MOUNTAINHEROES; Scots pals win climbing Oscar.

Byline: Record Reporter reporters@dailyrecord.co.uk

TWO Scots climbers have received a mountaineering Oscar after scaling a Himalayan peak by a dangerous new route.

Rick Allen and Sandy Allan awarded the Piolet d'Or after completing a previously unclimbed and deadly route in the mountain range last July.

The Mazeno Ridge is a sharp ridge which requires ascents of seven subsidiary summits before tackling the top of the world's ninth highest mountain, Nanga Parbat.

The pair were honoured during a three-day event held in Chamonix in France and Courmayeur in Italy.

Rick, from Aberdeen, said: "It is a very, very long ridge and most of it is above 23,600ft. It is a knife edge with lots of pinnacles."

Following their ascent, Rick said the expedition left him "skeletal" because they ran out of food. He also suffered from frostbite.

Ten attempts to climb the Mazeno Ridge by several of the world's best climbers had failed over the last 20 years.

The British Mountaineering Council described the achievement as a "monstrous undertaking".

CAPTION(S):

SUMMITS UP Sandy and Rick on the way to the top

OUTSTANDING Rick and Sandy with their award

DEADLY GROUND The route to the top of Nanga Parbat is dangerous