The Spirit
The purpose of the Piolets d'or is to introduce the big climbs of the year achieved throughout the mountains ranges of the world. Its aim is to celebrate the taste for adventure and the desire for exploration in the art of climbing summits. It is a celebration of Mountaineering.
The spirit of the Piolet d'Or finds its inspiration in the rich history of mountaineering. It is about celebrating the spirit of a rope party of sharing and solidarity, by promoting the beauty of an individual or collective act.
In modern alpinism, the style and the means used is more important than the accomplishment of an objective. It Is not any more about succeeding at all cost, using financial tricks, techniques (oxygen, fixed ropes, altitude carriers, drugs…) or massive human means (Sherpa, altitude carriers).
The Piolets d'Or give a value to everyone's imagination in the research of innovative itineraries, encourages saving all means, and building on the experience in the process.
Criteria for assessment of performances
The climbs will be estimated without any discrimination of origin, on the basis of several criteria studied separately as well as a whole:
- Elegance of the style
- Spirit of exploration: originality of the itinerary and/or of the summit, creativity, innovation
- Involvement and autonomy
- High technical level
- Pertinence of the itinerary considering the obvious dangers
- Saving of means
- Transparency in the used means
- Respect of men, partners, and members of other rope parties, carriers and local persons involved
- Respect of the environment
- Respect of future generations of mountaineers by leaving them the possibility to live the same adventures
