OUTDOORS -- Greg Mortenson, the climber, philanthropist and author of Three Cups of Tea, has finally come forward to comment on the charges made agaist him Sunday by 60 Minutes and fellow author and climber Jon Krakauer.  

Mortenson's interview to address the world-wide buzz about falsehoods in his books and questions about the money his fundraising has forwarded to schools for girls in Central Asia has just been released and is available at Outside Online.

The 60 Minutes report suggested that Mortenson exaggerates many of the claims in his books and uses money donated to his Central Asia Institute for promoting the sale of his books.

See Krakauer's detailed documentation of the charges here.

Click here for today's S-R story on the reaction of local universities that have hosted Mortensen recently, paid his $30,000 speaking fees and helped him raise money for the charity.

Joel Connelly of Seattlepi.com wrote this commentary today, bringing to mind the efforts of Sir Edmund Hillary.

Outside editorial director Alex Heard will be on Anderson Cooper 360 tonight talking about his interview with Mortenson.