Beckey to receive rare AAC Gold Medal

[Mark Styczynski]

Only the fourth time ever.

 

Beckey to be Awarded AAC Gold Medal

 

“The President's Gold Medal is given very rarely—this is the fourth time it has been given in the Club's 113-year history—for extraordinary accomplishments in the climbing world,” said AAC President Mark Kroese. “Fred Beckey is being recognized this year for a lifelong devotion to climbing and first ascents that is unmatched over generations. Fred has put climbing in front of virtually everything else in his life. We honor both his dedication to the craft and the thousands of routes he has left for us all to enjoy.”

 

[img:center]http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/12/16/sports/16beckey3_600.JPG[/img]

 

 

 

[ivan]

"put climbing above VIRTUALLY everything else in his life?" jesus, does eating and taking a crap really get to compete?

[ScaredSilly]

Pretty funny as the other day out of the blue I got a call from Fred. He is really hard of hearing so conversations can be difficult but he is still tack sharp. But he still travels around and does get out.

 

The honor is one that is well deserved as his contribution to climbing in NA is second to none.

[dougd]

It's nice and all I suppose, but I find myself wondering what took so long, and if Fred will give a shit...

 

If Fred is happy about this award, and I hope he is, heartfelt congratulations are in order. His contributions to climbing speak for themselves.

 

d

 

 

 

 

[Mtguide]

Fred Beckey is nothing less than our very own Living National Treasure of Alpinism. This is an honor that is long overdue.

[ivan]

seems to me that fred is the one to be giving out awards to the world, not the other way around

[G-spotter]

I bet he'll keep it wrapped in some napkins like the golden piton Climbing mag gave him