2016 TNF/AG Outdoor Adventure
Grant expedition update
T
HE NORTH FACE/AG Outdoor 2016
Adventure Grant winners, Stephen Skelton
and Ben Dare are, at the time of writing,
halfway through their Peru climbing expedition.
The duo’s winning entry involved an alpine
climbing expedition right near the equator in Peru,
in the Cordillera Blanca mountains. They had three
objectives: to climb new, direct lines of three of the
mountain range’s most diffi cult peaks. The peaks
in this region are rugged and challenging, with
each summit around 6000m.
Ben’s latest update of the expedition shows just
how challenging their goals are:
“We’re back in Huaraz after the fi rst half of our
expedition... We had a great time up in the Paron
Valley, and are now having a couple of days R&Rbefore heading up into the Santa Cruz valley
tomorrow. Steve and I got in a couple of good
climbs, including a new route we climbed on the
southeast face of Caraz IV (5610m) – the fi rst ascent
of that face.”
The duo also soloed a new route on the
southwest face of 5885m Piramide, while Stephen
climbed the original route on The Sphinx (5325m).
The region’s tough weather conditions saw the
team miss out on their original objectives of Caraz
II and Chacraju, but they have still achieved some
fantastic ascents.
“...we are still really happy with what we
achieved and can’t wait to get up into the Santa
Cruz for our primary objective!” writes Ben, as they
move into the second phase of the expedition.Applications for the 2017 grant open on
July 1, 2016 and close November 30. This
gives potential applicants plenty of time to
come up with a cracking adventure
proposal for consideration. The winning
grant receives $5000 from TNF, $3000 from
AG Outdoor, as well as $2000 worth of
awesome TNF expedition gear.
To apply, send your application to:
[email protected]
For more info on the TNF/AG Outdoor
Adventure grant, see www.
thenorthfacegrant.com.au
To follow the 2016 team’s adventures on
Instagram, see @thenorthface_aunzApply for the 2017 The
North Face/AG Outdoor
Adventure Grant
WORDS JUSTIN WALKER PHOTO STEPHEN SKELTON/BEN DAREStephen at our Caraz high
camp, with Artesonraju
(6025m) behind.read & react
Leave the outfitting to us:
The adventure is up to you.
Be equipped by staff
who have been there.
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