Anthony Marra, Jessica Kelley and Alex Gaber are the first recipients of the inaugural Kyle Dempster Solo Adventure Award, which was created to honor the legacy of the revered alpinist and soloist. These three adventurers plan to climb, bike, ski and surf in New Zealand, Alaska and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
![Marc-Andre Leclerc on a successful free ascent of El Capitan's Muir Wall (VI 5.13c 900m) with Brette Harrington and Alan Carney in 2015. [Photo] Bradford McArthur](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/leclerc-remembered-1.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
Brette Harrington, Luka Lindic, Sonnie Trotter, Bernadette McDonald, Tom Livingstone and others recount the impressive climbing career and profound life of beloved Canadian alpinist Marc-Andre Leclerc.
![Hundreds gather outside the venue for the Royal Robbins Memorial held on March 12 in Modesto, California. [Photo] Derek Franz](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/royal-robbins-memorial-1.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
Multitudes gathered in Modesto, California, on March 12, to honor the life of Royal Robbins, who died on March 14, 2017, at age 82 after a long illness. Most climbers are aware of the Robbins’ numerous contributions to climbing but Robbins was much more than just a climber–he was a loving, contributing member of his Modesto community.
![Wading across the Virgin River in Zion with the Lowa Approach Pro Los in hand. [Photo] Derek Franz](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/lowa-approach-pro-lo-1-1.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
If Alpinist Digital Editor Derek Franz had to pick just one type of shoe to wear for the rest of his life, there’s no doubt it would be a pair of approach shoes. The Lowa Approach Pro Los have become his first choice to wear everywhere, all the time. Five stars.
![David Allfrey, Kieran Brownie and Paul McSorley's route, El Abrazo de la Serpiente (Embrace of the Serpent; V 5.11c R/X 660m), on Cerro Pajarito is shown in red, as seen from Cerro Diablo. [Photo] Paul McSorley](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cerro-pajarito-2.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
On February 1, Dave Allfrey, Kieran Brownie and Paul McSorley completed a new route up the unclimbed northwest face of Cerro Pajarito in the Cerros de Mavecure in Guainia, Colombia. El Abrazo de la Serpiente (Embrace of the Serpent; V 5.11c R/X 660m) was established ground up, onsight, over two trips. The rainforest heat was the crux.
![Billy Westbay, Jim Bridwell and John Long after the first one-day ascent of the Nose in 1975. [Photo] Courtesy of StoneMastersPress](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/westbay-bridwell-long.jpg?resize=533%2C620&ssl=1)
Jim Bridwell died this morning, February 16, in Palm Springs, California, after months of suffering from illness. He was 73. Nicknamed “the Bird,” Bridwell has been an icon of American climbing for decades. He arrived in Yosemite as a wide-eyed 17-year-old and learned from the foremost climbers of the day, including Royal Robbins, Layton Kor (for whom he later named his son), Chuck Pratt and Frank Sacherer. He eventually mentored the next generation of climbing legends such as John Long, John Bachar, Ron Kauk, Billy Westbay and countless others. Bridwell was known for ingenuity as well as climbing prowess.
![The Grit and Rock First Ascent Award recipients this year, in alphabetical order, from top left-to-right, are: Katie Bono, Cecilia Buil, Whitney Clark, Ixchel Foord, Ilana Jesse, Josie McKee, Nina Neverov, Caro North, Alena Panova and Anna Torretta. [Image] Derek Franz](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/grit-and-rock-award-2018-1.jpg?resize=700%2C314&ssl=1)
Grit and Rock recently announced the recipients of its 2018 First Ascent Award, a grant that is dedicated to promoting mountain exploration and first ascents by women. The recipients this year, in alphabetical order, are Katie Bono, Cecilia Buil, Whitney Clark, Ixchel Foord, Ilana Jesse, Josie McKee, Nina Neverov, Caro North, Alena Panova and Anna Torretta. The teams plan to attempt new routes in Alaska, India, Kyrgyzstan and Nepal.
![Nanga Parbat (8126m). [Photo] Guilhem Vellut, Wikimedia](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/mazeno-ridge-1.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
Elisabeth Revol of France has been rescued and Tomek Mackiewicz of Poland is presumed dead on Nanga Parbat (8126m) in Pakistan after completing the second winter ascent of the peak. A GoFundMe campaign has been started to help support Mackiewicz’s wife and three kids. Revol is recovering from frostbite.
![Whitney Clark explores unknown terrain on a peak above Sphinx Lake in Kings Canyon, California. [Photo] Tad McCrea](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/sterling-fusion-nano-ix-1.jpg?resize=930%2C620&ssl=1)
The American Alpine Club recently announced that Whitney Clark, Ryan Johnson, Kurt Ross and Alan Rousseau will receive Cutting Edge Grants this year, totaling $20,000. The grants will support expeditions to Alaska, India and Pakistan.
![Kyle Dempster soloed up to 6000 meters on Vigne peak to gain a better look around at the huge peaks surrounding him on the Baltoro Glacier in 2014. He'd traveled there to attempt Gasherbrum IV's Shining Wall with Urban Novak, but they called off their expedition after learning that some Slovenian friends of Novak's were missing, and Novak felt the need to return home to be with the surviving friends and family. Dempster commended Novak's decision, recalling the loss of his own cousin in a rappelling accident on Baffin Island in 2005. [Photo] Kyle Dempster](https://i0.wp.com/alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/lemonade-5.jpg?resize=540%2C354&ssl=1)
Today marks the official opening of the application period for the inaugural Kyle Dempster Solo Adventure Award. Applications are due by March 15 for trips taking place between April 1, 2018-March 31, 2019. The winner(s) will be announced on March 27, Kyle’s birthday.
