National Geographic Live: Improbable Ascent

Rock climbing is one of the most daunting sports. Imagine standing at the bottom of a cliff face knowing that soon enough, if everything goes to plan, you’ll be belaying down after reaching the top. Now imagine doing that with one hand. Maureen Beck, the featured National Geographic Live speaker for May, was born with one hand and learned how to rock climb through adaptive climbing innovations, trial and error, and her own passion for the sport. In her talk, “Improbable Ascent,” Beck discusses her climbing goals and accomplishments, which include journeying to Canada’s Cirque of the Unclimbables to attempt the first unassisted, adaptive climb of the Lotus Flower Tower. That’s certainly a tall order but Beck has defied odds before, and she can certainly do it again.

National Geographic Live: Improbable Ascent • Wed, May 18 at 7 pm • $25-$31 • Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox • 1001 W. Sprague Ave. • foxtheaterspokane.org • 509-624-1200