Window Cleaner Wins Robert Hicks Bate Award

Las Vegas rock climber David Allfrey was honored by the American Alpine Club last week, winning the prestigious Robert Hicks Bates Award for most promising young talent. 

Las Vegas rock climber wins award for promising young participant: Las Vegas rock climber David Allfrey got a big nod from the American Alpine Club last week, winning the prestigious Robert Hicks Bates Award. The annual award recognizes a young climber who has exhibited exceptional skill and character in the climbing or mountaineering arts, and who has outstanding promise for future accomplishment.

Having made significant ascents from the Baffin Islands to Yosemite, the ACC took note when in 2014 then 29-year-old Allfrey decided to challenge himself to climb seven big walls on El Capitan in Yosemite in seven days. He recruited professional climber Alex Honnold as his partner. The two set four speed records in the process. In the ACC's announcement, committee chair Rolando Garibotti said, "This is a step up as far as El Cap climbing goes." Allfrey, originally from San Jose, California, started climbing as a kid with his parents. He took a hiatus in his teens and then returned to the sport about 10 years ago with a laser focus on big wall climbing.

By having an award from probably the most exclusive organizations within the outside world, odds are that soon Allfrey will have the ability to hang up the phone his window-washing gear.

He moved to Las Vegas three years ago for the easy access to world class climbing and now juggles a training schedule that's anywhere from 25 to 60 hours a week for undertakings like the "Yosemite 7 in 7" with making a living washing windows and occasionally rigging for trade shows on the Strip. He will attend the ACC's award reception in Washington in February. "This is such a huge honor," said Allfrey. "I've put in a lot of time and effort to become a good big wall climber. It's really nice to have people like the leadership at the American Alpine Club recognize that effort."

In his backyard of Red Rock, Allfrey has ticked many hard routes. He is one of four people to make a free ascent of Desert Solitaire, a 12 pitch 5.13b on the Rainbow Wall in Red Rock. With an award from one of the most prestigious organizations in the outdoor world, chances are that soon Allfrey will be able to hang up his window washing gear. To follow his upcoming alpine expedition in Alberta, Canada, visit www.davidallfrey.com

The annual award recognizes a youthful climber that has showed exceptional skill and character within the climbing or alpinism arts, and that has outstanding promise for future accomplishment.