12:30 – 1:45 p.m.

Hot Topics: Ethics at Altitude

Max Bell Auditorium, Free

Today’s high-altitude expeditions play out their ethical dilemmas in the spotlight of media attention. In the early years of mountaineering, the decisions to attempt — or not to attempt — the rescue of a helpless team-mate or stranger were discussed in print months or years later. Now, they’re debated on talk shows within 24 hours of the event. An Alpinist editorial deplores the broad public impression that morality stops at a pre-ordained altitude. Others muse that the questionable ethical decisions are mostly products of the “brand name” mountains. It seems that the most negative stories are the most broadly reported and the most positive stories get little press. Our panelists have seen both sides, firsthand.

Left for dead near the summit of Everest, then rescued after 12 hours, Australian mountaineer and author Lincoln Hall lived to tell the tale.

Calgary climber Andrew Brash gave up an Everest summit bid to help with Hall’s rescue.

Australian-born mountaineer Greg Child’s high-altitude summits include K2, Gasherbrum IV, and Everest. He reported on the 2007 climbing season live from Everest for Discovery.com.

James Tabor’s book Forever on the Mountain examines the 1967 Mount McKinley tragedy where seven men perished under mysterious circumstances while stranded at 6100 metres.