Mount Everest Foundation
Supporting the exploratory

Four MEF-Supported Expeditions Feature in Piolets d'Or Significant Ascents List

Every year, the Piolets d'Or, an organisation which honours the most impressive new routes in mountaineering, produces a list of notable and innovative ascents from the prior 12 months. This year, four MEF-supported expeditions feature in the list.

10 Johnson Seccombe Glenn on the Summit Callum Johnson

The four listed routes achieved by MEF supported expeditions are:

  • The first ascent of the east summit of Barnaj II (6303m), achieved by Matt Glenn, Tom Seccombe and Callum Johnson as part of the British/Irish Barnaj II Expedition. (Picture above)

  • The first ascent of Jugal Spire by Tim Miller and Paul Ramsden's British Jugal Expedition 2022. 

  • The first ascent of 'Sea Barge Circus' (900m, 5.11+) on the northwest-facing sea cliff of Qaersorssuaq/Sanderson's Hope, achieved by the whole expedition party of the Greenland Sea to Summit 2022 expedition. (Picture below)

  • The first ascent of 'Thunderstruck' (1200m, A3+, 6c) on the east buttress of Kichatna Spire (2739m) by Mark Thomas and Mike Turner on their British Kichatna Expedition 2022
Greenland2022 Media 5 Jaron Pham

While those routes included in the 'Significant Ascents' list are not necessarily nominees for the 2023 Piolets d'Or Awards, their inclusion indicates the quality of both the climbs themselves and the style of ascent. Included routes, all of which are deemed significant and/or innovative, must be climbed in alpine or capsule style with no or limited use of bolting equipment.

It is a reflection of our commitment to supporting only those mountaineering expeditions that climb in the best, low-impact style that so many MEF-supported expeditions are featured in this year's list.

The full list of 'Significant Ascents' achieved in 2022 is available to view here.