Each year the Piolet d’Or, or Golden Ax Awards, are given out to mountaineers who have made bold climbs over the past 12 months. This year, Americans Mark Richey, Steve Swenson, and Freddie Wilkinson won for their first ascent of Saser Kangri II last summer. They were joined as winners by a pair of Slovenians who took on K7 West as well.
Below are two videos that highlight both of those climbs and a third that received “Special Mention” from the Piolet d’Or selection committee.
Thanks to The Adventure Journal for sharing these great videos.
Kraig is an outdoor and adventure travel writer based in Nashville, TN. Over the course of his career, he has contributed to numerous online and print outlets, including Popular Mechanics, Gear Junkie, Outside Online, National Geographic, Digital Trends, Business Insider, TripSavvy, about.com, and of course The Adventure Blog.
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Congratulations to Mark, Steve and Freddie – AWESOME ACHIEVEMENT, and great recognition – richly deserved.