While climbing Cho Oyu in the Himalayas in 2006, mountaineering guide Luis Benitez and his group witnessed a murder. Tibetan refugees passing their base camp came under fire by the Chinese Border Patrol — an attack that left one dead.

Despite being told to keep quiet, Benitez emailed his account to the world, a move that not only cost him his career, but profoundly affected his life. He will be discussing his decision, along with his life leading up to it and the aftermath — politically, professionally and personally — Monday at Colorado Mountain College in Breckenridge.

“It's not just a story about human rights, it's a story about morally driven leadership, and what that looks like in today's climate,” Benitez said. “It really changed my scope and my vision about what it means to be a human being that strives to make a difference.”

Now working for Vail Resorts in the Learning and Development Department, and on the board for the Rocky Mountain Outward Bound School, Benitez has been a mountaineer guide for 20 years. Before the incident, he thought he was living out his dream.

“As a mountain guide, you never think you're going to get propelled into something like this,” Benitez said. “It changed my life.”

Speaking out thrust him into the middle of a highly charged political issue — colleagues urged Benitez to stay quiet about the event in fear of losing permits, and argued their industry provided the Nepalese with jobs. But, he couldn't turn a blind eye.

“We may provide value, but at what cost?” Benitez said.

The story of the incident eventually led to a book, “Murder in the High Himalaya: Loyalty, Tragedy and Escape From Tibet” by Jonathan Green, and a documentary entitled “Murder in the Snow.” Snippets of the movie will be shown at Monday's presentation.

At the event, Benitez hopes to impress on attendees each person is braver and more powerful than they realize, and that it's possible to engage when faced with a tough choice.

“One voice can make a difference,” Benitez said.