Ueli Steck and Simon Anthamatten win 2009 Piolet d'Or (Hardwear Sessions)

From the Office of Ueli Steck

Ueli Steck and Simon Anthamatten have been awarded with one of 3 "Piolets d'Or 2009."

On Saturday night, the annual "Piolet" event that brought together mountaineers from all four corners of the earth came to an end, with 3 Piolets awarded for first ascents, and one Piolet given for career achievement.

Ueli Steck und Simon Anthamatten have been awarded with a "Piolet d'Or 2009" for their great first ascent in the alpine style of Tengkampoche Northface (6500m), Khumbu Valley, Nepal. Ueli Steck has already been nominated for a previous Piolets d'Or: in 2005 for his Khumbu-Express (Nepal): Solo first ascent of Cholatse Northface (6640m), and in solo first ascent of east face of Tawoche (6505m) and north-west-face of Ama Dablam (break off at 5900m, due to bad weather).

Ueli Steck: "It is a great honour for me to receive the "Piolets d'Or 2009" award. This award is given away by mountaineers who know what alpinism is all about. This prize should also be trendsetting. Therefore it is a great confirmation that Simon and I are on the right track. Alpinism is not comparable. First of all it is a matter of personal experience and personal challenge. That's why it is important to be able to follow some rules. With today's modern technique everything is achievable. Every mountain can be climbed. But the mountain is no longer the determining link between success and failure. Personally this is exactly what most matters: that the alpinist is the most important element between success and failure and not primarily the technical means. Thanks to all my sponsors, which have been supporting me during all these years and who give me the opportunity to realise such idealistic goals.

Thank you also to Simon: this was one of the most beautiful expeditions I could experience.

Although this prize was for 2009 I am proud of all my ascents. And we do not have to forget: it's not over yet, it will go on. I am totally consumed by my projects. And the next one is closer than we might think."

The other two winners of the "Piolets d'Or 2009":

First ascent of the South-West face of Kamet (7756m, India) : A mixed Japanese team composed of Kazuya Hiraide and Kei Taniguchi opened up the unclimbed South-west face of Kamet in alpine style, between 26th September and 7th October 2008. Name of Route : Samurai Direct. Height of Climb: 1800m. Difficulties declared: mixed M5+, ice 5+.

New route on the North face of Kalanka (6931m, India):  In September 2008, the Japanese Fumitaka Ichimura, Yusuke Sato and Kazuki Amano achieved a new route on the North face of Kalanka in alpine style, which had never been ascended in one go in September. Height of Route: 1800m. Difficulty declared: mixed M5.

Walter Bonatti, the probably greatest alpinist of his time, has been awarded with the "Piolets d'Or-Career".