![Alan Rousseau, pictured here on the first ascent of Rungofarka's north ridge, India, in 2017, was a 2018 recipient of the American Alpine Club's Cutting Edge Grant. Applications for the 2019 Cutting Edge Grant are due by November 30. [Photo] Tino Villanueva](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/rungofarka-6.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
The American Alpine Club is now accepting applications for its Cutting Edge Grant, the Jones Backcountry Adventure Grant and the Jones Live Like Liz Award–due by November 30. In partnership with the Access Fund, the AAC also recently awarded $10,000 to replace aging bolts at nine US climbing areas.
![Smith at the belay on Cyber Pasty Memorial (WI5+ M7+), Icefields Parkway, Alberta. [Photo] John Price](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/alp59-contraindications-7.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
For the second year in a row, an Alpinist story has been selected for the Best Mountaineering Article Award in the Banff Mountain Book Competition. Alison Criscitiello’s story from Alpinist 59, titled “Contraindications,” was selected for the top prize in this category out of four finalists. “Contraindications,” is about Criscitiello’s close friend Anna Smith, who died at age 31 during an expedition in the Indian Himalaya.
![The northeast face of Cerro Kishtwar (6173m) with All Izz Well (VI WI5 M6, 1500m) marked in red with the team's first bivy site. [Photo] Genki Narumi, Yusuke Sato and Hiroki Yamamoto collection](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cerro-kishtwar-all-izz-well-1.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
Going light and fast during a short weather window, Japanese climbers Genki Narumi, Yusuke Sato and Hiroki Yamamoto squeaked in a new route on the northeast face of Cerro Kishtwar (6173m) in Himachal Pradesh, India, between September 20-25. They named their route All Izz Well (VI WI5 M6, 1500m).
![[Photo] Mandi Franz](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/climbing-addicts-colored-chalk-1-1.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
A review of Climbing Addicts “Yosemite Gray” and “Wall Street Gold” Chalk prompts a treatise on climbing chalk by Alpinist Digital Editor Derek Franz. He found the camouflaged chalk to be as effective as anything else he’s used, and the grey and brown varieties blend in well with a range of rock types, including limestone, granite and sandstone. Five stars.
![Cover design by Sarah Nicholson. [Photo] Jimena Peck](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/as-above-so-below-1.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
About four years ago, Chris Kalman found himself struggling with heavy emotions while living with his girlfriend and her father who was dying of cancer. Kalman started writing what became a 103-page novella titled “As Above, So Below.” The fictional story weighs on matters of death, grief, risk and family relationships.
Two Alpinist stories from 2017 are included on the Notables List for The Best American Sports Writing 2018: Claire Carter’s feature story “To Abandon” appeared in Alpinist 57 and “The Accidental Mountaineer” by Ana Beatriz Cholo appeared in The Climbing Life section of Alpinist 59.
![The Foehn Brise Pants were ideal for the chilly spring temps at the Techno Crag (ca. 9,000') above Ouray, Colorado, last May. Here the author enjoys the classic arete of All Night Rave (5.12b) with numb fingers. [Photo] Mandi Franz](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/foehn-brise-pant-1-1.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
Foehn is a new, small clothing company based in Quebec, Canada, that came on the market this year and has a touching backstory. Alpinist Digital Editor Derek Franz tried the company’s flagship item, the Brise Pant, and found them to be well made for climbing and moving around in the mountains. Four stars.
The annual Banff Mountain Book Competition recently announced the nominees long-listed for recognition in several categories–out of the four articles under consideration for Best Mountaineering Article, two are from Alpinist: Alison Criscitiello’s story from Alpinist 59, titled “Contraindications,” and James Edward Mills’ story from Alpinist 60, “The Force of the Soul: Hugues Beauzile.”
![Tom Frost leads Pitch 29 during the first ascent of the Salathe Wall on El Capitan in 1961. Frost, Chuck Pratt and Royal Robbins completed the climb over nine and a half days. [Photo] Royal Robbins, Tom Frost collection](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tom-frost-salathe-fa.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
Yesterday, August 24, was a fateful day for the climbing world, as two of America’s greatest climbing legends and icons passed away–Tom Frost and Jeff Lowe. Frost died of cancer at a hospice center in Oakdale, California, and Lowe died several hours later in Colorado after suffering from a prolonged illness that has been described as an “unknown neurodegenerative process” similar to MS and ALS. Frost was 81 and Lowe was 67. Both men were visionaries and innovators who impacted the philosophy, techniques and standards of difficulty during their respective generations.
![Tom Livingstone leading on Latok I during his successful ascent from the north side in which he and Ales Cesen and Luka Strazar climbed three-quarters of the North Ridge before traversing right to reach the south face where they continued to the top. [Photo] Ales Cesen/Luka Strazar](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/latok-success-1.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
Tom Livingstone, Ales Cesen and Luka Strazar recently became the first climbers to summit Latok I (7145m) from the north side, climbing most of the fabled North Ridge before traversing to the south side of the mountain where they continued to the top. Upon returning home, Livingstone shared details about their ascent and what it was like to watch from base camp as the helicopter rescue for Alexander Gukov unfolded. Meanwhile, statements from Gukov after the rescue indicate that he and Sergey Glazunov likely reached a new high point on the North Ridge.
