W. L. Gore & Associates is once again supporting global exploration through its annual Shipton-Tilman Grant Program by awarding grants totaling $25,000. Established in 1990, the program is a tribute to the spirit of adventure embodied by legendary explorers Eric Shipton (b. 1907) and Bill Tilman (b. 1897). Both men believed in traveling in small, compact teams, unburdened by porters and excessive bulk to minimize their impact on local populations and ecosystems. The six teams awarded grants through the 2011 program were chosen by Gore because they share this same “less is more” spirit.
Applications for the annual program are accepted from small teams of friends with daring and imaginative goals. The expedition team must plan to accomplish their feat in a self-propelled, environmentally sound, and cost-effective way.
The following six teams are receiving grants in 2011:
The Australian Women’s Greenland Expedition awarded $6,000
The two-woman team of Gemma Woldendorp and Natasha Sebire will travel to the rarely visited North Liverpool Land region of Greenland. On this eastern peninsula in the Greenland Sea, the team will traverse by dog sled and skis in search of virgin climbing opportunities. Once routes have been identified, the women will climb and paraglide, soaring among the peaks that have seen their footprints and no others.
Muchu Chhish Expedition awarded $3,000
Muchu Chhish is one of the highest unclimbed peaks in the world. Team leader Peter Thompson has made several first ascents from this same valley in Pakistan and looks to add the 7453m Muchu Chhish to that list. Joining Thompson will be Sean James, Adam Marcinowizc and Phillip De-Beger. The only previous attempt was made in 1999 by a Spanish expedition that abandoned the climb well before the summit.
Ski Mountaineering in the Hindu Kush, awarded $5,000
Driven by a desire for true adventure, Dylan Taylor and Danny Uhlmann will travel to a part of Afghanistan where Americans are as rare as electricity. They will explore the remote 5000m and 6000m peaks of the Hindu Kush. They plan to make multiple first ascents and descents, performing the first ski mountaineering in the region. Taylor and Uhlmann will also interact with the local Wakhi and Tajik people, seeking to become both patrons and documenters of these amazing people.
First Ascent of the Southwest Pillar of K7 West, awarded $5,000
K7 is one of the most complex peaks anywhere in the world, with three distinct summits and incredible vertical reliefs encircling its base. The 6200mm Southwest Pillar remains unclimbed and will be the objective for the team of Matt McCormick, Pat Goodman and Will Meinen. In the summer of 2010, McCormick attempted to reach the peak but was thwarted multiple times during one of the worst monsoon seasons in the history of Pakistan.
Northeast Ridge Mount Moffit, awarded $1,000
Lifelong Alaskan Samuel Johnson and his partner Clint Helander will attempt the first ascent of the 2600m Northeast Ridge of Mount Moffit in the Hayes Range of Alaska. The ridge has been attempted many times but details of those attempts are held tight by the Fairbanks climbing community. The route up the Northeast Ridge remains one of the last challenges in the Hayes Range of Alaska.
Kyrgz Djangart First Ascents, awarded $5,000
The Tien Shan region of Kyrgyzstan is slowly becoming an essential destination for the climbing community. Once closed to foreign teams, the region is more open and features multiple virgin peaks. Alex Brighton and Richard Tremellem, both from England, will attempt to summit a number of those peaks including the unclimbed Point 5312m. There are ten additional 5000m+ peaks in the area. Some of those may be attempted if conditions allow.
The application deadline for the grant is March 1 of each year. An independent judge reviews all applications and looks for projects that exemplify the Shipton-Tilman philosophy. Chosen teams receive a grant ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.
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