Eiger recalled by Kopczynski

Climbing: As “North Face” ends its run at the Magic Lantern Theater (25 W. Main Ave.) on Thursday, Spokane mountaineer Chris Kopczynski will preface the film with a brief personal account of scaling The Eiger.

In 1974, Kopczynski and John Roskelley of Spokane became the first Americans to climb the deadly “Nordwand” in the Swiss Alps.

“I had the only camera and when I wasn’t scared I took a few pictures,” said Kopczynski, who plans to show a few of the slides at 8:40 p.m. before the movie.

The film focuses on four climbers in 1936, the year of the first ascent, but it’s not an upbeat story of triumph.

“Between 1936 and 1964 there were 42 successful ascents of The Eiger, but 26 people died trying,” Kopczynski said. “Just thinking about those odds makes me shake.

“The movie is as good as ‘Touching the Void,’ one of the best true-story climbing movies ever made.”

•Also in person on Thursday, Malcom Daly will narrate “Tragedy and Triumph: An accident in Alaska,” a free film of his personal near-death climbing experience, 7 p.m., at Mountain Gear, 2002 N. Division.

Rich Landers

ESPN to air Locker’s finale

College football: The final game of quarterback Jake Locker’s career at Washington is being given a prime-time showcase.

The school announced Monday that the Huskies’ home finale against UCLA has been moved from Saturday, Nov. 13, to Thursday, Nov. 18. Kickoff will be at 5 p.m. and the game will be broadcast by ESPN.

“These types of games are the ones kids are excited to be a part of,” Washington coach Steve Sarkisian said.

It will be the first weekday home game at Husky Stadium since 1939 when Washington hosted Oregon on Thanksgiving Day.

But moving the game from the weekend is going to cause logistical issues the school is still tackling. Athletic director Scott Woodward said the school will use private charter buses to help transport fans and encourage using public transportation to help ease what will be a traffic challenge.

Locker’s presence wasn’t lost on ESPN. Dave Brown, vice president of programming at ESPN, noted that while it could be an important game in the Pac-10 race, it also is a chance for Locker to showcase himself to a national audience shortly before Heisman Trophy ballots are due.

Associated Press