Legendary Cascades climber Fred Beckey will share stories from his remarkable career during an appearance in Tacoma on Nov. 18.
Beckey has been described as “the king of first ascents” and “the most imaginative, persistent and thorough explorer and mountain investigator of the Cascade Range Wilderness.”
In writing about Beckey for Patagonia, contemporary Northwest climber Colin Haley said, “Fred Beckey is the most accomplished climber of all time. The volume of climbing he has done, near and at the cutting edge, is leagues beyond anyone else. At an early age in the Cascades, Fred got on an express train of bold, difficult, adventurous and beautiful first ascents across North America, and the train hasn’t stopped for 70 years.”
Beyond his climbing achievements, Beckey has also gained fame as an accomplished guidebook author. He is best know for his three-volume “Cascade Alpine Guide.” The series covers climbing in the Cascades from the Columbia River to the Fraser River and is now in its third edition.
Due out next month is Beckey’s latest book, “Beckey’s Black Book: Fred Beckey’s 100 Favorite North American Climbs” that he co-wrote with Barry Blanchard. The book is scheduled to be released Dec. 8.
“Fred Beckey has been a climbing icon for decades in the Northwest and beyond,” said Geoff Lawrence, chairman of the Tacoma Mountaineers board of directors. “I and many other climbers are constantly amazed at the volume of climbing he has done and the number of first ascents he has accomplished.”
Beckey, now 88, will give a retrospective of his decades of climbing in the Northwest and beyond. He will be joined by Alex Bertulis, who has climbed extensively with Beckey and will talk about Beckey’s impact on the climbing community.
After the presentation, Beckey will be available to sign books.
Lawrence said proceeds from the night’s event will go to Beckey. His appearance is part of the Mountaineers’ monthly open house and speaker series. The event is co-sponsored by University of Puget Sound and Edgeworks Climbing Indoor Rock Gym.
“Beckey is truly a living legend, and I feel very fortunate we’re be able to host this event,” Lawrence said.
Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640
jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
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