Aspiring to greatness
Adventure Slideshow Series serves up tall tales of adventure
If a picture says a thousand words, then a slideshow says millions, so it’s no wonder that Mammoth local Jim Barnes is looking to inspire people by holding a series of slideshows led by some of the biggest daredevils on the planet.
“I lived in Tahoe for 11 years before I moved here and a friend did a slideshow series there,” Barnes explained. “Seeing these skiers, climbers, and mountaineers sharing their photos and tall tales made me want to go out and be adventurous.”
So Barnes decided to bring the idea to Mammoth and share the inspiration.
“I’ve missed it since I’ve been here and I finally couldn’t take it anymore and just had to do it [start a series of his own],” he said.
He checked in with Connie Black to secure a venue spot at Snowcreek and has also received sponsorship from Mammoth Mountaineering. The kickoff of the eight week Adventure Slideshow Series took place on Tuesday at Snowcreek Athletic Club. The room was packed for featured speaker, and world renowned rock climber Peter Croft.
Croft shared tales of great escapades with fellow climbing greats John Bachar, Conrad Anker and more while showing photos and videos of these seemingly superhuman athletes. Many of Croft’s photos were of the Hulk, a famous climbing spot in the Sierra with well-known routes like Red Dihedral and Positive Vibrations.
The evening was so successful that Barnes had people approaching him to be part of the series next year.
“It will be great for the community to be able to look forward to this every December, January, February,” Barnes said.
The Adventure Slideshow Series continues for the next seven Tuesdays [except for the week of Feb. 15] at Snowcreek Athletic Club. Shows begin at 7 p.m. and are free.
Next week, Jan. 11, features speaker Urmas Franosch who will talk about “Big wall first ascents on Mount Watkins.” Franosch and Sean Plunkett go searching for big wall excitement in Tenaya Canyon and establish a couple unrepeated routes on the south face of Mount Watkins.
Entire remaining series:
Jan 11: Urmas Franosch, ‘Big Wall First Ascents on Mount Watkins”
Jan 18: Dave Nettle, ‘Adventures in Greenland’
Jan 25: Kevin Klein, ‘Las Lenas Argentina’
Feb 1: Christian Pondella, ‘Ice Climbing in Swedish Mines’
Feb 8: Jim Barnes, ‘Trango Tower, Pakistan’
Feb 22: Dan Mingori, ‘Ticklists from the Eastern Sierra’
March 1: Claude Fiddler, ‘There’s An Easier Way Up the Mountain’
