Montana State University geology professor David Lageson and world-class mountaineer Conrad Anker head for Mount Everest

A Montana State University geology professor plans to climb Mount Everest this spring, conduct research on the way and share the experience as it happens with classrooms across Montana.

Professor of Geology David Lageson and world-class mountaineer Conrad Anker will leave Bozeman on March 18 for an expedition to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first American ascent of Mount Everest.

Anker — team captain of The North Face climbing athlete team and a non-degree graduate student in MSU’s Department of Earth Sciences — will lead an American team up the West Ridge to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first successful American ascent of Mount Everest in 1963, particularly the first ascent of the West Ridge and the first complete traverse of the mountain. The expedition is sponsored by National Geographic, The North Face, MSU and National Science Foundation EPSCoR.

The outreach team also developed classroom curriculum that targets fifth graders but could be adapted for other ages. Mount Everest "teacher kits" http://www.montana.edu/everest/sponsors.htm will go to Montana teachers who applied in advance and were selected to receive them. The kits contain some of the same equipment that the climbers will use, including professional GPS units, geologic rock hammers, digital cameras, weather-proof notepads, space pens, National Geographic maps and more.

By Evelyn Boswell, MSU News Service

Full Story: http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=10993