Renan Ozturk on an attempt of a traverse of the Mooses Tooth massif, in Alaska’s Ruth Gorge, 2009. As a Copp-Dash Inspire grant winner, Ozturk will return this spring with climbing partners Zack Smith and Freddie Wilkinson to make another attempt of the traverse. [Photo] Zack Smith
The American Alpine Club has announced the recipients of the first annual Copp-Dash Inspire Award. The winners will each receive funding for their proposed climbing expeditions from the AAC. The grant program was created in memory of climbers Jonny Copp and Micah Dash, who were killed in an avalanche, along with filmmaker Wade Johnson, in China in May 2009.
As provided by the AAC, the 2010 winners are:
Kevin Mahoney, South Face of Nuptse, Nepal, with Ben Gilmore and Freddie Wilkinson. Alpine-style ascent via a new route on the perimeter of the Cobweb Wall.
Madaleine Sorkin, Southeast Face of Mt. Proboscis, Canada, with Lorna Illingworth and Emily Stifler. First complete free ascent of the 2,000-foot Original Route.
Matt McCormick, Southeast Pillar of K7 West, Karakoram, Pakistan, with Jim Shimberg and Tim Deroehn. Alpine-style first complete ascent of a major sub-summit of K7 West.
Sam Johnson, South Face of Mt. Shand and traverse of Mt. Hayes massif, Alaska, with Ryan Hokanson. Alpine-style first ascent of 1500-meter face on Mt. Shand and 12-mile traverse of Hayes massif, entailing thousands of vertical meters of climbing.
Sarah Garlick, northwest face of the Baroness, Greenland, with Danika Gilbert, Jim Surette, and Dave Nettle. New free route on 2,000-foot northwest face of the Baroness.
Will Meinen, North Face of Mt. Geikie, Canada, with Fred McGuinness and Scott Thumlert. First ascent on 4,000-foot face.
Zack Smith, traverse of the Mooses Tooth massif, with Renan Ozturk and Freddie Wilkinson. A full traverse of the massif, entailing an estimated 12,000 feet of ice, rock, and snow climbing.
Editor’s Note: This article was amended on May 3, 2010 to correct K7’s location. The peak is in Pakistan Karakoram, not Nepal.