Archil Badriashvili Foundation

Archil Badriashvili was a mountaineer, member of Georgia's national team, board member of the United Federation of Georgian Mountaineers, founder and head of the Federation's Mountaineering School, mountain guide, documentarian, and medical doctor. He started rock climbing at the age of 7, and by 9 had already climbed his first Caucasus peaks with his father. Over the following decades, he became one of Georgia's most prolific alpine climbers, known for his deep pride in his native country and his tireless efforts to promote Georgian mountaineering on the world stage.

He was awarded the Georgian Ice Axe six times. In 2022, alongside Bakar Gelashvili and Giorgi Tepnadze, he received the prestigious Piolet d'Or - the "Golden Ice Axe" - for their first ascent of the unclimbed 7,303m peak of Saraghrar Northwest in Pakistan. He was nominated for the Piolet d'Or five times in a row (2018-2022, and again in 2025, posthumously).

Archil passed away on August 10, 2024, after a lightning strike on Shkhelda Traverse (4,388m) in the Caucasus. He was 34 years old. His humility, kindness, and love for the mountains made him exceptional - a true explorer, always drawn to new paths in remote corners of the world.