The Copp-Dash Inspire Award is currently accepting applications through December 31, 2014

Jonny Copp and Micah Dash were two of America’s leading alpine climbers, adventuring to the farthest corners of the world in search of first ascents in the purest of style. It was on just such a mission in May 2009, in western China's Sichuan province, that Jonny and Micah were killed in an avalanche along with filmmaker Wade Johnson. With Jonny and Micah’s deaths we lost two of the great alpinists, characters, and storytellers the North American climbing world has recently known.

Jonny and Micah believed the summit meant something, but style was everything. They pursued climbing in the same manner they lived—with vigor and passion, and with a strong desire to share their adventures with the rest of the climbing world through photographs, videos and slideshows.

The Copp-Dash Inspire Award has been formed to support climbers who choose to follow a similar path, both in life and in the mountains. The fund’s goal is to assist climbers before, during, and after expeditions with financial grants and multimedia instruction to help empower them to share their current and future adventures with a wider audience.

This award would not be possible without the support of:

   Black Diamond Equipment

   La Sportiva 

   Mountain Hardwear

   Patagonia 

   Adventure Film Festival 

   Alpinist Magazine

   American Alpine Club

   Sender Films 

   Jonny Copp Foundation

The Copp-Dash Inspire Award will help support small teams tackling difficult climbs in the great mountains of the world who plan to personally document and share their ascents through a multimedia blend of storytelling elements. Proposed trips or climbs should be focused on unclimbed objectives in distant ranges and regions, requiring a high level of skill and commitment and climbed in a fast, light and clean style that stays true to the progression of expedition climbing.

Proposed documentation styles can include any mix of photos, video or writing that will vividly capture the essence and adventure of the trip or climb. Proposed sharing of these storytelling elements could aspire to involve slideshows, viral film clips, magazine articles, multimedia presentations, etc. Documentation instruction and storytelling mentorship (before and after the expedition) will be provided by the Adventure Film Festival, Alpinist Magazine, Sender Films and professional photographers John Dickey and Mikey Schaefer in order to assist award winners in achieving their documentation and presentation goals.

Application Deadlines:

Application period for the 2015 award will be November 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014 for trips taking place anytime in 2015.

Your application must be submitted by December 31st 2014. Winners will be announced by January 31, 2015.

How Do I Apply?

It’s easy, just fill out the attached form as a PDF or Word Doc and submit it to grants@americanalpineclub.org.

Please click here for any questions.