An instructional film providing practical safety tips for hiking through mountainous countryside. The film follows the adventures of three teenage boys as they climb to the summit in the Lake District. They arrive and spend the night at Youth Hostels Association (YHA) hostel at Langdale before ascending to the summit of a nearby peak. As they make their way up and back down again the narrator of the film provides practical safety tips about the kit they would need and how best to traverse and...

An instructional film providing practical safety tips for hiking through mountainous countryside. The film follows the adventures of three teenage boys as they climb to the summit in the Lake District. They arrive and spend the night at Youth Hostels Association (YHA) hostel at Langdale before ascending to the summit of a nearby peak. As they make their way up and back down again the narrator of the film provides practical safety tips about the kit they would need and how best to traverse and navigate this terrain. Title: Explorer Films present Going to the Hills Credit: Direction Maurice Dybeck. Photography Peter Halket Production Assistance David Hobbs Derek – Michael Betts John – Nigel Clarke Frank – Donald Foster Technical Assistance Jake Pope Title: Explorer Films gratefully acknowledge the assistance of The Charles Henry Foyle Trust, J. Massey, Esq. with the co-operation of The Brathay Hall Centre, The Youth Hostels Association, the Ordnance Survey and the Headmaster and Pupils of Woodrush County Secondary School Two teenage boys, one named John, comes out of a school building followed behind by younger pupils. In a workshop another teenage boy, Frank, finishes up and leave along with his workmates at the end of the day. Outside a local news agency Frank and John stand beside a newspaper headline from the Birmingham Post that reads ‘Two Youths in Mountain Tragedy’. The boys arrive at a suburban home and in the back garden meet with Mr and Mrs Blake. After shaking hands Mr Blake show the boys the content of his rucksack and all the kit they would need for a successful hike through the mountains. Items such as anoraks, trousers, sweaters and boots are gone through in details with the narrator providing a commentary. Frank walks to work along a suburban road wearing his new walking boots breaking them in. John arrives at school also wearing his new boots and meets up with friend Derek which is so impressed, says the narrator, that he decides to join John and Frank in their hiking expedition. As Frank leaves home his parents see him off with his mother waving goodbye. At a railway station John, Frank and Derek catch a train travelling to the Lake District. A map follows showing other mountain hiking location within Great Britain including Snowdonia in Wales, the Cairngorms in Scotland and the Peak District in England. The three boys arrive at a the YHA Elterwater Hostel at Langdale and enjoy a meal inside with other hostellers. The following morning the boys join others on the veranda to prepare for the days activities and put on their walking boots. Before leaving Derek writes and hands a note to the hostel warden giving their route and rough time of return should there be a problem. The boys leave the hostel and come to stand beside a field gate looking up at the mountain range they will be hiking in front of them. Frank jumps over the fence rushing ahead scrambling alongside a stream, John and Derek follow slower and more cautiously behind. Part way up the hillside the boys rest beside a boulder out of breath, Derek moves off again setting the pace which is slower and steadier. As they continue to assent the hillside the narrator providing instructional details on the most appropriate way to walk over such terrain. As the boys continue their assent the clouds come in obscuring the summit and route ahead. A map and compass are brought out and the boys work out a route, again the commentator goes detail about how the this is done correctly. They continue their hike with the assistance of the compass climbing into the cloud. Frank is sent on ahead to help find a route coming across a cairn marking the correct path to a ridge. With the mist cleared the boys continue their hike eventually arriving at a triangulation station or trig point at the summit. Placing their rucksacks on the ground the boys put on their sweaters for warmth. Moving position out of the cold wind the boys eat their lunch of sandwiches followed by chocolate, dates and raisons. With lunch over Frank tries to leave their litter under a boulder. However, he finds someone has beaten them to it and give a disgusted look at the rubbish there. He decides to take it with him and packs it into his rucksack. The boys begin the decent initially across a piece of open moorland crossing over a stream. Along a cliff edge they look down on a group of rock climbers below. John kicks a boulder over the edge much to the annoyance of the climbers below who are nearly hit. They depart and continue their decent. The boys descend along a steep rocky pathway with the narrator advising techniques to do so safely. Derek lead the way with the other two following his example and choosing the rocks and grass that give the best support for their boots. As they get to know the terrain, they pick up speed and run down a section of hillside. They come to a section of loose boulders or scree. As they descend the scree, the commenter again provide information on how best to do so safely. Not following these instructions Frank takes a tumble landing at the bottom. Having a small first-aid kit Derek bandages Franks cut and bruised hand. John breaks out some Kendal Mint Cake and hands it for everyone to enjoy. With the clouds again covering the summit John takes the lead as they approach and follow a steam. With rain now falling they boys pass beside a drystone wall with Frank falling behind. John waits and signals for him to catch up and they continue their journey back to the hostel at Ambleside. As they pass through a gate, they see a sign that asking those reading it ‘are they prepared for the mountains?’. Looking at Franks wounded hand they all laugh. Standing in the doorway of the hostel John and Frank show two young women how to read a map and use a compass. Derek passes them carrying his rucksack which he placed on the ground and begins to pack for another backpacking adventure. As he does so the commentator reminders the viewer of the correct items to pack, standing around him three younger boys watching. End title: The End