Tap Richards, Jason Tanguay, Andy Politz, & Dave Hahn

Phurba Tashi and Dave Hahn sort oxygen at the Mushroom rock high on Everest

Rapelling the First Step on the rescue descent

Dave Hahn with the David Sowles Memorial medal

Rescue descent of the Second Step. (Andy Politz)

At their 100th anniversary meeting at Snowbird in February 2002, the American Alpine Club has awarded the David A. Sowles Memorial Award to Tap Richards, Jason Tanguay, Dave Hahn, Andy Politz, Lobsang Temba Sherpa and Phurba Tashi Sherpa for distinguishing themselves, with unselfish devotion at personal risk or sacrifice of a major objective, in going to the assistance of fellow climbers imperiled in the mountains.

This was for their rescue of five climbers high on the North Ridge of Everest in 2001.

Read More:
• Read Dave's own account of the rescue »
• Read more about this rescue detailed in dispatches from the 2001 Everest Expedition »
• Read the Salt Lake Tribune article on the rescue »