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Arts & Lectures
JUN 16 - 17, 2022
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Nat Geo Live: Improbable Ascent

Maureen Beck, paraclimber
 


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The Broad Stage - Main Stage
Date Price Time  
THU, JUN 16 $90/$70/$55 7:30 PM
FRI, JUN 17 $85/$65/$50 7:30 PM

About

The Nat Geo Live speaker series brings you behind-the-scenes stories, stunning imagery and gripping footage from National Geographic's world-renowned photographers, scientists, authors, filmmakers and adventurers.

Paraclimber Maureen Beck learned how to rock climb one-handed through trial and error—one of her early adaptive climbing innovations involved taping a metal ladle to her arm. It wasn’t long before she was tackling some of the hardest climbs by a one-handed athlete, securing two world championships in the process. In her constant pursuit of new challenges, she journeyed to Canada’s Cirque of the Unclimbables to attempt the first unassisted adaptive climb of the Lotus Flower Tower. With her trademark humor and wit, this 2019 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year will chronicle her journey as one of the foremost leaders in the sport of paraclimbing. 


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Images taken by Krus Ugarizza.

Artists

Maureen Beck loves to prove people wrong. Born with one hand, she tried rock climbing for the first time after a camp counselor told her she could skip it. Her love of the sport was instantaneous, but there was no guide for climbing with one hand. Unfazed, she decided to figure it out for herself through trial and error—one of her early adaptive climbing innovations even involved taping a metal ladle to her arm. Before long she was leading a crew of passionate adaptive climbers around the world, forging a path for a new generation. After tackling some of the hardest climbs by a one-handed athlete and securing two world paraclimbing championships, Maureen yearned to push still further outside of her comfort zone. So when legendary adaptive climber Jim Ewing asked her to join his attempt to make the first adaptive ascent of one of North America’s classic, most wild towers—the Lotus Flower Tower in Canada’s Cirque of the Unclimbables—she didn’t hesitate. On their month-long expedition they dealt with rough weather, sudden illness and a food shortage, yet Maureen found herself growing addicted again to the thrills and challenges of the sport. With her trademark humor and wit, this 2019 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year will share how a little creativity and a whole lot of grit and determination have propelled her to the top of her field.

Press

National Geographic Explores How Paraclimber Maureen Beck Reinvented the Sport of Rock Climbing 

National Geographic shares how "Beck is one of the leading advocates for adaptive climbing in the United States. She believes we have not yet seen how far adaptive climbers can take the sport." Click here to read more. 
 

The Gazette Shines a Light on Inspirational One-Handed Rock Climber Maureen Beck

Maureen Beck sits down with The Gazette to share how she conquers the rock-climbing world. "I happen to have one hand...but first and foremost I’m a climber." Click here to continue reading.
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