Build My Own FeedCopp-Dash Inspire Award established
Black Diamond is proud to be a part of the inaugural Copp-Dash Inspire Award, an alpine and adventure climbing grant that has been established in honor of BD athletes Jonny Copp and Micah Dash.
Jonny and Micah 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 excelled in all types of climbing and was known worldwide for his cutting edge first ascents on the steepest walls and mountains, including an amazing trifecta in Pakistan’s Trango Valley with Mike Pennings and a first ascent on Patagonia’s Poincenot with Dylan Taylor. Jonny’s award-winning photography, writing and film footage have been featured in magazines, books and movies—leaving the rest of us with rare impressions of life on alpine walls. In 2005, he and Mark Reiner founded the internationally acclaimed Adventure Film Festival, based in Boulder, Colorado, creating a global platform of exposure for adventure filmmakers, with shows in Boulder, across the U.S. and on three other continents. 
Micah’s uncompromising passion for his family and friends was matched only by his love for climbing. His indomitable spirit for adventure and amazing perseverance molded his career as a professional climber and inspirational speaker. Micah was a born showman—equally comfortable holding court in front of thousands at mountain festivals as he was with a few friends around a campfire. His cutting edge ascents around the world included Pakistan’s Cat’s Ear Spire with Eric Decaria, the first ascent of the Shaffat Fortress in Kashmir, India with Jonny Copp, a free ascent of El Cap with Matt Segal and the first free ascent of Nalumasortoq in Greenland with Thad Friday.
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 and Sender Films, 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 here. Send completed applications to the American Alpine Club headquarters by March 31, 2010:
c/o Janet Miller, Grants Manager
The American Alpine Club
710 10th Street, Suite 100
Golden, CO 80401
United States / English 
