David A. Sowles Memorial Award

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The David A. Sowles Memorial Award is the American Alpine Club's highest award for valour, bestowed at irregular intervals on mountaineers who have "distinguished themselves, with unselfish devotion at personal risk or sacrifice of a major objective, in going to the assistance of fellow climbers imperilled in the mountains." [1] It is named after David A. Sowles, a climber who died in the Alps in 1963. [2]

Notable recipients include the members of the Third American Karakoram Expedition for their attempted rescue of Art Gilkey on K2 in 1953, Pete Athans, Todd Burleson and Anatoli Boukreev for their part in the 1996 Everest disaster, [1] Ed Viesturs for two separate rescues on K2 in 1992, [3] and Simone Moro for his rescue of young mountaineer Tom Moores in 2001. [4]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1953 American Karakoram expedition</span> Attempt at first ascent of K2 in 1953

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Adam Radosław Bielecki is a Polish alpine and high-altitude climber, known for the first winter ascents of the eight-thousanders: Gasherbrum I and Broad Peak. In his book Spod zamarzniętych powiek written with co-author Dominik Szczepański, Bielecki tells the story of his climbings, memories from Himalayan expeditions, and the effort the highest mountains demand.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1938 American Karakoram expedition to K2</span> Failed attempt to climb second-highest mountain

The 1938 American Karakoram expedition to K2, more properly called the "First American Karakoram expedition", investigated several routes for reaching the summit of K2, an unclimbed mountain at 28,251 feet (8,611 m) the second highest mountain in the world. Charlie Houston was the leader of what was a small and happily united climbing party. After deciding the Abruzzi Ridge was most favorable, they made good progress up to the head of the ridge at 24,700 feet (7,500 m) on July 19, 1938. However, by then their supply lines were very extended, they were short of food and the monsoon seemed imminent. It was decided that Houston and Paul Petzoldt would make the last push to get as close to the summit as they could and then rejoin the rest of the party in descent. On July 21 the pair reached about 26,000 feet (7,900 m). In favorable weather, they were able to identify a suitable site for a higher camp and a clear route to the summit.

References

  1. 1 2 Potterfield, Peter (December 12, 1997). "Everest Guides Cited for Heroism". mountainzone.com. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
  2. "Awards". American Alpine Club. Archived from the original on 2007-10-26. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
  3. "Ed Viesturs". keynotespeakers.com. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  4. "Simone Moro received the David a Sowles award 2/2002".