Conrad Anker: Exploring Legacy, Loss & Livelihood in Climbing

Few people have amassed a more impressive resume in the outdoors than climber, mountaineer, and author Conrad Anker. Just read his Wikipedia page, for starters! Included in Conrad’s accolades are two summits of Everest under his belt (including one where he found George Mallory’s body), a prolific list of first ascents around the globe, and a 26 year history as the lead of the North Face Climbing Team. 

Today, Conrad shares stories, insights and wisdom from almost a half century of climbing. 

You’ll hear about: 

• His experience at the center of the sport climbing boom in the 80s and 90s
• Conrad’s approach to bolting and how it has changed through the decades
• How Conrad has dealt with the grief of losing beloved climbing partners
• The psychology of risk 
• The incredible legacy and history of route names 
• Our responsibilities toward the environment and culture as climbers
• How professional climbing has changed since the beginning of his career 

Check out more about Conrad’s incredible career at www.conradanker.com 

Join us over on the First Ascent Patreon. For $5, $7 or $10 a month, you’ll get access to wide ranging bonus content from greats like Mark Hudon, Scott Stevenson and many more. Plus you’ll get a Discord chat, exclusive beta, route info, and more. Check it out here:  https://www.patreon.com/FirstAscentPodcast

Do you have a listener question or a topic idea? Let us know at @firstascentpod on Instagram! Jay can be found at @jayknower. 

Disclaimer: 

The information expressed in this episode is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended as, nor should it be interpreted as, informational or instructional.