GRIT&ROCK reports that 99% of first ascents on high-altitude peaks are done by men. Its First Ascent Expedition Prize seeks to lower that percentage.
Historically, it’s no secret that alpinism is a male-dominated sport. This February, one U.K.-based charity is organizing a grant program to fund women alpinists on the world’s biggest climbing objectives.
GRIT&ROCK’s First Ascent Expedition Prize started along with the organization itself in 2016. Each year since the program has distributed $10,000 in grants to selected majority-female alpine climbing expeditions.
This month, it puts another $10,000 on the table.
First Ascent Expedition Prize Categories
A panel of judges will review applications to decide on winners in three categories.
The “Performance” category prioritizes ambitious, high-altitude ascents on the basis of difficulty and skill demonstrated by the team. In 2021, Nancy Hansen and Ralf Dujmovits secured a Performance grant for their first ascent bid on Biarchedi I (22,342 feet) in Pakistan’s Karakorum.
“Exploration” award winners design ascents that GRIT&ROCK describe as “beautifully crafted and well-thought-out projects on a smaller scale.”
First ascents or in remote areas, for instance, fall into the category. The organization last awarded an Exploration grant in 2020, for Natalia Martinez and Camilo Rada’s exploration project in rarely visited regions of southern Patagonia.