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Piolets d'Or 2019 | 23rd September 2019 | ©Szymon Aksienionek
Piolets d'Or 2019 | 23rd September 2019 | ©Michal Zlotowski
Piolets d'Or 2019 | 23rd September 2019 | ©Lucyna Lewandowska
Piolets d'Or 2019 | 23rd September 2019 | ©Michal Zlotowski
Piolets d'Or 2019 | 23rd September 2019 | ©Michal Zlotowski
Piolets d'Or 2019 | 23rd September 2019 | ©Szymon Aksienionek
Piolets d'Or 2019 | 23rd September 2019 | ©Szymon Aksienionek
Piolets d'Or 2019 | 23rd September 2019 | ©Szymon Aksienionek
Piolets d'Or 2019 | 23rd September 2019 | ©Szymon Aksienionek
Piolets d'Or 2019 | 23rd September 2019 | ©Michal Zlotowski

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2019 - Krzysztof Wielicki

By Piotr Drożdż and Lindsay Griffin©Krzysztof Wielicki archive Born in January 1950, Krzysztof Wielicki remains one of the foremost mountaineers from "the Golden Age of Polish Himalayan Climbing". He started climbing...

2018 - Significant ascents

The following is a representative list of significant, innovative ascents in most mountain regions of the World, climbed during 2018, in alpine style, and without using drilled equipment. This is...

The Ladek Festival, base Camp for the 20…

The Piolets d'Or 2019 will be hosted by the Ladek Festival (Poland) The 2018 edition, which was held last September at the 23rd Ladek Mountain Festival in Poland, was a resounding...

International forum - Bibliography

Thursday, April 13th - 8pm | Salle Edmond Vigne (Fontaine, France) International forum on the question of proof of ascents in high-level alpinism: this debate will be held in the context...

2019 International Technical jury

For several years our jury has comprised only highly experienced alpinists. This year is no exception, with several jury members having climbed outstanding new routes that were awarded Piolets d'Or. ©Piolets...

Lunag Ri (6,895M)

Lunag Ri from the southwest. (A) Main summit (6,895m). (B) Southeast top (1) Line of Anker-Lama attempts in 2015 and 2016. (2) Line of Lama’s solo ascents. (H1) High point...

Luphgar Sar West (7,157M)

The western end of the Hispar Muztagh with :(A) Distaghil Sar (7,885m),(B) Lupghar Sar West (7,175m), showing the 2018 route on the west face,(C) Momhil Sar (7,414m),(D) Trivor (7,728m) and(E)...

Latok I (7,145M)

Seen from the north, (A) Latok I (7,145m) and (B) Latok II (7,108m).(1) The 2018 Russian attempt on the north ridge, reaching the summit ridge at approximately 7,050m.(2) Anglo-Slovenian route...

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The purpose of the Piolets d'Or awards is to raise awareness about the year's greatest ascents across the world. They aim to celebrate the taste for adventure, the bravery and sense of exploration that lie behind the art of climbing in the world's great mountain ranges. The Piolets d'Or draw their inspiration from mountaineering's rich history. They are a celebration of a sense of partnership and solidarity, of shared experiences, and reward individual or collective achievement.

More than just the recognition of a performance, the Piolets d'Or celebrates passion, spirit and values. The spirit of the Piolets d’Or draws its inspiration from the history of alpinism and the authenticity of true team spirit. The style should take precedence over the conquest of an objective. Success is no longer about getting to the summit at all costs, employing all possible financial and technical means, (oxygen, fixed ropes, doping products, etc) or large-scale human resources (high-altitude porters or sherpas). The Piolets d’Or event encourages imagination in searching for innovative routes using a maximum of economy of means, making use of experience and respecting man and nature. The Piolets d’Or is attached to making climbing a shared and valued richness all over the world, capable of attracting the best of human ambitions whilst encompassing moral values and edifying behaviour. The Piolets d'Or event is therefore a celebration of an ethical alpinism, rich in emotion.

In 2009, the first Lifetime Achievement Piolet d’Or was awarded to Walter Bonatti. His style of mountaineering perfectly reflected the spirit of thePiolets d’Or. He became a sort of godfather to those who would receive this award after him. In honour of the man and his spirit, it has been renamed the “Piolet d’Or Lifetime Achievement, Walter Bonatti Award”.

The Career Piolets d'Or was created to reward a career where the spirit has inspired the following generations, in the sense of criteria set down by the convention.

Recipients of the Piolet d'Or Career :: 2009 : Walter BONATTI; 2010 : Reinhold MESSNER; 2011 : Doug SCOTT
2012 : Robert PARAGOT; 2013 : Kurt DIEMBERGER; 2014 : John ROSKELLEY; 2015 : Chris BONINGTON; 2016 : Wojciech KURTYKA

You are interested in supporting us ? Please ask for our partnership information...

The Piolets Jeunes is a gathering for diversity, exchange of experience, know-how and cultures.
It allows young people to experience a true mountain experience.

Because we are convinced of the major educational role of mountain activities, particularly in the context of education through sport, we wish to contribute to the development of mountain activities among youth. We also promote the spirit and culture of the mountain, in order to put young people in link:
- Using natural and cultural heritage and mountain with the territory
- With strong values related to these adventure land practices: the spirit of discovery, respect, solidarity, spirit climber, commitment, experience, progressive autonomy, and responsibility

Visit the 'Piolets Jeunes' website

2019 - Krzysztof Wielicki

2018 - Significant ascents

The Ladek Festival, base Camp for the 20…

International forum - Bibliography

2019 International Technical jury

2019 Honoured Ascents

Lunag Ri (6,895M)

Luphgar Sar West (7,157M)

Latok I (7,145M)

What are the "Piolets d'Or" ?

A celebration of mountaineering

The Spirit of Modern Alpinism

The Piolet d'Or Career

They support us

The Piolets Jeunes

2019 Organizers