for first time goers of Kendall is when I went I was like, oh it's gonna be a breeze. I've not really got many people to see. I've not got anything to do.
I'm not doing any of the like, I'm not doing any of the panel stuff or anything like that. I'm not on the panels or anything so it'll be a breeze cuz so many people I knew were dashing about for work-related reasons. That is not true. It is a bit busy <laugh>. You will always somehow find a way for the time to just go and disappear and next thing you know you are running to the next talk or finding yourself trying to see one end of base camp and then having to go get a coffee, then getting back to the other base camp. It's just time goes quick, time goes really quick. But it is, it is a good fun place. It was really easy to just go into a pub if I needed to have some downtime and get a cup of tea in there, plug my phone in, do whatever. It was decent.
FRAN: Yeah. Fantastic.
ANI: And I need the media room pass please. Fran
FRAN: <laugh>. Here you go. Kendall folks, you've heard it here first. Please give us a media pass again next year and hopefully next year I'll be able to attend as well. Thank you to everyone who gave their thoughts on the festival, Darren Ed, Frankie Claire, and Pip Amara and Usif via Katie and of course Matt. We have of course put all the links to those in the notes for this episode along with a link to the Kendall Mountain tour that is taking place at the moment. And if you're not able to attend any of the events in person, the Kendall Mountain player is available online as well. In other news,
Kendall Mountain Tour is not the only film festival of the moment. Last week the Fort William Mountain Festival took place from the 16th to the 19th of February, and that's an event up in Fort William in Scotland that has films as well as the Mountain Culture Awards. This year included the first Golden Acts award, which is in memory of filmmaker Rob Brown and the London Mountain Film Festival starts today. So that's a streaming festival that goes on until the 5th of March. The short list of the films are really good this year and includes stories like skateboarding in the Scottish Highlands, adaptive Adventures from the Adventurer, Kate Applebee. There are also community screenings and they've got screenings across the country and one screening this year in Nairobi, in Kenya as well. Find out more@londonmountainfestival.com. The link is of course in the show notes as well. That is all for today. A massive thank you to Anifor recording those conversations at Kendall. I hope that you enjoyed hearing some diverse views on the event. On the outside is hosted, produced, and edited by me. Francesca Turauskis
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artwork is by Sophie Nolan. The music is Bass Beats by Alex Norton and on the outside is part of the Tremula Network Adventure and Outdoor Podcasts off the Beaten Track. To find out more about that head to tremor.network and keep an eye on our socials for some exciting news later on this month.
And of course, thank you all for listening.
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