Joint North Wales Beatrice

This was actually two separate expeditions — one all-male and one all-female — each attempting new big-wall routes on the SE Face of Beatrice, 5,900m, above the Charakusa Glacier. Both teams were successful, the men climbing The Excellent Adventure (750m, ED+ A3+) and the women climbing Hateja ('strong willed determined lady') (750m, ED+ A3+). The female team was the recipient of the Alison Hargreaves Grant. This originated as a posthumous 'Achievement Award' presented by Cosmopolitan/American Express: Alison's family most generously passed the money on to the MEF which decided to award it as a one-off grant to a deserving female climber or expedition in 1997.