Fournel Ice Meet and Piolet d'Or 2002

The 12th "Rassemblement International des Glacieristes du Fournel" and 11th Piolet d'Or will take place in Argentière - La Bessée from 9-13 January 2002

PlanetMountain.com

December 2001

Traduci in

From 9-13 January 2002 the traditional "Rassemblement International des Glacieristes du Fournel" will take place in the Fournel and FreissiniÃ¨res valleys. This famous meeting is now in its 12th edition and over 1000 ice climbers from 30 different countries are expected to take part. With over 350 icefalls in the Parc National des Ecrins, they will have plenty to choose from.

For the second year running the prestigious Piolet d'Or will be held during the five day meet. The award, organised by the French GHM (Groupe de haute montagne) and Montagnes magazine, is attributed to the most important alpine achievement of the year. The jury is presided by Sir Chris Bonington, without a doubt one of the greatest representatives of alpinism of all times. As usual the candidates will present their climbs during the course of the meet, and the nominees for the 11th Piolet d'Or are listed below.

The2002 meeting also includes the "Bourse ExpÃ© Jeunes", awarded by the French Alpine Club (CAF) to the best youth project, and the "Village Icexpo", an occasion for companies to present their newest products.

NOMINEES PIOLET D'OR

Dent Moose, Alaska.
Jim Bridwell & Spencer Pfingsten for the first ascent of ‘The Beast’ on the East Face.
Altitude: 3150m — route length: 1500m.
Grade: VII/A5/6a+/WI4+/M6
Duration: 29 days in 2000 and 30 in 2001.

Denali, Alaska.
Marko Prezelj & Stephen Koch for the first ascent of ‘Luna’ on the SW Face.
Altitudine: 6193m - route length: 17 pitches.
Grade: V+, WI6+, M5+.
Duration: 23 hours.

Shipton Spire, Trango Towers, Pakistan.
Mauro Bole, Mario Cortese e Fabio Dandri for the first ascent of "Woman and Chalk" on the East Face.
Altitude: 5850m - route length: 1150 m 29 pitches.
Grade: 8a.
Duration: 13 days on the route, freed all the pitches.

Alpine Traverse.
Patrick BÃ©rhault

Meru Central Peak, Garwhal massif, India.
Valeri Babanov for the first ascent of the North Face.
Altitude: 6310m - route length: 2000m
Grade: ED (5+/6a, A1/A2, M5, 75Â°)
Duration: 5 days on the face (17-22 September)

Lhotse central, Nepal.
Yuri Koshelenko + 11 alpinists
Altitude: 8414m - route length: 2000m
Difficulties: 80Â° ice, 15 m vertical wall at 8000m.
Duration: 2 months in total (1/4-29/5). 6 days for the successful ascent from BC (23-27 May).

On PlanetMountain:
Bubu Bole, Women and chalk
Piolet d'or 2001

Further info about the ice meet
www.ice-fall.com

Piolet d’or live on
www.tvmountain.com