This international award is dedicated to mountain professionals. The Aosta Valley Autonomous Region wishes to publicly recognise, publicise and emphasise the importance of the work of these men, Mountain Guides and professionals in uniform who, throughout the world, dedicate their lives and work to the mountains and to mountaineering. Their commitment originates primarily from a passion for alpinism and the high mountains and brings together skilled alpinists and a heightened awareness of the natural world with the commitment of transmitting the cultural values of the mountains and their surroundings.
The Saint-Vincent Grolla D’Or Awards is comprised of 5 categories: the finest international mountaineering achievement by a mountain guide, the finest international mountaineering achievement by a mountain guide from the Aosta Valley, the finest international mountaineering achievement by a mountain guide from the Aosta Valley in the “professionals in uniform” category. Furthermore, there will be an award dedicated to
Mountain Guide Toni Gobbi, who revolutionised the profession, for the finest international mountaineering achievement by a mountain guide with a client. Finally, the Forte di Bard award will be given in recognition of the “ethical” commitment made by a mountain professional in the mountains.
The Aosta Valley Autonomous Region, as event promoter alongside the Fort di Bard and Grivel Mont Blanc, considers this focus on mountain professionals to be extremely important. The mountains are part of the Valley’s DNA. Just think that 40% of the Valley’s territory is above the tree line and that it includes the massifs of Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, the Matterhorn and the Gran Paradiso. These are part of Man’s heritage that the Region and its population wish to promote and protect for future generations.
It is no coincidence that the Gran Paradiso National Park was the first national park to be created in Italy. Just as it is no coincidence that one of the first Associations of Mountain Guides in the world was created here with the Courmayeur Society of Guides in 1850, followed by further groups such as Cervinia, Aosta, Arnad, Champoluc-Ayas, Cogne, Gressoney-Monterosa, Rutor – La Thuile, Valgrisenche, Valpelline and the Gran Paradiso.
Eleven groups form the Aosta Valley Union of Mountain Guides which, in turn, is a member of the International Association of Mountain Guides (UIAGM) which represents mountain guides in 23 countries. The valley is also home to the Alpine Army Training Group, founded in Aosta in 1934 and widely considered one of the world’s most famous alpine corps.
The five awards, to be presented on the 7th March during a special evening ceremony at the Hotel Billia Congess Centre at Saint-Vincent Saint-Vincent, hope to bear testimony to the importance and centrality of the mountains as a natural resource indispensable for Man, as well as asserting the fundamental role the mountain professionals play in the development, conservation and the diffusion of these principles.
The Mountain Guides and professionals from the armed forces who work in the mountains express these principles through the practice of cutting-edge mountaineering, taking into consideration Man and Nature with the aspiration of becoming positive role models for the wider community.
The Saint-Vincent Award for Mountain Professionals. First edition Friday 7th March – 8.30pm. Gran Paradiso Room, Grand Hôtel Billia Congess Centre, Saint-Vincent, Aosta Valley