Big Alpine Goals Receive John Lauchlan Award 2018

The John Lauchlan Memorial Award is a cash award that exists to perpetuate the bold and adventurous spirit that John Lauchlan exemplified in his mountain exploits.

It strives to promote the development of Canadians seeking a technical climbing challenge at an international level with financial support that non-commercial expeditions have difficulty accessing.

The 2018 awards were announced at the 2018 Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival.

John Lauchlan on day 12 of the first ascent of the Southwest Buttress of Mount Logan (5,959 m,19,551 ft) – Canada's highest mountain. John was killed in an avalanche while attempting the first solo ascent of Polar Circus on Feb. 5, 1982. There's much more to the story, but right now you have the opportunity to receive funds from the John Lauchlan Award. Need a trip funded? This is a great way to do it. More in profile link. The Southwest Buttress of Logan is unrepeated, winkwink. #johnlauchlanward #mountains #climbing #alpine #badass #tradisrad #alpine

A post shared by The Bold And Cold (@theboldandcold) on Sep 10, 2017 at 8:53pm PDT

Chamlang

Quentin Lindfield Roberts, Juho Knuuttila and Tim Banfield will travel to Chamlang in the Hongu Valley of Nepal in the fall of 2019.

“Our primary objective is to attempt the unclimbed 2,000-metre north face of Chamlang (7,319 m).

“Chamlang’s hulking massif towers over the surrounding mountains in the remote Hongu Valley. It has been climbed five times via the South Ridge and the West Ridge but has yet to see an ascent of the north.”

Proboscis

Sam Eastman-Zaleski and Rob Homer (son of the late accomplished Rockies climber George Homer) will travel to the Cirque of the Unclimbables to attempt to be the first Canadian team to open a new free route on Mount Proboscis.

The Southeast Face (a.k.a. Original Route) was first climbed by Jim McCarthy, Royal Robbins, Layton Kor and Richard McCracken in 1963  at VI 5.8 A4.

In 2001, Jonny Copp and Josh Wharton freed the Costa Brava variation VI 5.12-R to the Original Route.

In 2010, Lorna Illingworth, Madaleine Sorkin and Emily Stifler established Women at Work VI 5.12R), a significant variation to the Via Costa Brava (itself a variation to the 1963 Original Route, climbed in 1992 by Spanish climbers Jose Maria Cadina and Joaquin Olmo at VI 5.11 A1).

About John Lauchlan

John Lauchlan (1954-1982) was a pioneer in setting new standards in climbing both in Canada and internationally.

John was born in Winnipeg, but would eventually move to Calgary with his family where he became a leader and a pivotal member of the Calgary climbing community after high school.

With his bold vision and commitment he made numerous first ascents of alpine routes and ice climbs in Canada, including the southwest buttress of Mt. Logan, the North Face of Mt. Kitchener, Takakkaw Falls and Slipstream.

Internationally, John would go on to repeat the MacIntyre/Coulton Route on the Grandes Jorasses, the North Face of Les Droites and complete the Gabbaroux Couloir Route on Mt Blanc solo. In 1980, John led a four-man expedition to Nepal to climb a technical new route on the south face of Gangapurna (7,454m), which is still considered one of the most difficult climbs done by Canadians in the Himalayas.

Outside of his climbing endeavours, he was essential to the co-op we know today as MEC and to Canada’s largest mountain school, Yamnuska Mountain Adventures. John inspired everyone he met, as a climber, a teacher and a leader of his generation.

The John Lauchlan Memorial Award aims to encourage and assist Canadian climbers who are following in the footsteps of what made John a pioneering climber – exploring new terrain and testing new limits.

The award is aimed at small and self-sustained expeditions and objectives that involve technical climbing in locations that call for a level of boldness that only comes when pushing new territory.

This year’s award committee included Kim Csizmazia, Dave Stark, Chelsea Lindsay, Jim Elzinga, Brandon Pullan, Barry Blanchard, Steve Swenson, Ian Welsted, Alik Berg and James Blench.

Past Awards

2018: Sam Eastman-Zaleski and Rob Homer to attempt a free route on Proboscis. Quentin-Lindfield Roberts, Tim Banfield and Juho Knuuttila to attempt Chamlang.

2017: Raphael Slawinski and Alik Berg to climb Pumari Chhish East in the Karakoram mountains of northern Pakistan, and Michelle Kadatz and Angela Vanwiemeersch to establish a new route on the NE Face of Mount Freya

2016: Max Fisher and Fred Giroux in Coastal Mountains of Canada.

2015: Alison Criscitiello and Anna Smith in India Himalaya.

2014: Mark Taylor, Kris Irwin, Darren Vonk, and Ian Welsted for their exploratory trip to climb new routes in the Revalations Mountain Range in Alaska.

2013: Paul McSorley, Joshua Lavigne and Jason Kruk for their trip to attempt an unclimbed route on the south face of Thalay Sager in the Gharwal Himalays (India).

2012: Carlyle Norman and Cian Brinker for their trip to attempt an unclimbed route on Aguja Bifida in Patagonia.

2011: Chris Geisler, and Jason Kruk for their trip to Patagonia for a “fair means” attempt to climb the south east ridge of Cerro Torre. Their goal is to fore-go using any of the compressor placed bolts placed by Maestri on the controversial first ascent.

2010: Chris Atkinson and Chris Jones for their trip to the unclimbed Tangmonja (6328 metres) in the Nyenchen Thangla Range in Tibet.

2009: Eamonn Walsh, Ian Welsted, and Raphael Slawinski for their trip to Pumari Chhish East (6900 metres) in the Hispar Glacier region of Pakistan.

2008: Simon Meis and Josh Lavigne for their trip to Hainabrakk in Pakistan.

2007: Lilla Molnar and Jennifer Olson for their trip to Batura Muztagh Range in Pakistan.

2006: Jeff Relph, Jon Walsh, and Paul McSorley for their trip to Baintha Brakk (The Ogre) in the Karakorum Range in Pakistan.

2005: Katie Holm, Aidan Oloman and Katherine Fraser for their trip to the Siguniang Mountains in Western China. This was the first time that the award was given to an all-womans expedition.

2004: Jon Walsh and Andre Ike for their trip to the Devil’s Thumb, Alaska.

2003: Sean Easton and Connie Amelunxen for their trip to Peru.

2002: Guy Edwards and John Millar for their trip to Mount Swachnd in the Garwal Himalayas, Northern India.

2001: Jia Condon and Rich Prohaska for their big wall and sailing trip to Greenland.

2000: Steve Holeczi, Josh Briggs and Eamon Walsh for their trip to the S.S.E. ridge of Mt. Logan in the St. Elias Range of northern Canada.

1999: Sean Easton, Connie Amulunxen and Keith Reid for their trip to the Devil’s Thumb in Alaska.

1998: Jia Condon, Rich Prohaska and John Chilton for their trip to the S.E. face of Mt. Logan in northern Canada.

1997: Tim Pochay and Grant Statham for their trip to Kitchatna Spires in Alaska.

1997: Sean Isaac and Guy Edwards for their trip to Towers de Paine in Patagonia.