A slideshow and discussion about the early days of rock climbing on the Colorado Plateau will be presented by Taylor Resident George Hurley, an ex-mountaineering guide. The event takes place Wednesday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m. in Taylor Community’s Woodside Building The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to ensure seating by calling 524-5600.

The slideshow presentation begins with the first ascent of Shiprock in October 1939. Hurley entered the desert climbing game in the 1950’s. In 1962, he, along with Lyton Kor and Huntley Ingalls made the first ascent of the 900-foot Titan and returned in 1966 with TM Herbert and Tom Condon to capture the second ascent. From 1966-1988, Hurley and Bill Forrest made first ascents of most of the spires in the Valley of the Gods in the southeast corner of Utah.

In the 1980’s, Hurley, Earl Wiggins and Katy Cassidy climbed towers near Moab. Included in the slideshow will be photographs of the first ascent of the Titan (1962); Standing Rock (1962) and Castleton Tower (1961).