The TCC is excited to announce our first ever winter speaker series. The series is designed to provide the Teton climbing community a chance to “gather” in the midst of the pandemic.
Carlos Carsolio
Three virtual events are being planned. The first, scheduled for Thursday, January 21, at 7 p.m., features world-renowned Mexican alpinist and motivational speaker Carlos Carsolio, the fourth person, and first North American, to climb the world’s fourteen 8000-meter peaks.
Registration for the Carlos Carsolio event may be made here.
The second, on Thursday, February 18, will feature Michael Gardner, a second-generation Teton mountain guide who has put up new climbing routes and first ski descents all over the world.
A third event is currently under development.
The series, which is being sponsored by the Hatchet Resort, Teton Mountaineering, Skinny Skis, Black Diamond, Access Fund, The American Alpine Club, in collaboration with Coombs Outdoors and the Jackson Hole High School Mountaineering Club, will be streamed via Zoom.
A 45-minute “happy hour” before each speaker will provide participants an opportunity to socialize, and to learn more about the TCC’s work on Latino engagement, stewardship projects, the Rec Center expansion climbing gym and more.
The choice of speakers for the series, Carsolio in particular, was intentional. Though he is best known for his Himalayan climbing, Carsolio also made ascents of testpiece objectives such as Yosemite’s El Capitan and Patagonia’s Cerro Torre as well as four routes, one of which was new, on the big walls of Baffin Island.
“Carlos’ ascents, made in alpine style, without fixed ropes or supplemental oxygen, often solo and via new routes, place him among the greatest alpinists of all time,” said TCC board chair Christian Beckwith. “One of the TCC’s objectives is to create pathways into the cultural narrative of Teton climbing for our Latino community members. Carlos’ story as a Mexican climber who rose to the heights of world alpinism will serve as an inspiration for our entire community, Latino and Caucasian alike.”
Each event is free and open to the public. A $5 donation is suggested. Links to the events will be sent to registrants one to two days before each event.