Canadian climber, Don Bowie knows the meaning of extreme adventure.
On July 4 2007, Bowie became the fourth Canadian to summit K2 -widely considered to be the hardest and most dangerous mountain on Earth to climb - and did so without the use of supplemental oxygen.
At 28, 253 feet above sea level, K2, located in Northern Pakistan, is the world's second highest peak.
Bowie presents his adventure to Squamish audiences Wednesday (Nov. 25) with a series of breathtaking images and video clips, and harrowing tales of the dramatic ascent and tragic descent on what climbers call "The Savage Mountain."
The stop is one of many throughout 小蓝视频 and Alberta that sees Bowie share his experience with audiences, and a uniquely thrilling experience it was.
After seven weeks on "The Savage Mountain" and several earlier failed attempts at reaching her peak, Bowie and teammates Chris Warner of Maryland and Bruce Normand of Scotland captured her crown in a grueling assault that took 15 hours to ascend from Camp 4 to the summit at 8,611 metres.
In addition to the punishing winds and sheer exposed faces, the climbers found themselves often breaking trail in waist, and sometimes shoulder, deep snow.
Fortunately, in the days leading up to the final summit push, team members from seven countries began working together from Base Camp on up, sharing information and strategies.
Over the last three days these members melded their efforts and by 5 p.m. local time, 12 expedition members from Russia, Italy, Iran, Portugal, The Czech Republic and Korea joined the Americans to create a unified, multinational team forging through the conditions and summiting within two hours of one another.
With every successful summit step, cheers and applause could be heard in team tents throughout the Base Camp Strip.
And Bowie's achievements don't end there.
In 2008, he endured 75 grueling days on a Broad Peak winter expedition before resigning to high winds and extreme cold. Earlier this year, he received the Alpine Club's Spirit of Mountaineering Commendation at the Piolets d'Or Awards ceremony for his part in the 2008 rescue attempt of Inaki Ochoa on Annapurna. And this month, Bowie was a part of the jury at the world-renowned Banff Mountain Film Festival.
Locals can hear Bowie's first hand account of his adventures on K2 at the Howe Sound Brew Pub Wednesday (Nov. 25). Tickets are $14, or $12 with a reservation. Individuals with valid student ID pay $10. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show begins at 8 p.m.
