The American Alpine Club presented its annual award for outstanding mountaineering achievement, the Robert and Miriam Underhill Award, to alpinist Carlos Buhler, at the club's annual meeting and Mountain Fest in Bend, Oregon. During his 37-year climbing career, Buhler has climbed new routes on five continents, including major routes on Mt. Everest, Huascaran Sur, Ama Dablam, University Peak, Changabang, Sepu Kangri, and many more.

The AAC also honored ice and rock climbing pioneer Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia Inc., with its David R. Brower Conservation Award. The award recognized Chouinard's lifetime commitment to conservation and sustainability. The club's Robert Hicks Bates Award for up-and-coming young climbers went to New Hampshire's Freddie Wilkinson, who has done new several new routes in Patagonia as well as a host of hard repeats on four continents. Author and Rock & Ice editor (and former Climbing editor) Alison Osius was honored with the AAC's Literary Award, and Doug Colwell, head of the AAC's rescue insurance program, received the Angelo Heilprin citation for service, in recognition of his work for the club as well as access work at City of Rocks, Idaho, and Queen Creek, Arizona.

At its annual dinner, the AAC also announced three new honorary members: Glaciologist Dr. Maynard M. Miller, Japanese explorer and editor Tomatsu Nakamura, and Jed Williamson, the longtime editor of Accidents in North American Mountaineering.

The AAC Mountain Fest drew hundreds of climbers to Bend and to nearby Smith Rock for clinics with top climbers, including Chris Sharma, Lynn Hill, Tommy Caldwell, Beth Rodden, Arno Ilgner, Steve House, Jack Tackle, Josh Wharton, Kate Rutherford, Vince Anderson, Chris Lindner, and Katie Brown, along with slide shows by Anderson, House, Caldwell, and Rodden. “The annual meeting was the best ever in the history of the club,” said Jack Tackle, who, it must be said, is not quite old enough to know for sure.

Dates of Event: March 30-April 1

Sources: AAC, Jack Tackle, www.carlosbuhler.com

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