"Quest for Yosemite in the Sixties" with Glen Denny May 14, 2012

The sheer granite walls of Yosemite Valley have drawn many types of visitors over the decades. But they particularly galvanized a dedicated group of climbers, who saw the nearly hold-less, glacier-polished faces as the purest form of challenge. The late 1950s ushered a new era of rock climbing later known as the Golden Age of Yosemite climbing. During this period, the climbers of the sixties developed the techniques, tools and philosophies that made Yosemite the most important and influential rock climbing arena in the world. They dropped out of the mainstream of work and society and took up residence in Camp 4, perfecting the skills and developing a unique social scene. This austere, boulder-strewn campground became the epicenter of the climbing world. In between spectacular feats carried out on the walls, it served both as a launching pad for further adventures and refuge from them. Join Glen Denny as he takes you on a climbing and cultural journey.

May 14th, Monday
Check-In and Open Bar at 6pm, 7pm Start
Reservation Notes: Free for Explorers Club members; $20 for members of the public; $5 for students with a valid academic ID. Reservations are suggested on a first-come first-served basis. Please call 212.628.8383, or send your email to [email protected].

Official Website: http://thehellgateproject.blogspot.com/2012/04/explorers-club-lecture-series-quest-for.html