Join Jon Waterman as he shares his observations and adventures from 40 years of mountaineering on Denali. The evening will culminate with a visit to his latest book, “Chasing Denali: The Sourdoughs, Cheechakos and Frauds Behind the Most Unbelievable Feat in Mountaineering”. The book tell how the history of mountaineering began on Denali began in 1910, when four miners carried a 25-pound, 14-foot flagpole up the roof of the continent while using sheet metal crampons, coal shovels, hatchets, and pike poles to balance their way up the mountain.

Was the expedition a success or a hoax? Long inspired by these so-called “Sourdoughs,” Denali expert Jon Waterman chases the truth during his final climb of the mountain and a scholarly solving of a colorful mountaineering mystery.

About the Author:

Jon Waterman started shooting photographs on his expeditions three decades ago, but also found his calling and is principally known as a writer. He has starred in, filmed, and written films for television, including “The Logan Challenge” (PBS, 1991), “Surviving Denali” (ESPN, 1994), “Odyssey Among the Inuit” (OLN, 2000), ANWR Trek (PBS 2007), and “Chasing Water” (Pete McBride films, 2011).

To support his work, he has received three grants from the National Geographic Society Expeditions Council, two grants from the Walton Family Foundation, and grants from the Storer Foundation, SavetheColorado.org, the Kenney Brothers Foundation, New Belgium Brewing, Patagonia, and the Campion Foundation.