This year’s Piolets d’Or ceremony will take the stage in Briancon, France, for the second straight year. Recipients include Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll, the Ukrainian and Georgian teams, and Silvo Karo — who will receive the Lifetime Achievement award.
Only the world’s best and boldest climbers earn a spot in line for a “golden ice axe,” alpinism’s seminal award. Today, the Piolets d’Or announced 2022’s seven winners (across three teams).
The organization will celebrate the seven climbers alongside Silvo Karo, who won this year’s Walter Bonatti Lifetime Achievement award, in Briancon, France, from Nov. 18 to 20.
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Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll, ‘Moonwalk Traverse’
Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll will hoist an axe for his solo first ascent of the “Moonwalk Traverse” in February 2021. It’s hard to overstate the sheer workload the climb demanded: 11,000-plus feet of climbing and descent along the Fitz Roy Massif. O’Driscoll’s 5-day effort constituted the second overall ascent of the massif and the first time anybody had tackled the iconic ridgeline from south to north.
Veteran Patagonia climber Colin Haley said at the time, “There is no doubt that this is the most impressive solo ascent ever done in Patagonia, and I can’t help but wonder if it isn’t simply the most impressive ascent ever done in Patagonia in general.”
Georgian Team Wins With Bold First Ascent
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Ukrainians Persevere for Coveted Annapurna III FA
Karo Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
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