Chris Bonington facts for kids
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Christian John Storey Bonington |
| Main discipline | Mountaineering |
| Other disciplines | Climbing, Alpinism, Art |
| Born | 6 August 1934 Hampstead, London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Career | |
| Notable ascents | Annapurna II (1960) Nuptse (1961) North Wall of the Eiger (1962) Old Man of Hoy (1966) Changabang (1975) Baintha Brakk/Ogre (1977) Kongur (1981) Mount Everest (1985) |
| Famous partnerships | Ian Clough, Don Whillans, Jan Długosz |
| Family | |
| Spouse |
Wendy Bonington
(m. 1962; died 2014)Loreto Herman
(m. 2016) |
| Children | Conrad (died 1966) Daniel (b. 1967) Rupert (b. 1969) |
Sir Christian John Storey Bonington, born on August 6, 1934, is a very famous British mountaineer. He has explored some of the world's highest and most challenging mountains. His amazing career includes nineteen trips to the Himalayas, with four of those expeditions being to Mount Everest, the world's tallest peak. He is known for leading many important climbs and for his brave spirit.
Becoming a Mountaineer
Chris Bonington started climbing when he was just 16 years old in 1951. He went to school in Hampstead, London. After school, he joined the British Army. He served for three years in North Germany. Later, he worked as a mountaineering instructor for the Army.
Early Adventures
In 1958, Bonington was part of the first British team to climb the South West Pillar of the Aiguille du Dru in France. In 1961, he made the first climb of the Central Pillar of Freney on Mont Blanc. He did this with his climbing friends Don Whillans, Ian Clough, and Jan Dlugosz. In 1960, he also joined a successful team that climbed Annapurna II.
After leaving the Army in 1961, Bonington decided to become a full-time professional mountaineer and explorer. He started writing and taking photos for The Daily Telegraph Magazine. This allowed him to travel and climb in many different places. For example, he climbed Sangay in Ecuador. He also went on an expedition to the Blue Nile river in 1968.
Facing Mount Everest
Chris Bonington led two major expeditions to the south-west face of Mount Everest. In 1972, his team tried but did not reach the summit. However, in 1975, he led another expedition that was successful. Four climbers from his team reached the very top of Mount Everest. This was a huge achievement in mountaineering history.
Life Beyond Climbing
Bonington has done much more than just climb mountains. He has written many books about his adventures. He has also appeared on television shows. From 2005 to 2014, he was the leader of Lancaster University. He is also the honorary president of the British Orienteering Federation. This is a sport where people use maps and compasses to find their way.
He has lived in Cumbria, England, since 1974. He is also a patron and former president of the British Mountaineering Council (BMC). This group helps climbers in the UK. He also took over from Edmund Hillary as the honorary president of Mountain Wilderness. This is a group that works to protect mountain areas around the world.
Family Life
Chris Bonington's first wife, Wendy, was an illustrator of children's books. She passed away in 2014. Her illness inspired Bonington to support charities that help people with similar conditions. They had three children together: Conrad, Daniel, and Rupert.
In 2016, Bonington married Loreto McNaught-Davis. She was also connected to the climbing world, as she was the wife of another famous mountaineer and TV presenter, Ian McNaught-Davis.
Awards and Recognition
Chris Bonington has received many awards for his contributions to mountaineering. In 1974, he received the Founder's Medal from the Royal Geographical Society. This is a very important award for explorers. He also received the Lawrence of Arabia Memorial Medal in 1985.
He was given the Golden Eagle Award in 2008 for his services to the outdoors. This award recognized his lifelong dedication to exploring and sharing his love for nature. He was also featured on the TV show This Is Your Life in 2003.
Special Honours
Bonington has received several special honours from the British Crown.
- In 1976, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This was for his great work in mountaineering, especially after the successful Everest climb in 1975.
- In 1996, he was made a Knight. This means he can be called "Sir Chris Bonington." This honour was also for his amazing services to the sport of mountaineering.
- In 2010, he was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO). This was for his work with the Outward Bound Trust, which helps young people develop through outdoor activities.
- In 2015, he received the 7th Piolet d'Or Lifetime Achievement Award. This is one of the highest awards in mountaineering.
Amazing Climbs
Here are some of the most notable climbs Chris Bonington has completed:
- 1960: Annapurna II (First ascent)
- 1961: Central Pillar of Freney, Mont Blanc (First ascent)
- 1962: North Wall of the Eiger (First British ascent)
- 1963: Central Tower of Paine, Patagonia (First ascent)
- 1966: Old Man of Hoy (First ascent)
- 1974: Changabang, Garhwal Himalaya (First ascent)
- 1975: Southwest face of Mount Everest
- 1977: Baintha Brakk (First ascent)
- 1981: Kongur Tagh (First ascent)
- 1985: Mount Everest (as part of a Norwegian expedition)
- 2014: The Old Man of Hoy (He re-climbed this at age 80 to raise money for charities helping people with motor neuron disease).
Leading Expeditions
Chris Bonington was also a leader for many important expeditions, even if he didn't always reach the summit himself:
- 1970 British Annapurna South Face expedition: This was successful, with two climbers reaching the summit.
- 1972: Mount Everest (south-west face): This attempt was not successful.
- 1975 British Mount Everest Southwest Face expedition: This expedition was successful, putting four climbers on the summit.
- 1978: K2 (west face): This attempt was not successful.
- 1982: Mount Everest (north-east ridge): This attempt was also not successful.
Everest Record
In April 1985, Chris Bonington briefly became the oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. He was 50 years old at the time. However, his record was soon broken by another climber later that same year. Since then, many older climbers have reached the summit.
See also
In Spanish: Chris Bonington para niños
- Rock climbing
- Ice climbing
- List of Mount Everest records
