Cumbria-based climbing icon Sir Chris Bonington is the star of a new short film about the ‘intimate connection’ between humans and cold weather.

Berghaus has teamed up with Sir Chris and creative outfit Casa Colombo to present ‘A Cold Embrace’.

The film combines reworked original footage from the 1970s and 1980s with a narration by Sir Chris that reflects on the beauty that lies within the coldest environments and highest mountains on earth.

Sir Chris Bonington’s climbing career started in the 1950s, and he has achieved multiple first ascents and led pioneering expeditions to the greatest mountain ranges of the world.

News and Star: Chris Bonington on Changabang in 1974Chris Bonington on Changabang in 1974 (Image: Chris Bonington Picture Library)He lives near Caldbeck, where his extensive library of footage and photographs is also located.

“Life is a process of learning,” said Sir Chris.

“If life is easy, simple and flat, you never learn anything. Then if you do face real adversity, you’re not in a shape to cope with it.

“Cold can thrill and if you are thrilled about what’s around you, you’re going to function that much better. Get out there and just immerse yourself in it, and if you do that, life is going to be much richer.”

Sir Chris’ climbing journey began in 1951 when he started climbing in the Alps, making the first British ascent of the south west pillar of the Drus in 1958 and that of the Brandler Hasse Route on the North Wall of the Cima Grande in the Dolomites in 1959.

Sir Chris was part of the first British team to scale the notoriously difficult south west face of Mount Everest, reaching the summit successfully on September 24, 1975.

News and Star: Chris at his high point on Everest in 1975Chris at his high point on Everest in 1975 (Image: Chris Bonington Picture Library)In the new film, Casa Colombo have used archive material from the 1970s and 1980s to create a ‘visually and aurally striking evocation’ of cold environments.

READ MORE: Sir Chris Bonington recalls legendary Mount Everest climb

This has been combined with a narration by Sir Chris that reflects on his own experiences in the colder places of the world and what he has learned as he has faced challenges and adversity along the way.

The collaboration was developed as part of the Berghaus campaign platform Cold Studies, a wide-reaching call that invites audiences to embrace the cold.