Mountain Fellowship Grant
Started in 1966, the Mountain Fellowship Fund grants encourage young American climbers age 25 years and under to go into remote areas and seek out climbs more difficult than they might ordinarily be able to do. Unexplored mountain ranges, unclimbed peaks, and difficult new routes will be looked upon with favor, as will any project in keeping with the charter and purpose of The American Alpine Club.
The grant is bi-annual with application deadlines on April 1st and November 1st. The grants are made available through the Boyd N. Everett, Jr. Memorial Fund, the John R. Hudson Memorial Fund, the Rick L. Mosher Memorial Fund, Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI Challenge Fund), and from annual contributions from the public. While grants are not large enough to entirely finance an individual, it is hoped they make it possible for a few young climbers to gain experience in mountain areas that would otherwise be out of their reach.
How to Apply
The application deadlines for the Mountain Fellowship Fund are April 1 and November 1. Late applications will not be accepted.
Applications must be submitted electronically via an emailed Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) attachment. Scanned signatures must be inserted within the submitted proposal. Proposals submitted without signatures on both the waiver and grant application will not be accepted. Please submit relevant photos of your objective along with your application.
Applications and Inqueries can be directed to:
Jason Manke
Grants Manager
(303) 951-4567
jmanke@americanalpineclub.org
Selection Procedure
A committee of eight climbers reviews the applications, selects the recipients, and decides how much each of the recipients will receive. Recipients are typically chosen eight to ten weeks after submittal and all applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision at that point.
Past Recipients
Fall 2007
Crystal Davis (25), $400 for a new route on the west face of Aguja de la Silla in the Fitz Roy Massif of Patagonia. Read her report...
Colin Haley (23), $400 for the Torre Traverse in Patagonia. Read the news story...
Ian Nicholson (24) and Graham Zimmerman (21), $800 each from the REI Challenge Fund to attempt the first ascent of the west face of Kichatna Spire in Alaska.
Clint Helander (23), $800 from the John R. Hudson Fund to attempt the first ascent of Peak 9304 in the Revelation Mountains.
Sevve Stember (23), $1,000 from the REI Challenge Fund for first ascents in the Cochamo Valley of Chile.
Spring 2007
Brad Cabot (23), Althea Rogers (22), and Kelly Ryan (23) received grants from the REI Challenge Fund for an extended exploratory kayak trip to reach unclimbed peaks in West Greenland. Read their report...
Ian Nicholson (23) received a grant from the Rick Mosher Fund to attempt a new route on the southwest face of the Blade in British Columbia’s Waddington Range. Read his report...
Matt Othmer (22) received a grant from the John R. Hudson Fund to attempt the first ascent of the east face of Cerro Aratitiyopa in Venezuela. Read his report...
Fall 2006
Michael Bromberg (23) - climbed new routes and made ski descents near the "Backside Glacier" in Alaska. Read his report...
Kyle Demptster (23) - received a grant from the REI Challenge Fund and completed a big-wall climb in the Gran Sabana area of Venezuela with Mike Libecki in January 2007. Read his report...
Jessica Drees (25) and Erin Whorton (25) - received a grant from the Boyd Everett Fund for attempts on new rock routes in eastern Greenland.Read their report...
Colin Haley (22) - received a grant from the Boyd Everett Fund and completed a major new link-up on Cerro Torre in Patagonia with Kelly Cordes. Read about it in the 2007 AAJ.
Benjamin Venter (23) - received a grant from the REI Challenge Fund for a climb of Aguja Mermoz' Northwest Ridge and other routes in Patagonia.
Spring 2006
Alison Criscitiello and Jessica Drees - received a grant from the Boyd Everett Fund to try the three highest peaks in Ecuador: Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, and Cayambe. Read more...
Elena Mihaly and Jeremy Roop - will attempt a new route on Bustle Tower in the Cirque of the Unclimbables in the Northwest Territories, Canada. Their grant was made possible by the REI Challenge Fund. Read more...
Mark Thomas - will attempt a new route on Peak 11,300 and explore pure ice lines on the northwest shoulder of the Rooster Comb in the Alaska Range.
Tim Tormey - will attempt to link both the North and South Howser Towers in a one-day push, in addition to several other objectives in the Bugaboos of Canada.
Dave Turner - will attempt several major objectives in South American ranges, including the southeast face of Jirishanca, south face of Huandoy Sur, Fitz Roy, and the east face of the Central Tower of Paine.
Fall 2005
Aaron Thrasher and Adam Fruh – Attempt on the South face of Kichatna Spire, Alaska.
Michael Buchanan - New route on peak 11,300 and North West Face of Rooster Comb, Alaska.
Spring 2005
Janet Bergman – First free ascent of Whiskey Time (600m, 5.11, A4) on Aguja Poincenot, first female ascent of Red Pillar (600 meter, 5.11) on Aguja Mermoz, first American all-female ascent of Fitz Roy via the Franco-Argentine or California route.
Colin Haley – Alpine style ascent of the Schell Route on Nanga Parbat.
William Hinckley – Single push attempts of the Liotus Flower Tower, "Via Costa Brava" on Mt. Probocis and "Club Internation" on the Bustle Tower in the Cirque of the Unclimbables, Yukon Territory, Canada.
Nick Martino and Renan Ozturk – One-push ascent of Nameless Tower, Pakistan.
Chris Thomas – Successful ascent of an unnamed and unclimbed sub-peak of Mt Huntington, Alaska.
Andy Wellman – Attempt of new route on South face of Caraz II 6020m, Cordillera Blanca - 2nd Ascent W Ridge of Huandoy Oeste 6356m.