Three Expeditions Win Large Grants

Three teams of young climbers have won Lyman Spitzer Climbing Grants from the American Alpine Club totaling $12,000, plus gear from MSR, Therm-a-Rest and Platypus. All three will attempt new routes on impressive peaks in Asia later this year. James Stover and Scott Anderson were awarded $4,500 for their attempt on the unclimbed Southeast Face of Kizil Asker (5,842 meters) in the Western Kokshaal Too Range of Kyrgyzstan. A four-person expedition led by Tommy Chandler, awarded $4,000, will attempt new free-climbing routes on Putala Shan and other granite formations in the Qionglai Range of China. Sam Johnson and an international group of three more climbers were granted $3,500 for their attempt on the unclimbed complete Northeast Buttress of Uli Biaho (6,109 meters) in Pakistan. Jack Tackle, chair of the AAC committee that awards the grants, commented, “I’m excited that all of these climbers are under the age of 29, and nearly half are under 25. This is our way of investing in the future of American alpine climbing.”