AAC Announces 2009 Spitzer Cutting Edge Awards
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Posted: Apr 17, 2009
Six teams have been selected to receive the AAC's Lyman Spitzer Cutting Edge Awards for 2009, for climbs from Baffin Island to wildest China. The Spitzer Committee carefully reviewed 23 applications, a record number, to make its choice. This year, a total of $12,000 in Spitzer grants will back the following expeditions:
• Kelly Cordes and Kyle Dempster will attempt new routes and first ascents among the little-known 6,000-meter-plus peaks of the northern Tien Shan range, on the Chinese side of the border.
• Pat Goodman and Dave Sharratt will attempt unclimbed Peak 5,592m (a.k.a. the Barbarian) in China's Qonglai Mountains, as well as the first ascent of Peak 5,513m by its 1,000-meter southeast face.
• Toby Grohne and Jesse Huey will attempt a bold ice line on the 1,500-meter northwest face of Siguniang (6,250m) in Sichuan, China.
• Joe Puryear will travel to Nepal with partner David Gottlieb to attempt one of the highest unclimbed peaks in the Himalaya: the beautiful, complex Lunag Ri (6,907m).
• Pete Takeda will return to Pumari Chhish East for a second attempt on this unclimbed 6,890-meter Karakoram summit, along with partners Raphael Slawinski, Eamonn Walsh, and Ian Welsted.
• Dave Turner is mounting a two-month solo expedition to Sam Ford Fjord on Baffin Island, where he will attempt a lightweight first ascent on the stunning walls of Broad Peak.
In addition, Micah Dash, winner of a 2008 Spitzer Award, is headed to Tibet this month to attempt the first ascent of 5,700-meter Dojitsenga with Jonny Copp. Their trip was postponed last year because of political unrest in the region.
Each year, the AAC's Lyman Spitzer Awards back American expeditions to the toughest alpine objectives in the world. Click here to learn more about these grants or download an application.
In the photo: Unclimbed Lunag Ri (6,907m) will be attempted this spring by Spitzer Award winner Joe Puryear and partner David Gottlieb. Photo courtesy of Joe Puryear.