In collaboration with the American Alpine Journal, the Piolets d'Or Committee has published a comprehensive list of significant ascents for 2023. It includes climbs such as Renaissance by Peter von Känel and Silvan Schüpbach and Ultima Perla Integral by Simon Gietl, Lukas Hinterberger and Michi Wohlleben.
The Piolet d'Or Committee has published an extensive list of major climbs from almost every mountain region around the globe. This is not the list of nominees for the coveted award, but rather "a selection of climbs considered remarkable and adventurous in their respective regions and involving new routes that have been climbed more or less continuously in alpine style".
Remarkable mountaineering achievements
On the list of important ascents of 2023 by Lindsay Griffin, Dougald MacDonald and Rodolphe Popier in Pakistan, for example, there is the first ascent of Yernamandu Kangri (7,163m) by Simon Messner and Martin Sieberer or the first ascent of The Alien Face (800m, 7a, M5) on Baintha Kabata (6,290m) by the trio Symon Welfringer, Matteo Della Bordella and Silvan Schüpbach.
In India, the first ascent of Tomorrow is Another Day (1,400m, ED, 5c A2 WI4 M6) on the north face of Flat Top (6,100m) is listed, which Hugo Béguin, Matthias Gribi and Nathan Monard had achieved in October; as well as the first ascent by Simon Gietl, Mathieu Maynadier and Roger Schäli on the southeast face of Meru South, Central Top (ca 6,600m): Goldfish (800m, M6+, A1).
In the Nepalese Himalayas, ten ascents made it onto the list, including Round trip ticket (2700m, M7, AI5+, AO), the line of the Americans Alan Rousseau, Matt Cornell and Jackson Marvell through the north face of the 7000m Jannu.
In the Alpine region, the Ground-up inspection of Ultima Perla on Monte Agnèr by Simon Gietl, Lukas Hinterberger and Michi Wohlleben, the first ascent Couloir Isaie (600m, M8, 7a/7a+, AI5) on the west face of the Aiguille Noire du Peuterey (3.773 m) by Franz Cazzanelli, Emrik Favre and Stefano Stradelli or Silvan Schüpbach and Peter von Känel's Trad first ascent Renaissance (30SL, 7c) in the Eiger North Face.
Awards ceremony in December
The Piolets d'Or Award 2024 will be presented this year from December 8 to 11 in San Martino di Castrozza. The jury includes Jack Tackle, Lise Billon, Mikel Zabalza, Genki Narumi, Toni Gutsch, Aleš Česen and Enrico Rosso.
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Credits: Cover photo Piolets d'Or