Piolet d’Or 2015 Big List

The annual Piolet d’Or award honors various alpinists for their successful ascents and exploratory alpinism on mountain all over the world. Around this time each year, a list is compiled of the previous year’s ascents that demonstrate the ethics of the sport, respect for the natural environment, and support of local cultures. Eventually, this list will be narrowed down to one ascent that will be awarded the Piolet d’Or award.

The Big List of 2014 ascents for the 2015 Piolet d’Or has been published online and we are excited to see the names of some of our fellow athletes who are supported by Grivel, Edelweiss, and Beal:

The Road From Ice Skating to Ice Climbing - Angela VanWiemeersch

Edelweiss athlete, Angela VanWiemeersch hasn’t always been an ice climber and mountaineer. In fact, she’s only been climbing for a few years. In a recent Enormocast podcast, Angela gives her personal tutorial on how a competitive ice skater became an ice climber.

First Ascent: Thicker Than Thieves

Edelweiss athlete, Angela VanWiemeersch shares her first-hand report of her recent ascent of a new 15,000’ traverse on Mt Hayes in Alaska called Thicker Than Thieves (VI 5.8R M5 AI4, 7300').

Meet the Edelweiss USA Team

Edelweiss, the most reputable climbing rope manufacturer, has organized a team of USA climbers to represent the brand in the states as well as abroad. This solid group is made up of Joe Mills, Pamela Pack, Scott Adamson, Kyle Dempster, Heyden Kennedy, Angela VanWiemeersch, Scott Bennett, Cheyne Lempe.

Edelweiss Athlete: Angela VanWiemeersch

Angela VanWiemeersch joins the Edelweiss USA Team.

Angela VanWiemeersch grew up as a competitive ice skater in Detroit, Michigan where she danced across the horizontal ice until her late-teens. Following a few years as a fashion design major in college, Angela embarked on a life-changing bike tour that recalibrated her life. After selling all her fashion supplies, Angela hitchhiked, paddled, and sailed her way through all of North America from the Arctic Ocean to the Panama Canal.