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62 BCBUSINESS APRIL 2020 FROM LEFT: RONNIE LEE HILL PHOTOGRAPHY; ROBERT KEZIERE biking to lifting weights at the gym and doing long hikes with 30 pounds of water jugs in his back- pack. But Popescu didn't find the fitness aspect an issue as much as the acclimatization, or lack thereof. "In hindsight, I think the strategy could have differed a bit," he admits. "We ended up spending more time at base camp, because there was some fear that there would be higher winds, which would prevent us from summiting." That meant that Popescu and his team of five missed two of the three scheduled acclima- tization hikes, which are designed to ease climbers into the abrupt change in atmosphere. "We made it to the last camp before the summit, and the next morning, most of us felt sick right off the bat," he recalls. "And I sort of felt like I was in and out of con- sciousness; I was pretty out of it. Four of the five of us ended up turning around." In the end, Popescu got up to 21,200 feet above sea level. Acon- cagua's highest peak? About 1,600 feet higher. "I slept all afternoon and felt good the next morning, which would have been a good one to go back up," he says, his voice tinged with regret. "But unfortunately we ran out of time—couldn't give it a second go." Though not a regular climber, Popescu does consider himself some- thing of an adventure junkie. That can be at- tributed at least partly to coming to Vancouver in 2001 from his native To- ronto. In B.C., he joined Wellington West Capital, becoming a partner and reaping some of the ben- efits of its $333-million sale in 2011. Two years later, he jumped back in the fray, starting Harbourfront, where he now serves as president and CEO. He also took up hobbies like mountain biking, skiing and water sports, which he notes are "pretty com- mon in Vancouver." As for trying two in- timidating mountain treks without much prior expe- rience? Popescu attributes some of that to being "biased to children's char- itable initiatives," thanks to his young kids. But also: "It's just cool to accomplish a goal and be on top of one of these mountains, two of the Seven Summits," he says, referring to the highest mountains on each of the seven continents. "Just thought it would be a bucket-list thing." We can't wait for the threequel in another 15 years. Stay tuned for Climb Hard: Everest. • A F T E R HO U R S GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY A celebration of Bill Reid's centennial birthday, To Speak With a Golden Voice explores the life and legacy of the influential and versatile Haida artist. Besides showcasing some of his rarely seen creations, the group exhibit at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art in Vancouver includes pieces from Robert Davidson and Beau Dick, plus two new works by carver Cori Savard and singer-songwriter Kinnie Starr. April 22–October 4 $6-$30; Indigenous Peoples and children 12 and under free LIVING THE DRAM Why not make it a Whisky & Words weekend? The 20th annual fund- raiser's main event offers unlimited tastings of global whiskies (plus local craft spirits, beer and wine), food, live entertainment and a silent auction featuring rare drams. Taking place at various Granville Island venues, the gathering also includes master classes such as Glenmorangie: Sci- ence & Whisky and Ardbeg: Masters of Smoke. There are whisky- paired dinners as well, one of them on board a yacht with sponsoring distiller the Dalmore. All proceeds go to the Vancouver Writers Fest to support its youth educational programming. April 24 and 25 $50-$160 • INCLUDES: • REPORT CARD Last week's hits and misses • REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP Most and least expensive homes sold in B.C. • 10 THINGS you didn't know about prominent business leaders GET UP-TO-DATE BUSINESS NEWS DIRECTLY TO YOUR INBOX BCBUSINESS.CA | @BCBUSINESS