Climbing and Mountaineering legend Conrad Anker will speak at the University Center Theatre at the University of Montana campus on Tuesday, November 12th, 2019 at 7 pm. The presentation, which is hosted by the National Museum of Forest Service History, is free to the public. Anker’s talk will link our National Forests to the country’s climbing and recreation history.
Conrad Anker has been pushing the limits of mountaineering for the last 30 years, evolving into one of America’s best alpinists. The Bozeman, Montana-based father of three is one of the most prolific explorers and mountaineers alive today. At age 56, Anker’s resume continues to grow, having notched the long-awaited first ascent of the Meru Shark’s Fin in India with partners Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk in 2011, which led to the Sundance-winning documentary, Meru. Anker has climbed Everest three times, including a 2012 trip with National Geographic to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first American ascent of the mountain. On his most famous Everest climb in 1999, he discovered the remains of George Mallory, one of the two British climbers who died attempting Everest in 1924, helping to shed more light on one of mountaineering’s most famous mysteries.
But for many years, one of his greatest passions has been down in the valley—specifically the Khumbu Valley of Nepal. In more than 25 years of expeditions to Nepal, Anker and his wife Jennifer Lowe-Anker, have developed deep relationships with the Sherpa people and founded the Khumbu Climbing Center in Phortse, Nepal, which provides a variety of safety training courses to high altitude workers.
The National Museum of Forest Service History, who is hosting the event, is a nonprofit organization independent from the U.S. Forest Service whose mission is to share the rich story and history of America’s Conservation legacy. They tell this story through a 50,000-item archival collection, virtual and traveling exhibits, National Teacher Training Workshops with the Library of Congress, and a 36-acre campus located one mile west of the Missoula Airport. The Museum is working towards building the National Conservation Legacy and Education Center- a world class conservation history center which will be located at their Missoula campus.
Lisa Tate, the Museum’s Executive Director, says, “We’re thrilled to host Conrad Anker, a legend among climbers, who understands the rich recreational values and history of our public lands. This is a rare opportunity to hear from one of the world’s foremost mountaineers.”
Former Chief of the Forest Service and Museum Board Member, Dale Bosworth, will introduce Anker.
For more information, go to www.forestservicemuseum.org