![Whitney Clark (pictured), Josie McKee and Caro North received a 2018 Grit and Rock Award to attempt a first ascent on Arjuna (6230m) in India's Kishtwar Province. [Photo] Josie McKee](https://dev.alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/whitney-clark-on-arjuna-north.jpg "whitney-clark-on-arjuna-north")
The Grit & Rock First Ascent Expedition Award for female alpinists is now accepting applications until January 15, 2019.
The program launched in October 2016 and is now in its third cycle. The website reads:
In September 2016 GRIT & ROCK announced a launch of an annual international First Ascent Expedition Prize to enable female first ascents. The award, the largest of its kind globally, funds projects of female-led expedition teams up to the amount of $10,000. The aims of the annually awarded prize is to promote and encourage female participation in pioneering alpine ascents. The Award is open to individuals and climbing teams with majority female participation and is meant to provide funding for those who need it most.
The award is judged in three categories:
Performance: This category is reserved for ambitious high-altitude ascents where the degree of difficulty of the project is carefully matched by a well-demonstrated skill.
Exploration: This award category is reserved for beautifully crafted and [well-planned] projects on a smaller scale, such as exploration and mapping of new routes in remote areas of the world.
Apprenticeship/Special Prize: This category is reserved for projects aimed at advancement of alpine skills and independence of those who are making further steps in their climbing career. Past example of such projects include a route performed alpine-style by a Nepali female guide who has previously climbed only with the use of fixed ropes under supervision of another accomplished climber.
How to Apply
Applications should be submitted by email to award@gritandrock.com by January 15, 2019. The jury will announce its decision by mid-February 2019 at a ceremony in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. To learn more, please download the award document here or contact us at award@gritandrock.com
More information about the 2018 recipients can be found here.
![Masha Gordon of the UK is the founder of The Grit and Rock First Ascent Expedition Award. [Photo] Masha Gordon collection](https://dev.alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/new-climbing-grant-for-female-first-ascents-1.jpg "new-climbing-grant-for-female-first-ascents-1")