Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/644745
Garrett Madison: Epic Climbs of the World's Highest Peaks Tuesday, March 15 Bainbridge Island native and WAC member Garrett Madison began as a professional mountaineering guide in 1999 on Mount Rainier and is now America's premier Mount Everest climber and guide. As expedition leader, he has personally led 37 climbers to the summit of Everest during the last seven years, more than any other American. In 2011, Garrett led the first expedition in history where climbers and Sherpas reached the summit of Everest and Lhotse in less than 24 hours. He repeated this double-header in 2013; Garrett is the only person to complete it twice. In 2014, Garrett led the first successfully guided ascent of K2, arguably the hardest and most dangerous mountain in the world. He appeared on the cover of Outside magazine in May 2015. Join us at the WAC to hear Garrett speak about his most arduous expeditions, successes, failures, leadership, and survival. A portion of lecture proceeds will benefit International Medical Corps. Social begins at 6 pm, followed by program at 6:30 pm; $40; cancel by March 7 N E W 20s/30s Wine Tasting Weekend in Portland (WAC-MAC Partnership) Friday May 13–Sunday, May 15 Want to kick-start your ongoing exploration of the Northwest wine scene or just looking for a fun weekend with WAC members? We've got you covered. Be a part of the excitement as Washington Athletic Club and Multnomah Athletic Club 20s/30s members come together and taste our way through Oregon's Willamette Valley. This valley is known as one of the premier Pinot Noir–producing areas in the world. We will taste Pinot Noir along with three to four other wines at three different wineries, including Sokol Blosser. This six-hour wine tour includes transportation and a gourmet sack lunch served with a glass of wine. The weekend kicks off on Friday afternoon with motor coach transportation to the Sentinel Hotel in downtown Portland. Weekend includes round-trip motor coach transportation (Seattle-Portland), wine tasting at three wineries, and gourmet sack lunch. Overnight hotel accommodations not included, but the WAC has secured a group discount rate at the Sentinel Hotel. $175 per person; noncancelable/ nonrefundable Depart WAC: Friday, May 13; noon Depart Portland: Sunday, May 15; noon N E W A Life's Masterpiece: Soos Creek Botanical Garden Thursday, May 19 This new botanical garden in Auburn offers extravagantly planted double bor- ders inspired by the color play of British garden designer Gertrude Jekyll. The huge artful borders are more than 500 feet long, and wide enough to hold masses of shrubs, trees and perennials including a vegetable demonstration gar- den that gives its produce to the local food bank. Explore the onsite heritage center, with photos and artifacts of the early settlers of the Soos Creek Plateau, including Skagen's Norwegian ancestors. Visit the aviary, aflutter with Asian pheasants, peacocks, parakeets, doves, and quail. Following the 90-minute tour, stop by the seasonal plant sale before that harmoniously blend color, shape and texture like an impressionist paint- ing. For 50 years, devoted plant collector and connoisseur Maurice Skagen has designed and planted these 22 acres, transforming former farmland into 11 themed gardens connected by ambling paths that fork to a tributary of Soos Creek. Join our docent tour and stroll the woodlands, ponds and gardens, 42 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | MARCH / APRIL 2016 CLUB PROGRAMS 206.464.3060 • clubprograms@wac.net