2011 Rowell Award for the Art of Adventure

The $15,000 annual cash award was established by The Rowell Legacy Committee and since 2004 this prestigious award has honored adventurers whose artistic passion illuminates the wild places of the world, and whose accomplishments significantly benefit both the environment and the people who inhabit these regions. Past award winners include writer Craig Childs, and outdoor photographers Jim Balog, Beth Wald and Jimmy Chin.

The year, the award is administered by the American Alpine Club and the individual will be selected by a panel of active and influential members of the outdoor adventure world. The Rowell Award winner will be notified by November 30, 2011 and for more information and to download the nomination form visit www.rowellaward.com.


The Rowells
Galen Rowell was born in 1940 in California. He took to climbing at an early age and became a full-time photographer in 1972. His images adorned Life, National Geographic Magazine and Outdoor Photographer to name but three magazines, and he was quickly recognised as one of the world's eminent wilderness photographers. He never lost sight of his climbing and mountaineering and achieved more than 100 first ascents in his beloved Sierra Nevada, as well as the first one-day ascent of Denali, the first ascent of Great Trango in 1977 (along with by John Roskelley, Kim Schmitz, Jim Morrissey and Dennis Hennek) as well as the first ascent of the stunning Cholatse (6440m) together with Vern Clevenger, John Roskelley and Bill O'Conner in 1982. Together with Barbara the two formed a formidable husband-and-wife team. Barbara's photography was widely published, too and just as committed to conservation as Galen prior to their untimely death in a plane accident in 2002. Their legacy lives on thanks to their Mountain Light Photography based in Bishop, California and their images and books continue to inspire all those who admire them.

If by chance you do not know their works we recommend just one image, namely that famous photo of the rainbow above Potala Palace in Tibet. A unique moment in time. Stopped, forever, by Galen Rowell.