Steve Swenson
{{short description|American mountaineer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
Steve Swenson (born February 14, 1954) is an American rock climber, mountaineer, and author. Swenson served as the president of the board of directors for the American Alpine Club from 2009 to 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://americanalpineclub.org/past-presidents|title=Past Presidents|website=The American Alpine Club}}
Climbing career
Swenson is known for his big-mountain climbing expeditions to the Karakoram range,{{Cite web|url=https://rockandice.com/people/steve-swenson-ive-learned/|title=Steve Swenson: What I've Learned|website=Rock and Ice|date=December 20, 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-26}} about which he wrote the book Karakoram: Climbing Through the Kashmir Conflict, published by Mountaineers Books. Swenson has taken part in over 15 expeditions to the area.{{Cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/local-arts/master-climber-steve-swenson-takes-readers-on-a-journey-through-karakoram|title=Climber Steve Swenson takes readers on a journey through Karakoram |website=Vancouver Sun|first=Dana |last=Gee |date=April 14, 2017|language=en|access-date=2019-08-26}}
In 2012, Swenson along with Mark Richey and Freddie Wilkinson,{{Cite web|url=http://www.alpinist.com/doc/web11x/newswire-second-highest-peak|title=Saser Kangri II In Alpine Style - Alpinist.com|website=www.alpinist.com|access-date=2019-08-26}} made the first ascent of Sasser Kangri II. At the time, the peak was the second highest unclimbed mountain in the world. For their climbing, the team was awarded the Piolet d’Or.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mountaineers.org/members/steve-swenson-1|title=Steve Swenson|last=Swenson|first=Steve|website=The Mountaineers|language=en|access-date=2019-08-26}}
In 2019, Swenson, along with Graham Zimmerman, Mark Richey, and Chris Wright, climbed Link Sar, for its first ascent. The team was awarded the Piolet d'Or in 2020, for their achievement.{{Cite web|url=https://www.climbing.com/news/4-climbs-honored-with-2020-piolet-dor-awards/|title=4 Climbs Honored With 2020 Piolet d'Or Awards|website=Climbing|date=August 13, 2020 }} Swenson had attempted to climb it twice before, in 2000 and 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://rockandice.com/climbing-news/american-team-summits-7041-meter-link-sar/|title=American Team Makes First Ascent of 7,041-Meter Link Sar|website=Rock and Ice|date=August 7, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-06}} Steve is one of only a few people to receive more than one Piolet d'Or, considered mountaineering's highest honor.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mountaineers.org/blog/congratulations-to-steve-swenson-on-his-2020-piolet-dor-award|title=Congratulations to Steve Swenson on his 2020 Piolet d'Or Award|website=The Mountaineers}}
Personal life
Along with his climbing career, Swenson had a 35-year career as a water resources consulting engineer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mountaineers.org/about/vision-leadership/board-of-directors|title=Board of Directors|website=The Mountaineers|language=en|access-date=2019-08-26}}
Notable ascents
- K2, without oxygen (1990).
- Mount Everest, without oxygen (1994).
- Nanga Parbat, ascent of the Mazeno Ridge to Mazeno Gap, 2004
- K7 West, North Ridge, 2004
- Sasser Kangri II (2012), a climb for which he was awarded the Piolet d’Or.
- Link Sar, first ascent, with Graham Zimmerman, Mark Richey, and Chris Wright in 2019.
Writings
- Karakoram: Climbing Through the Kashmir Conflict, published by Mountaineers Books in 2017.
References
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Category:American rock climbers
Category:American mountain climbers
Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers
Category:American summiters of Mount Everest
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