This September marks a huge anniversary in British mountaineering. On Sept. 24, 1975, Doug Scott and Dougal Haston became the first Britons to summit Mount Everest. Their route up the South West Face had eluded several teams. It was the high-altitude climbing challenge of the moment, and leader Chris Bonington immortalized the climb in his book Everest the Hard Way. Now, 50 years later, that same title has been given to a charity auction celebrating the ascent.
Organized by London auction house Bonhams, the event is raising funds for Community Action Nepal, the charity founded by Doug Scott. The online sale is now open, and bidding will conclude with a live auction on September 25. Collectors and mountaineering enthusiasts will have the chance to bid on pieces of climbing history, many of which once belonged to Scott himself.
Scott on the summit of Everest. Photo: Doug Scott
Scott’s Everest windsuit
One of the most iconic pieces up for grabs is the windsuit that Scott wore during that 1975 ascent. The photo of him standing on the summit, in the bright blue windsuit, is one of the most famous Everest pictures ever. Originally designed to fit over a down suit, Scott decided that was too restrictive. Instead, he opted for silk underwear and a pile suit. Scott last wore it at a charity event not long before he died.
Also on the bidding list is one of the manual Olympus cameras Chris Bonington used to document his expeditions. He has been a stalwart fan of Olympus cameras ever since Olympus loaned him one for the 1975 expedition.
Chris Bonington Olympus OM-1N camera and lens. Photo: Bonhams
Other Everest items in the auction include Scott’s Chouinard-Frost Piolet – a 70cm ice axe that he used from 1972-1975, and Dougal Haston’s aluminium expedition trunk. Haston lost his life in an avalanche only two years after their Everest summit. It has his name engraved on the lid. Eventually, Scott used it to store his tents.
Other items bear the signatures of climbing legends, including a fine art print of Everest by Graeme Lothian signed by Scott, Bonington, Edmund Hillary, George Band, Charles Wylie, Rebecca Stephens, Michael Ward, and Mike Westmacott. Another is an Order of Service from Edmund Hillary’s funeral, signed by George Band, Jan Morris, Mike Westmacott, George Lowe, and Alfred Gregory.
A Graeme Lothian print signed by a host of legendary climbers. Photo: Bonhams
A walk with Bonington
Experiences are also up for auction. You can bid for a walk with Chris Bonington and to go climbing with Leo Houlding.
You can find out more about the auction and its listed items here.
