John Vaillant, Wayne Sawchuk, Michael Christopher Brown — Northern Giant

John Vaillant calls British Columbia’s Muskwa-Kechika wilderness area “arguably the biggest well-kept secret in North America.” Conservationist Wayne Sawchuk is its most eloquent spokesperson. Both will be in Banff to share the story of their four-week journey across the 6.4 million-hectare area.

Presentation: Wednesday, November 5, 7:30 p.m.

Literary Lunch Break
Maria Coffey — Explorers of the Infinite

Donald Cameron Hall Dining Room — $20 (includes lunch)

Maria Coffey is no stranger to the Festival. In her latest book, Explorers of the Infinite, she investigates how extreme risk-taking allows athletes and mountaineers to push into new realms of consciousness, and what they encounter there.

Presentation: Thursday, November 6, Noon – 1:00 p.m.

Lynn Martel — Expedition to the Edge

Lynn Martel has interviewed dozens of self-propelled adventurers. In her first book, Expedition to the Edge — Stories of Worldwide Adventure, she has assembled 59 compelling and entertaining stories that capture the exploits, hardships, fears, and personal insights of a who’s who of contemporary adventurers.

Presentation: Thursday, November 6, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Peter Habeler and Films

Peter Habeler’s passion for extreme climbing was sparked at an early age. By 16 he had climbed the most difficult rock and ice routes near his home in the Austrian Alps. At 21 he was a fully certified mountain guide. In the mid-1960s, Habeler forged a climbing partnership with Reinhold Messner that would make them the founding fathers of lightweight, alpine style climbing.

Presentation: Friday, November 7, 8:00 p.m.

Jim Donini — Wild Patagonia and Films

Jim Donini “was fated to become an alpinist." Since the early days, he has focused on big wall alpine style routes with many first ascents in both Patagonia and Alaska including the notorious Torre Egger, and most recently the southernmost Avellano Tower in Chilean Patagonia. When not putting up new routes, he is the president of the American Alpine Club.

Presentation: Saturday, November 8, 8:00 p.m.