Grandfather Presents: Baker Perry

A speaker in our Grandfather Presents series, Dr. Baker Perry is a National Geographic Explorer and a Professor at Appalachian State University in Boone. His research interests include alpine precipitation formation, snow and ice, and precipitation-glacier-climate interactions. Perry has led or co-led 23 research expeditions and – along with local collaborators – has installed and maintained 11 weather stations above an elevation of 5,000 meters. In 2022, Perry led two National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Expeditions: one to Nevado Ausangate (6,384 m) in southern Peru to assess climate change impacts, and another to install the highest weather station in the world just below the summit at the Bishop Rock (8,810 m) and maintain other stations installed in 2019. He also co-led the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Expedition to Tupungato Volcano in Chile that installed the highest weather station in the Americas in February 2021.

Dr. Perry has over 30 years of alpine mountaineering experience that includes an installation of a weather station at 8,430 m at the Balcony on Mt. Everest in Nepal, an installation of a weather station at 6,349 m on Ausangate in Peru, ascents of Illimani (6,435 m) and Ancohuma (6,427 m) in Bolivia for data collection from snow pits, a first ascent of the southwest face of Soral Este (5,460 m) in Bolivia, and extensive field work on glacierized surfaces above 5,000 m. Dr. Perry has slept at elevations above 5,000 m on 134 nights (above 6,000 m on 17 nights) and has climbed to his team’s weather station at 5,650 m on the summit plateau of the Quelccaya Ice Cap in Peru 22 times since 2014.

Tickets
Buy tickets below beginning July 6, 2023.

“VIP” tickets include a VIP reception with the guest speaker that includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, in addition to the program and the “meet and greet” session after the event. Admission to the park for the day is also included.

• $60 “VIP” Adult
• $51 “VIP” Bridge Club Member

“Regular” tickets are a more cost-effective option and include only the speaker’s program and the “meet and greet” session after the event.

• $25 “Regular” Adult
• $20 “Regular” Bridge Club Member
• Children under 12 admitted for free (max of four free children per purchase)

Schedule

• 8 a.m. | Park opens for the day and “VIP” ticket holders allowed access to the park
• 4:45 p.m. | “Regular” ticket holders allowed to enter the park and are welcome to explore the Conservation Campus (Wilson Center, Mildred the Bear Environmental Habitats and more) prior to the speaker presentation.
• 4:45 – 5:45 p.m. | Check-in for all event attendees at the front of the Wilson Center
• 5 – 5:30 p.m. | “VIP” Reception in one of the classrooms in the Wilson Center (VIP ticket holders only)
• 5:45 – 6:45 p.m. | Speaker Presentation in the Classroom in the Clouds
• 6:45 – 7:30 p.m. | “Meet-and-Great” with the speaker
• 7:45 p.m. | Park should be clear of all Grandfather Presents guests

Refunds/Cancellations
Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out to us at least five days before the event. This allows time for individuals on the waiting list to make accommodations to attend the event. To cancel your registration please call 828-733-2013 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

More About Grandfather Presents
Our 2023 speaker series at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery includes five big Thursday night events with internationally and nationally known presenters. Presented by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, the series also includes two Saturday afternoon presentations focused on nature, adventure or conservation-related topics on a local or regional scale. Read more.