About the Award
 
  Galen and Barbara Rowel
Photo courtesy Frans Lanting

The Rowell Award for the Art of Adventure honors that adventurer whose artistic passion illuminates the wild places of the world, and whose accomplishments significantly benefit both the environment and the peoples who inhabit these lands and regions.

This $15,000 annual cash award was established by The Rowell Legacy Committee composed of friends, business associates and admirers of the late Barbara and Galen Rowell. The award will be presented to an individual selected by a panel of active and influential members of the outdoor adventure world.

The award was announced in May 2004 at the first annual Rowell Lecture, held in San Francisco's Fairmount Hotel. The lecture, Crossing Tibet's Chang Tang Plateau, was co-sponsored by the Commonwealth Club of California and drew a crowd of nearly 500. World-renowned mountaineers and adventurers Conrad Anker and Rick Ridgeway showed slides and video of an epic, 275-mile unsupported trek. They were the first to document the birthing grounds of the chiru, an endangered wild Tibetan antelope.

We invite you to become a supporter of this award. Yosemite Fund has graciously offered to provide an office and staffing for the award. Contributions to the Rowell Legacy Fund will be deposited to a separate account and administered by the Rowell Legacy Committee with professional financial assistance provided by the Yosemite Fund. Contributions to the Rowell Legacy Fund are tax-deductible. Please make checks payable to Rowell Legacy Fund /Yosemite Fund, and send care of The Yosemite Fund, 155 Montgomery St., Suite 1104, San Francisco, CA 94104. Donations will be used to fund the Rowell Award for the Art of Adventure.


The Rowell Award Nomination Process

The 2008 Rowell Award nomination period is open from September 24, 2008 to December 31, 2008. The Rowell Award recipient will be notified by February 6, 2009 and the Award will be presented at the annual Rowell Lecture Series in San Francisco in Spring 2009. If you know an individual that would make a great Rowell Award candidate, please review the nomination form below.

Nomination Form

You can download the 2008 nomination form in Microsoft Word or PDF format or email us for an application. In your request, please include your full name, address, email address, phone number, and how you heard about the Rowell Award.


 
  Galen Rowell greets an arctic sunset.
By Tony Rowell 1997.

The Rowell Legacy Committee

  • Conrad Anker - Honorary Chair
  • Tom Brokaw - Honorary Chair
  • Greg Mortenson - Honorary Chair
  • Rick Ridgeway - Honorary Chair
  • Erik Weihenmayer - Honorary Chair
  • Carole Angermier
  • Justin Black
  • Linda Brownstein
  • Karen Collins
  • Peter Croft
  • Bob & Beth Cushman
  • Dick Dorworth
  • Dick Duane
  • Jerry Edelbrock
  • Lydia Graham
  • Bob Hansen
  • Dan Herz
  • James Kuhns
  • Frans Lanting
  • Linda Liscom
  • Doug McConnell
  • Linda McMillan
  • Chris McNamara
  • Phil Powers
  • Corey Rich
  • Tony Rowell
  • Ray & Nicole Rowell Ryan
  • Tracy Thompson
  • Bob Tribe

The Rowell Award Judging Panel

Conrad Anker
America’s best known and most accomplished mountain climber, noted author and photographer, credited with finding the body of British climber George Mallory, who disappeared on Mt. Everest in 1924.

Richard Blum
Founder and partner of Blum Capital Partners, philanthropist, husband of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, friend of the Tibetan and Nepalese people, founder and chair of the American-Himalayan Foundation. Dick Dorworth Close friend and climbing partner of Galen Rowell, former holder of world speed skiing record, currently a guide, ski instructor and newspaper columnist in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Family Member
A member of Galen and Barbara’s families will sit on the panel. The position will alternate annually between the two families.Nicole Rowell Ryan, Galen’s daughter, will act in this capacity in 2004-2005.

Frans Lanting
One of the world’s premier wildlife photographers, close friend of the Rowells, Photographer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society.

Doug McConnell
San Francisco TV personality and host of the popular weekly “Bay Area Backroads” show, adventurer and friend of Galen and Barbara Rowell who filmed several segments of their work for television. McConnell is co-chair of the Rowell Legacy Committee.

Chris McNamara
One of the most famous big wall climbers of his era and a frequent climbing partner and protégé of Galen Rowell. At age 25 he has more than 60 ascents of El Capitan to his credit, has published nine climbing guidebooks, and founded the non-profit American Safe Climbing Assn.

Duane Raleigh
Editor and Publisher of the climbing magazine Rock and Ice, well known for his extensive knowledge of the climbing and mountaineering world.

Corey Rich
One of the world's premier adventure photographers, he contrantly travels the globe where he captures everything from freight train hopping in the American West to snowboarding in Papua New Guinea.

Steven Werner
Owner/partner of Werner Publishing, whose portfolio includes Outdoor Photographer, Pilot Journal and Plane & Pilot. Galen and Barbara Rowell were frequent and popular contributors to these magazines.