What is style? What are principles? Nowadays, in modern mountaineering and hiking, there's a narrative that everything is turning mainstream.
Not just that: The desire to create equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of physical abilities, talent, or invested effort (yes, the same time and discomfort, not money), has led modern mountaineering to a state where everyone takes pride in the achievements of all. And that's wonderful!
This gives the first Ukrainian the opportunity to feel like the first, the first person from Kharkiv. This democratic approach applies to everyone. And this is the beauty of our activity. It provides an endless field for achievements. And easily monetizes these achievements, thereby further spreading the popularity of outdoor activities.
Yet, achievements create extremes. Any progress is made by people with a desire for more. For most, they are considered freaks. Well, what's the point of climbing to 7k without warm bivouacs, risking oxygen deprivation and the potential of becoming a fool for life due to changes in brain oxygen saturation. But it's precisely these individuals who drive progress. Uli Steck ran in the mountains, Alex Honnold soloed challenging routes, Messner created an icon of style, and so on.
And this is what makes the Golden Ice Axe award valuable. They strive to create and maintain a trend towards the right style in mountaineering. And for this, showing what ascents represent mountaineering and create extremes is no less important than awarding winners.
The 2023 Significant Ascents list is an example of style. These ascents demonstrate who is strong and interesting in the world of mountaineering. Of course, it's hard to say this to the residents of the country who themselves live in extremes constantly. But still, it's this approach to style that defines the conditions of life and decisions.
