A trio of Americans who summited the world’s second-highest unclimbed mountain and a pair of Slovenians who pioneered a new route on a Pakistani peak this weekend. Mark Richey, Steve Swenson, and Freddie Wilkinson received an award for their four-day ascent of India’s Saser Kangri II (24,665 feet) last August. The second award went to Nejc Marcic, 26, and Luka Strazar, 23, who made the third ascent of Pakistan’s K7 West via its previously unclimbed northwest face. The committee, headed by American climber and Alpinist editor Michael Kennedy, also recognized Norwegians Bjorn-Eivind Aartun and Ole Lied for their ascent of Torre Egger in Patagonia. Aartun died in an ice climbing accident in February.
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