Copp-Dash Inspire Award
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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, along with filmmaker Wade Johnson, were killed in an avalanche. 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, therefore, 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.
Sponsored by Black Diamond Equipment, La Sportiva, Mountain Hardwear and Patagonia, and with in-kind support from Adventure Film Festival, Alpinist Magazine, American Alpine Club, Sender Films, and the 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.
To apply, please download the application below. Send completed applications to the AAC by March 31, 2010:
Grants Manager
The American Alpine Club
710 10th Street, Suite 100
Golden, CO 80401
View the AAC tribute to Jonny, Micah and Wade here.
How To Apply
Application Download (PDF) - Copp-Dash Inspire Award