The Tao of Everest Free Mountaineering Seminar at REI

EXTRA SPOTS now RESERVED for AOC!  (Addendum from Charlie 2/14/2011)  As expected, this has proved to be a popular event, with all 15 of our initially reserved AOC spots quickly filled and 5 on our wait list.  This morning I spoke with Jamie Fergerson, REI's Outreach executive.  She has graciously arranged to adjust their seating arrangement for this exciting talk (if necessary) and has given us permission to bring as many AOC attendees as we like.  Accordingly I have taken the liberty of expanding our AOC "subgroup" size limit/target to 30 and have confirmed all who were on our wait list as of this morning.

OVERVIEW:  Many of our Atlanta Outdoor Club members may be unaware that our four Metro Atlanta REI stores offer a wide variety of FREE classes, seminars and talks on topics including basic backpacking, camping, hiking, bicycling, paddling, skiing, climbing & mountaineering—also first-hand accounts of exotic adventures and favorite wilderness destinations!  Each session is presented by an invited guest speaker who is an expert in their field or by an REI employee who is a specialist in the featured topic.

For our members' enjoyment, and in the interest of adding to our knowledge and appreciation of high-altitude mountaineering, I've obtained confirmed reservations for an AOC "subgroup" of up to 30 AOC members to attend this indoor REI seminar on Tuesday evening, February 15 at the REI "Atlanta Store" —on the I-85 Access Rd near Clairmont Rd—detailed directions below.  

Our AOC subgroup will first gather at 6:40 PM just inside the store entrance where we'll introduce one another and "take roll."  If you want your AOC participation to be recorded, please check in with Charlie.  Note that there's no more need to sign a paper waiver form at Club events!  Thanks to our webmaster Jaime for making "once-per-year paperless online waiver signing" a reality in early February!

A few minutes before 7:00 PM we'll find seating together in the presentation room, where we'll meet the featured speaker, other clinic attendees, and the REI host.  The presentation room is usually the large storage room far to your right after you enter the store.

Here is the recent REI promotional material for this exciting seminar:

"The Tao of Everest with Climber Ian Woodall"
One of a select few to have climbed Mount Everest by both its south and north sides, British mountaineer Ian Woodall knows all too well the joys and sorrows inherent in this monumental challenge. On his 1998 attempt of the north side, he stopped 800 feet below the summit to try to help dying American climber Francys Arsentiev.  In order to secure the safety of his own team he was forced to make the difficult decision to leave her behind.  Join Ian for an inspirational presentation on the triumphs and tragedies of climbing the world's highest peak. Come hear the poignant story of his return in 2007 to Everest's northeast ridge on which Francys died, to give her a proper burial.

BY THE WAY:  If you'd like to make PERSONAL RESERVATIONS for yourself and your friends or family at FUTURE FREE REI CLASSES or SEMINARS:  You can check the offerings & availability and reserve your spot(s) as follows:
1) Go to REI.com
2) Click on "Store Locator" in the upper right corner of the home page and choose your Store of interest from the pop-up menus that appear.
3) Click on the free Class or Seminar of interest,
4) Fill in the online Reservation form and submit (may require your REI member number—costs only $20 for a lifetime membership).
5) If you fail to succeed in making a formal reservation, keep in mind that walk-ins at these events are usually acceptable, but only on a space-available or standing-room-only basis.