Tuesday, AUGUST 17, 7:00 pm
at Madison Elementary School
The Friends of Madison Library host Link Sar, the First Ascent presented by local mountain climber/explorer, Mark Richey, on Tuesday, August 17 at 7 pm at the Madison Elementary School.
In August of 2019 Mark Richey, Steve Swenson, Graham Zimmerman and Chris Wright became the first climbers to reach the summit of Link Sar, a massive and complex mountain located deep within the Karakorum mountains of Pakistan. At 7041 meters (over 23,100Ft) Link Sar was among the world’s highest and most elusive unclimbed peaks and had resisted 9 previous attempts over a span of 45 years. Through images and video clips Mark will tell the story of Link Sar’s historic first ascent and what has led him to climb and explore the most remote mountains on earth.
The prestigious Piolet d’Or award is presented once a year in Chamonix, France, for the world’s most significant climb. Mark, with two fellow climbers won this award in 2011 for the 1st ascent of Saser Kangri II, previously the 2nd highest unclimbed mountain in the world. Mark, and his team of three fellow climbers, won the Piolet d’Or in the summer of 2019, for the 1st ascent of Link Sar.
Mark began rock climbing in 1973 at age 15 in the Quincy Quarries of Massachusetts. He has made over 30 expeditions to the greater ranges of the world from remote fjords in Greenland to desert rock towers in Ethiopia and some of the least visited mountain ranges of Nepal, Peru, Tibet, India and Pakistan. Mark’s wife Teresa and daughter Natalia often accompany Mark on his adventures. Mark has a furniture business in Mass. and a second home on Silver Lake.
All are welcome, free.