The Association of West Kootenay Rock Climbers is celebrating mountaineering legend Fred Beckey by bringing the film of his life to Nelson, British Columbia. “Dirtbag – The Legend of Fred Beckey” will be shown at the Civic Theatre on Monday, April 16th and tickets can be purchased at the Cube Climbing Gym or on the Civic’s website. Doors open at 6:30pm.
Fred Beckey is the original “Dirtbag” climber and his name has evoked mystery, adulation and vitriol since the 1940s. Beckey’s stubborn, singular quest to conquer peaks meant a solitary life on the road, where he left a long trail of scorned climbing partners and lost lovers in his wake. The groundbreaking life story of this rebel athlete, who inspired generations with his monumental first ascents, eloquent books and the lifestyle he fearlessly pioneered, is told for the first time in this exclusive 90-minute documentary film.
Beckey is responsible for innumerable first ascents including routes in the Kootenays, such as the famous Beckey-Chouinard route in the Bugaboos. He passed away in October 2017 at the age of 94.
The event is being hosted by TAWKROC and all proceeds will go towards the Save Kinnaird Bluffs fund.
The evening will also kick off with a 20-minute presentation by Squamish resident Jan Redford, author of the recently released climbing memoir “End of the Rope: Mountains, Marriage, and Motherhood.” Redford will discuss her motivation for writing the book, in conversation with Nelson resident and award-winning adventure journalist Jayme Moye. End of the Rope is a departure from typical climbing literature in that it doesn’t tick off Redford’s greatest accomplishments in the mountains. Instead, the gritty coming-of-age story recounts Redford’s biggest failures on the stone—from chickening out of leads far below her ability level, to requiring rescue from El Capitan. Redford is a master storyteller, brutally honest and often hilarious.