Piolet d'or 2009: the six candidates

The 6 nominees for the 17th Piolet d'Or, scheduled for 25 April 2009: Dave Turner (USA) for his solo ascent on the East Face of Cerro Escudo (Torres del Paine, Chile), Simon Anthamatten and Ueli Steck (Switzerland) for their new route up the N Face of Tengkampoche (Nepal), Stéphane Benoist and Patrice Glairon Rappaz (France) for their new route up the South Face of Nuptse (Nepal). These are in the running with three Japanese teams: Kazuya Hiraide and Kei Taniguchi for their first ascent up the SE Face of Kamet (India), Fumitaka Ichimura, Yusuke Sato and Kazuki Amano for their ascent up the North Face of Kalanka (India) and, last but not least, Fumitaka Ichimura, Yusuke Sato and Katsutaka Yokoyama for the enchainment of two difficult routes on McKinley, Alaska.