A new exhibition has opened in Cumbria, featuring photographs and memorabilia from one of the most famous moments in British climbing history. Sponsored by outdoor brand Berghaus and free to view, the month-long exhibition at Heaton Cooper Studio in Grasmere celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 1975 British expedition to climb the south west face of Everest. It is open to the public until Sunday September 14.
1975 Everest expedition
Led by Sir Chris Bonington, the 1975 expedition saw Doug Scott and Dougal Haston become the first Brits to summit the world’s highest mountain by a route that had never been completed before. It is known as Everest the hard way due to the difficult route to the world’s highest point.
50th anniv Everest expedition event
The exhibition is being hosted by Community Action Nepal (CAN), the charity that Doug Scott later founded. It has been curated by David Nightingale and features the celebrated mountain photography of Sir Chris and Doug, along with climbing gear and other equipment and personal items from the expedition, much of which is on public display for the first time.
The exhibition was opened by Sir Chris and Doug’s widow Trish Scott at a special preview event this week.
Exhibition curator David Nightingale said: “These items have never been together in this format before. Many of them are being shown to the public for the first time, because most of them are in private family collections.”
More events: 50th anniv Everest expedition
The exhibition is part of a wider programme of events in the Lake District and London, all sponsored by Berghaus, to mark the 50th anniversary and raise funds for CAN.
The schedule will culminate in London next month. On Wednesday September 24, 50 years to the day since Doug Scott and Dougal Haston stood on the summit of Everest, the Royal Geographical Society will host an evening of conversation with expedition members and special guests, featuring archive film footage and images. Sir Chris will attend, along with other 1975 team members and prominent names from the climbing community.
Tickets for the evening cost £40 each and are available at 50th Anniversary of “Everest the Hard Way” expedition Tickets, Wed, Sep 24, 2025 at 7:30 PM | Eventbrite.
On Thursday September 25, CAN will host a VIP gala dinner in London. During the evening, Bonhams will conclude a special auction of 1975 Everest expedition items and other mountaineering memorabilia, that will also run online.
Among around 30 lots in the auction will be some unique items that feature in the exhibition in Grasmere, including Doug Scott’s summit suit from 1975, and other equipment from the expedition.
The auction will go live at www.bonhams.com a few days before the dinner, and bids will be taken online up until and during the dinner, when Bonhams will also accept bids from in the room for key items.
Money raised by the auction, and through other 50th anniversary events and initiatives, will contribute to CAN’s Sherpa Heritage House project. Find out more about the work of Community Action Nepal at www.canepal.org.uk.