In 1942, two teenage brothers left Seattle to climb a mountain so remote and unknown that few but the most serious climbers in North America had heard of it, let alone set eyes on its challenging faces. Situated in the Pacific Coast Range of upper British Columbia, the knife edged Mount Waddington had repelled much more sophisticated and well financed climbing expeditions, and had only allowed one party to touch its peak - Fritz Wiessner and Bill House in 1936 - before these two young men would have their turn at the summit.

This presentation will discuss Fred and Helmy Beckey’s backgrounds and preparation for the climb, the planning, the approach, the climb itself, the descent and the aftermath of the Beckey Expedition.
It will feature the “Waddington Journal” from the expedition, writings by Fred Beckey that recall the climb, and readings by Megan Bond (Fred Beckey’s biographer) from Fred’s unpublished manuscript which details the challenges encountered.