2019 was a wild year in the adventure world, with everything from first descents and ascents of the planet’s wildest peaks, to stories of incredible rescue missions in impossibly harsh environments. Each year, National Geographic selects of Adventurers of the Year, people who have accomplished things so out of the ordinary that they deserve higher recognition. Among those who have won this award in the past are Jeremy Jones, Alex Honnold, Kilian Jornet, and Hilaree Nelson, to name a few.
RELATED: Jeremy Jones Honored With AAC's David R. Brower Award
This year, the list of nominations was once again extremely long, but six stood out from the crowd.
Andrzej Bargiel for his impressively bold first descent of K2 on skis. The planet’s second highest mountain is a formidable opponent to a skier, but Bargiel summited and skied the peak after numerous others had tried and failed over the years. Read more about Bargiel’s descent here.
Maureen Beck for becoming a leader in the adaptive sports world. Beck was born without her left forearm but has proven herself as a world champion para-climber and an advocate for those climbing with disabilities. Read more about Beck’s story here.
Adam Bielecki and Denis Urubko for abandoning their own climb of K2 to facilitate the heroic rescue of a fellow climber on a neighboring peak, Nanga Parbat. Both Bielecki and Urubko are counted among the elite of the high-altitude mountaineering world and were on track to make the first winter ascent of K2 before choosing to save a friend’s life.
Heather Anderson for becoming the first woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail in one year. The young American has over 30,000 trail miles under her feet. Basically, she just really loves walking in the woods.
Babsi Zangerl for becoming the first woman to free climb Magic Mushroom, a grade VI 5.14a route on Yosemite’s El Capitan. The young Austrian climber has quietly proven herself as one of the best in the world, but has shied away from media attention. See more from Zangerl here.
The international team of cave divers and rescue personnel that came to the assistance of a Thai boys soccer team trapped inside Thailand’s Tham Luang cave. The rescue operation was a race against the clock, as divers risked their lives to get the team out before the cave was fully flooded with monsoon rains.
About The Author
stash member Max Ritter
I manage digital content here at TGR, run our gear testing program, and am stoked to be living the dream in the Tetons.
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March 19th, 2019
2018…