Pat Ament

Pat Ament has achieved national and worldwide fame, not only for his many legendary climbs and fine writings but because of a remarkable Renaissance path as a pianist, poet, songwriter, artist of fine line drawings, photographer, filmmaker, chess master, karate black belt, lecturer, and teacher, to name a few of his pursuits. He has also been an extraordinary climbing mentor who has touched innumerable lives.

As a disciple to Layton Kor, Royal Robbins, Chuck Pratt, Dave Rearick, and John Gill, Pat has gone on to make many thousands of climbs and established himself as a leading light of American free-climbing. Pat is considered by many to be the authority on the history of free climbing in America. He was written 37 books, including several now classics, such as the biography of John Gill, and hundreds of magazine articles. He has given hundreds of lectures around the country, and twice was guest speaker for the National British Mountaineering Conference. British writer Jim Perrin writes, “At his best, Ament seems to me one of the most delicately gifted of all writers on the sport.”

Pat won the ‘Artist Award’ at the University of Colorado in 1967. A film maker, Pat has won awards in Austria and Switzerland, as well as the ‘Best Spirit’ award at Telluride’s Mountainfilm festival. He studied film with legendary filmmaker Jerry Aronson and has served as film judge (at Telluride). I-Max photographer and Everest veteran David Breashears in a dedication, calls Pat, “My greatest rock climbing and filmmaking mentor.” In April, 2008, Pat won the poetry competition as well as a lifetime achievement award at the Utah mountaineering festival, Climbfest. Pat lives with his wife and two young daughters in Fruita, Colorado.

links: www.patament.com

Walter Daroshin – Jury Chair

Pat Ament

Deanna Byck

Alan Formánek

Jennifer Jordan

Patrick Lovell

Gary Nate