Over $12,000 Available for Female-Led Alpine Climbing Expeditions
"The aims of the annually awarded prize is to promote and encourage female participation in pioneering alpine ascents"
In September 2016, climber Masha Gordon launched the Grit & Rock expedition grant to support female first ascents around the world. In the past five years, it has sent some 20 teams to pursue their alpine dreams in the greater ranges. Applications are due by the end of February, for more information on how to apply, visit here.
The award, the largest of its kind globally, funds projects of female-led expedition teams up to the amount nearly $13,000 CAD. The aims of the annually awarded prize is to promote and encourage female participation in pioneering alpine ascents. The award is open to individuals and climbing teams with majority female participation and is meant to provide funding for those who need it most. Over the past three years, expeditions supported have resulted a number of new ascents.
It’s judged in three categories. Performance is reserved for ambitious high-altitude ascents where the degree of difficulty of the project is carefully matched by a well-demonstrated skill. Exploration is reserved for beautifully crafted and well thought through projects on a smaller scale, such as exploration and mapping of new routes in remote areas of the world. Apprenticeship is reserved for projects aimed at advancement of alpine skills and independence of those who are making further steps in their climbing career. Past example of such projects include a route performed alpine-style by a Nepali female guide who has previously climbed only with the use of fixed ropes under supervision of another accomplished climber.
Last year’s money went to an all-female team of Slovenian alpinists, Sara Jaklič and Marija Jeglič, towards an expedition to attempt a first ascent of Chombu (6,362 m) in India’s Sikkim region; an all-female team of French alpinists, Lise Billion, Fanny Schmutz Tomasi, Maud Vanpoulle and Camille Marot, towards an expedition to attempt a first ascent in the Rolwaling Valley of Nepal; and a team of Nancy Hansen and Ralf Dujmovits towards an expedition to attempt a first ascent of Biarchedi I peak in Pakistan’s Karakorum region. In 2021, funding was also provided for female participants of the Young Alpinist in the U.K., and for the spring’2021 skills building expedition of the French national female alpine team.
Be sure to follow Grit & Rock on Instagram below. For more information on how to apply, visit here.
Sharp Peak
In summer of 202, Nadezhda Oleneva, Marina Popova and Maria Dupina made alpine history by climbing a new peak in Kyrgyzstan. With that, they got to name formerly peak 4810 as Sharp Peak.
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