7:30 Program: Stewart Weaver - Fallen Giants: The History of Himalayan Mountaineering from the Age of Empire to the Age of Extremes.
The story of the first successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa partner Tenzing Norgay is a familiar one, but less familiar are the tales of many other adventurers who also came to test their skills and courage against the world’s highest and most dangerous mountains. In this illustrated presentation drawn from his book, Fallen Giants (winner of the National Outdoor Book Award for History, 2008) Stewart Weaver, Professor of History at the University of Rochester, will explain what led him and his collaborator, Maurice Isserman, to undertake the first comprehensive history of Himalayan exploration and mountaineering in fifty years. He will discuss the most significant expeditions since the 1890s and the social and cultural contexts from which they emerged.
Included among the cast of characters for this talk are such figures as Martin Conway, who led the first authentic Himalayan climbing expedition in 1892; Fanny Bullock Workman, the pioneer explorer of the Karakoram; George Mallory, the romantic martyr of Everest fame; Charles Houston, who led American expeditions to K2 in the 1930s and 1950s; Ang Tharkay, the legendary Sherpa, and many others. In conclusion, Professor Weaver will discuss the effects of political and social change on the world of Himalayan mountaineering and offer a critical analysis of an expeditionary culture that once emphasized teamwork and fellowship but has now been eclipsed by a dangerous scramble for individual fame and glory.
6:30 pm Workshop: Volunteering for the Genesee Valley Chapter of ADK.
Are you interested in learning about different ways you can volunteer for our club? Then join several active members of GVC-ADK for an informal chat about the different ways you can help folks enjoy the great outdoors through ADK.
