This year's Bates Award goes to Alex Honnold. Alex burst onto the climbing scene with a splash of headlines, first in Fall 2007 with his one-day free-solo link-up of the Rostrum and Astroman, and then again in spring 2008, with a first free-solo ascent of Moonlight Buttress, (5.12+) in Zion. These impressive feats were followed by equally impressive ones: an 8.5-hour free ascent of El Capitan's Salathé Wall, the first free-solo ascent of the Regular Route on Half Dome, and many others. At 23, Alex is one of the most accomplished rock climbers today. Some of his other groundbreaking ascents include an onsight ascent of Masters Edge (E7 6b) at Millstone, UK, as well as an onsight free solo of London Wall (E5) at the same crag; an onsight of Gaia (E8 6c); and repeats of some of the hardest desert routes, such as Concepción and Belly Full of Bad Berries. He lives in Sacramento, California.

What is the Bates Award

To recognize his many contributions to American climbing and education of our nation's youth, the American Alpine Club established the Robert Hicks Bates Award for outstanding accomplishment by a young climber. It recognizes a young climber who, in the judgment of the volunteer selection committee, has demonstrated exceptional skill and character in the climbing or mountaineering arts and has outstanding promise for future accomplishment.

Robert Bates, a renowned explorer, alpinist, Peace Corps director, and educator, accomplished numerous first ascents in Alaska and was a member of the American expeditions to K2 in 1938 and 1953. His literary contributions describing the K2 expeditions and his life of adventure in the mountains have inspired countless young American climbers. He served the American Alpine Club in many capacities: member of the editorial board of the American Alpine Journal, board member, President, and Honorary President. Above all, he devoted his life to promoting the education and development of American youth through his years as a teacher at Phillips Exeter Academy, service with the Peace Corps, and other endeavors. He also was on that famous climb of Lucania and Steele with Washburn in 1937, when they crash-landed on the glacier and the pilot agreed to leave them there but would not return. Instead of bailing, they climbed the two peaks (making the first ascent of Lucania) and walked out the far side. They both were in their mid-20s. Now that's spirit.

Check out this amazing video of Alex showing similar spirt at Indian Creek, Utah: