Josep Manuel Anglada, a key figure in Catalan and international mountaineering as a climber, communicator, trainer, writer, defender of the mountain and a great friend of the Festival, has left us at the age of 93 after a full life dedicated to the mountains. A pioneer in all aspects, he opened routes on walls in our country, reached virgin peaks in the Andes and Greenland, the first Catalan eight-thousander on Annapurna in 1974, participated in the first Catalan expedition to Everest in 1982 and several alpine ascents of maximum difficulty, among these the north face of the Eiger, Pointe Walker in the Grandes Jorasses, to name a few examples. Together with his partner, Elisabeth Vergés, they contributed to the popularity of mountaineering and climbing in Catalonia, and to project it throughout the world.

Josep Manuel Anglada, for many and also for the Festival “l’Anglada” has left us today. A reference in climbing worldwide and a great person. Since the late 90s he was part of the numerous club of friends of the Festival, but in a very special way. Practically no edition was missed by him, intervening in commemorations (20 years of the first Catalan ascent of an eight-thousander), in round tables on climbing -the legendary 2002 round table with Royal Robbins, Jim Bridwell, Miguel Angel García Gallego and Cesare Maestri-, presenting the Boreal Prize (of which he was the representative) and above all receiving the Gold Edelweiss Honorary Award and the Festival's tribute in the 2006 edition. A tribute in which we had a large group of climbers, with whom he had formed a roped group at one time or another: Joan Cerdà, Xavi Pérez Gil, Michel Vaucher, Francesc Guillamón, Miguel Angel García Gallego and Armand Ballart.

Rest in peace, Anglada.

Joan Salarich