Stories from the Balé Mountains of Ethiopia with Bob Waltermire

Date and Time

• Tuesday, Oct 6, 2026  6pm - 7:30pm

Location

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Details

From 1970 to 1974, Bob Waltermire served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer and warden of the proposed Balé Mountains National Park in Ethiopia, a wild, high-altitude landscape home to the Oromo people and extraordinary biodiversity.

In this personal and gripping talk, Bob shares three unforgettable stories from his time in the field: a 65-mile trek through the bandit-rumored Harenna forest to prove its safety; a harrowing five-day, 250-mile rescue effort to save a man injured on the remote Sanetti Plateau; and the tense upheaval that followed the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie I, as Bob worked to protect the park's land and wildlife amid political chaos.

Woven throughout is the story of Bob's enduring friendship with Kedir Hussein, a park employee whose courage and loyalty were central to each adventure. Bob will also share how his connection to Ethiopia never faded. He and his wife Karel, whom he met and married in Ethiopia, have returned eight times since 2003. Karel started a small-business loan program for women and Bob supports clean water projects in remote villages.

Don't miss this rare firsthand account of adventure, friendship, and conservation in one of Africa's most remarkable landscapes, and a tribute to the Ethiopians who protected it.

Presented in collaboration with the Fort Collins International Center.

Tues, Oct 6, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Doors Open 5:30 PM

Admission: $10

Light snacks and refreshments provided.

This event is produced by an outside organization and is unaffiliated with the Downtown Development Authority. The DDA website serves as a marketing outlet for events and promotions occurring inside the Downtown boundary. For questions regarding the event, please contact the event producer.