Bernadette McDonald

Although author and mountain culture consultant Bernadette McDonald has roots nestled deep in the prairie soil she hails from, her passion now stems from the magic of the mountains. McDonald has authored 12 books and has won numerous awards, including two Boardman Tasker Prizes, the Banff Mountain Book Festival Grand Prize, Italy’s ITAS Prize and India’s Kekoo Naoroji Award. In 2011 the American Alpine Club awarded her their highest literary honor for excellence in mountain literature. Currently based in Banff, Alberta, McDonald is best known for founding the Mountain Culture Division of the Banff Centre. Her non-fiction books include Brotherhood of the Rope (2007), Tomaz Humar (2009), and Freedom Climbers (2011). She lectures at universities, festivals and alpine clubs, consults on mountain cultural issues with startup festivals and institutes, and curates mountain-related exhibitions. When not writing, Bernadette climbs, hikes, skis, paddles and grows grapes.