In 2012, Kennedy came to prominence following a "fair means" ascent of the Compressor Route on
Cerro Torre during which he and his partner Jason Kruk chopped the bolt ladders left by
Cesare Maestri on the
first ascent. Kennedy and Kruk's actions created a local controversy in
El Chaltén and they were arrested shortly after returning. Following their release from jail, their actions generated an ethics debate about bolting practices in the mountains in the international climbing community. The environmental and ethical motivations of their actions during this climb were recognized by the
Piolet d'Or council. In 2013, Kennedy and his climbing partners Kyle Dempster and Josh Wharton won a
Piolet d'Or for their
alpine style first ascent of the south face of the
Ogre. On October 7, 2017, while skiing on Imp Peak in
Montana's Southern
Madison Range, Kennedy and his partner Inge Perkins were caught in an
avalanche. Surviving the avalanche, Kennedy attempted to rescue the buried Perkins but her avalanche beacon was turned off and in her backpack at the time of the accident. Later the following day, Kennedy died by suicide, after leaving detailed instructions on where to find Perkins' body. and for
Rock & Ice magazines. ==Notable ascents==