Jack Tackle
USA - age 70
A true legend of North American mountaineering, Jack has been climbing mountains all over the world for almost 50 years. In particular, he has left his mark in Alaska, making numerous major first ascents on the flanks of Denali, Foraker, and Mount Hunter that have inspired generations of climbers. In 1999 he received the coveted Underhill Award (recently renamed the Pinnacle Award) for lifetime achievement. A former director of the American Alpine Club, he is now Chairman of the Club’s Cutting Edge Alpine Grant committee.
"Actions speak louder than words".
Lise Billon
France - age 36
The first ascent of the northeast pillar of Cerro Riso Patron, a particularly isolated and inhospitable peak in Patagonia, was only the second route to be awarded a Piolet d’Or by a team that included a woman. Lise is a mountain guide and a supervisor of the FFME Women’s National Mountaineering Team. An insatiable climber and traveller, her curiosity and love of exploration have taken her to the most remote mountain ranges, from Patagonia to Alaska and the Karakoram. In February 2024, in the company of Fanny Schmutz and Maud Vanpoulle, she made the first all-female ascent of the Filo Sureste on Cerro Torre.
Enrico Rosso
Italy - age 63
Ethics, lightness and discretion have always been Enrico Rosso's signature. He attempted technical ascents in alpine style at a time when this style was little practiced. His objectives have been as aesthetic as they have been difficult, for example the northeast face of Shivling in 1986, and the southwest ridge of Latok III in 1988. In 1989, he reached the summit of the Diamond Pillar at over 6,900m in an attempt on a new route up the south pillar of Nuptse, and in 1994 climbed a mostly new route on the north side of Thalay Sagar to within 200m of the summit, both in alpine style. Enrico has made numerous first ascents in Patagonia, Peru and Bolivia, and also on the east face of the Grandes Jorasses.
Genki Narumi
Japan - age 42
A member of the 'Giri-Giri' generation of young Japanese climbers who have been scouring impressive faces for the past 20 years, Genki is the author of several first ascents on the 6,000m peaks of Nepal and India: the direct north face of Tawoche, the south face and west ridge of Kang Nachugo, and the northeast face of Cerro Kishtwar. And all in a spirit of "at the limit" (a literal translation of "Giri-Giri"), while remaining close to the ethics of the Piolets d'Or Charter.
Mikel Zabalza
Spain - age 54
From his first Himalayan expedition in 1992, to the free climb of Divine Providence, one of the flagship routes in the Mont Blanc massif, Mikel has never stopped pushing his limits. But he has also passed on his experience to younger climbers by leading the Spanish mountaineering team. In 2023, he made the first ascent of Phurbi Txiki (6,140 m) in the Jugal Himal massif on the border between Nepal and Tibet.
"I've always sought out difficulty, but with an element of exploration and uncertainty.".
Aleš Česen
Slovenia - age 42
A product of the famous Slovenian school, Aleš was an international sport climbing competitor in his youth. He later turned to the mountains, becoming a guide, climbing in the Alps, and then further afield in Africa, Yosemite, Alaska and the Himalaya. A fervent devotee of alpine style, he is one of few climbers who has created two new routes awarded Piolets d’Or: the north face of Hagshu, and Latok I via the north and south faces. In the summer of 2024, accompanied by Tom Livingstone, he made the first ascent of the west ridge of Gasherbrum III (7,958m), also in the Karakoram.
"I won't live long enough to see half the mountains I'd like to climb".
Toni Gutsch
Germany – age 60
A mountain guide, Toni has scoured the extreme routes of his native Bavaria. In 1997, with the Huber brothers and Conrad Anker, he climbed the west face of Latok II (7,108 m) in Pakistan for the first time, ‘the ascent of El Cap at the summit of Denali: a 1,000m wall of rock starting at an altitude of 6,000m’. Very active in Patagonia, he has climbed Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre several times.
