Watching: High Hazard

Overview

Britain's first complete rock climbing film, by Stanley Watson. A film about climbing in the Lakes. Norah Johnstone, a teacher at Keswick Grammar School and later Watson's wife, starred as a Victorian climber. The film includes footage of Stanley Watson himself climbing Kern Knotts blindfolded and a young girl, Vivian Verity, whose first climb at aged 9 was up Napes Needle. Stanley Watson is a keystone in the history of British climbing. He established the British Mountain Guides Organisation in 1930.