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Sierra cinema: Climbing Yosemite’s El Capitan, skiing Himalayan Makalu

Staff report
Emily Harrington, shown in a file photo, conquered a route in a single day on Yosemite's El Capitan.
Provided / Louder Than 11 |

If you go

What: Alpenglow Sports Winter Film Series feat. Emily Harrington and Adrian Ballinger

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28

Where: Squaw Valley’s Olympic Village Lodge, 1901 Chamonix Place, Olympic Valley

Cost: Free

More information: alpenglowsports.com

TAHOE CITY, Calif. — Alpenglow Sports’ 10th anniversary Winter Film Series continues next week with Emily Harrington and Adrian Ballinger, who will present “From Big Walls to Big Hills, Emily Harrington and Adrian Ballinger’s Big Year.”

According to Alpenglow, the presentation will focus on the couple’s 2015 quest to both free climb Yosemite’s El Capitan and ski the 8,000-meter Himalayan giant Makalu … together, and in one calendar year.

“Emily and Adrian have been staples and consequent crowd favorites in our Winter Film Series over the last six years,” said Alpenglow Sports owner Brendan Madigan. “However, they’ve never presented to such a large audience together, so we’re extremely excited to watch two of the best story-telling athletes on the planet present their tandem show of extreme adventure.”



In 2015, Ballinger and Harrington quested to the edge of their personal limits with two extremely different, yet both very audacious objectives.

Emily’s life goal of free climbing El Capitan in Yosemite and Adrian’s dream to ski Makalu, the fifth tallest peak in the world, presented some of the greatest challenges they’ve faced in their relationship together.



“Their experiences were rife with struggle, frustration, and failure that tested their partnership, but also poignant moments of intense joy and satisfaction that brought them closer together,” according to Alpenglow.

The Alpenglow Winter Sports Film Series, presented by 101.5 KTKE Truckee Tahoe Radio, has become a winter tradition for North Tahoe’s skiing, climbing, and adventure community.

Over the last nine years, the series has raised nearly $60,000 for North Tahoe-Truckee nonprofits.

The nonprofit beneficiary for Thursday is Sierra Avalanche Center, the group responsible for providing avalanche safety bulletins for Tahoe-Truckee backcountry enthusiasts.

Visit sierraavalanchecenter.org to learn more.


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