Visit the County Museum on March 13 To Meet a World Record-Holding Mountain Climber!
Visit the County Museum on March 13
To Meet a World Record-Holding
Mountain Climber!
Hurleyville, NY – Housed in the Sullivan County Museum, the Frederick Cook Society is pleased to present an afternoon talk with Vern Tejas – world record-holding mountain climber – on Thursday, March 13 at 1 p.m.
Tejas is known for Mt. Denali’s first solo winter ascent, the first solo of Mt. Vinson (Antarctica’s highest), the first winter ascent of Mt. Logan (Canada’s highest) and lead guide for Col. Norman Vaughan’s first ascent of Mt. Vaughan in remote Antarctica.
Last year, one of the Frederick Cook Society’s volunteers opened an old cabinet in the back of the Cook Gallery and discovered an envelope containing two small objects within bubble wrap. They turned out to be rocks taken from the summit of Mount Denali (also known as Mount McKinley). A note in the envelope explained that none other than Vern Tejas rappelled the mountain to collect these rocks, to help prove that Frederick Cook’s description of the summit (as granite) was correct.
Dr. Cook is the Sullivan County native who explored both ends of the earth, as well as Greenland and Alaska. Doubters have challenged his claims for years, while the Cook Society, located in Hurleyville, has quietly and resolutely defended his honor. Cook Society Executive Director Carol Smith had this to say about the situation.. “Cook’s story, his persecution and subsequent redemption presents one of the most profound examples of how the media can manipulate public perception. It also speaks to the ways in which jealousy can corrupt power and foster hatred. Frederick Cook was loved and admired by nearly everyone he met, but exploration at the turn of the century involved regional and national pride, and Cook’s rare talent and unprecedented success earned him the wrath of some very powerful people.”
On Thursday, March 13, at 1 p.m., Tejas will present a talk about his extraordinary mountaineering career. He currently holds the world record for the amount of time taken to summit all seven summits consecutively. He is the first person to solo summit several of the world’s tallest peaks. And in 2002, Sports Illustrated named Tejas as one of the top 50 Alaskan athletes of the twentieth century.
When asked about his passion for climbing, Tejas replied, “I like being active in the physical world and doing something that is challenging and something that also might cross new barriers or new horizons, but it is metaphorical when you look into it deeply; it’s really yourself that you are exploring. You really are discovering your own limits and finding your own uncharted waters. It plays back and forth between the real world and your internal world, and for me it’s been a trip of discovery.”
This fascinating presentation will be held at the Sullivan County Museum, 265 Main Street, Hurleyville, with doors opening at noon. The event is free - refreshments will be available, and donations are welcome.
