Every June, Helly Hansen invites communities to join Open Mountain Month – an initiative that inspires and enables people to get outside and embrace the outdoors.
As the technical outdoor brand trusted by professionals around the world, Helly Hansen plans a series of activations, events and educational content to inspire seasoned athletes and enthusiastic alike to experience the power of spending time in nature. Most of which are supported by the brand’s outdoor professional partners, including Assynt Mountain Rescue, North of Tyne Mountain Rescue, Weston Beacons Mountain Rescue and Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue across the UK.
At ADPR, we are all keen outdoor explorers and love being outside with nature. Whether it’s a dog walk along the sprawling Somerset levels, a trail run through the woodlands or simply games and a picnic with friends and family. We know the value of being outside, on both our physical health as well as our mental health. Even just stepping outside, looking up and taking a deep breath can be so valuable – “friluftsliv”, as the Norwegian’s say it!
Last year, Helly Hansen conducted some research into how we benefit most from being outdoors. The research highlighted that show 67% of the British public prefer to share their favourite activities with at least one other person – whether it’s a partner/family (42%), friend/s (33%), child(ren) (28%) or in a group (27%) – highlighting the powerful role that shared experiences play in getting people moving and motivated to get outdoors.
Opting for company over solitude, the top reason for Brits was simple: to share the experience (63%), companionship (57%) and sharing common interests (53%). Digging deeper, the benefits of sharing their favourite activities go beyond just joint enjoyment for Brits, with nearly half (47%) of people saying support and camaraderie are key benefits of doing things with others, while over a third (34%) report improved mental health – peaking at 42% for 25-34 year olds – and 28% say it helps them build confidence. Safety was another key factor, with 27% feeling safer when they’re not alone.
This season, the Norway-based brand shares the positive impact of shared experiences and challenges, encouraging people from all backgrounds to get outdoors alongside family, friends and local communities. Whether it’s realising personal potential, forming new bonds, overcoming obstacles or finding fresh inspiration in nature, these moments are made more meaningful when experienced together.
Participants of any of Helly Hansen’s events and those who are inspired to be outdoors, are encouraged to use #OpenMountain when sharing their content on social channels and can search #OpenMountain for further inspiration.
You can find out more about Open Mountain Month and the planned UK events on the Helly Hansen website: www.hellyhansen.com/open-mountain.
Image credit: Ed Smith