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Grants for Nine Exciting Alpine Ventures.

PRESS RELEASE: March 17, 2004

The Alpine Club of Canada announces $11,450 in grants awarded to nine worthy mountain related projects this year - two Environment Fund projects, one Jen Higgins Fund for Young Women expedition and six Helly Hansen Mountain Adventure Awards.
Mike Mortimer, Helly Hansen Committee Chairman, says, “A broad range of projects were supported – varied in nature both from the point of view of their declared objectives, as well as from the geographical and cultural associations of those requesting funding. It will be very interesting to hear the outcomes of all of the granted projects.” The projects selected for grant funding range from an adventurous free rock climb to a multi-summit challenge, and from an ice climbing website to a national media campaign to introduce a mountaineering film to the documentary film world.

Project details:

Environment Fund

Ghost Waiparous Washroom Facility Project awarded $2000 to support the ACC-Calgary Section’s efforts toward placing a washroom facility in the Ghost Valley, a very popular climbing area that is close to Calgary. The area has had a history of abuse due to over usage in certain areas by random camping and off road vehicles.

The David Thompson Heritage Lands (DTHL) Project awarded $550 to support the East Kootenay Environmental Society (EKES), a registered Charity under Revenue Canada, with their innovative approach to the protection of a unique wilderness and mountain landscape. EKES proposes to submit for designation, as a National Historic Site of Canada, the portion of landscape unit G1, in the Golden Forest District in BC that we call the David Thompson Heritage Lands (DTHL). The bicentennial recognition for the great Canadian explorer and cartographer, David Thompson, draws near, and with it, an opportunity to acknowledge the legacy of mountain passage earlier forged by the First Nation’s people in whose footsteps and with whose guidance Thompson traveled.

Jen Higgins Fund

Vancouver to the Aleutians – A Coastal Mountaineering and Sailing Exploration awarded $3000 to support Holden and Dora Repard with their unique and ambitious adventure. As part of a team of eight people, the women will sail from Vancouver to Alaska and the Aleutians, stopping to climb Mt. Fairweather and Mt. St. Elias from sea level along the way.

Helly Hansen Mountain Adventure Award

Alaska: Classic & Fast awarded $1,000 to support the proven team of Owens and Honig take on an ambitious itinerary of big mountain test pieces, to be tackled in the best modern style. Could be a very impressive ‘Grand Slam’ if all objectives – The Moonflower, Cassin, and a new route on Kahiltna – are achieved.

Mt. Combatant Incisor Free awarded $1,100 to support the strong team of Maddaloni and Boyd who will attempt a big free rock climb in a wild Coastal location. It could become one of the more significant routes of its kind in the country, and regardless will make a great adventure and a good story.

Kama Bay Ice Climbing Guide awarded $700 to support Hagans’ selfless concept to create a web guide to Kama Bay Ice Climbing that will reward and encourage visitors to this worthy ice climbing venue.

Bolts, Bongs & Jam Cans awarded $1,000 to support Angela Heck’s interesting proposal to take the film Bolts, Bongs and Jam Cans to a national audience beyond just mountain climbers. The film was the recent winner of the Grand Prize at the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival.

North Ridge of Shingu Charpa: Two Friends, Two Packs, Two Days awarded $1,100 to support Geisler and Edgar who will tackle an exotically monumental rock line in Pakistan, this twice-tried climb is reckoned to be climbable only by a very fast and lightweight duo. The spectacular setting of this route and the wild nature of its location will deliver excellent stories and photos.

Chuquiragua: Celebrating Women’s Passion for Mountains in Ecuador awarded $500 to support Daigneault & Sofer’s documentary film. A good cross-continent mountain adventure by and about women, into its second phase now – the first being the initial trip to Ecuador last year – the two women involved show excellent commitment to their project and its ideals.