2009 EXPLORATION GRANT RECIPIENTS

Joe Stock and Matt Hage, both of Anchorage, Alaska were awarded an exploration grant to fund the team’s adventure in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The team plans a first ski descent of Mount Chamberlain followed by a pack raft exit from the mountains via the Hula Hula River to the Arctic Ocean

Taylor Brown of Breckenridge, Colorado, was awarded an exploration grant supporting his team’s Skyline Project in Alaska’s Wrangell Mountains. The team will attempt descents of several peaks in the range with a focus on a descent of the southeast ridge of the 16,390 foot Mount Blackburn.

Alex Stoy of Park City, Utah and his team will attempt a ski traverse on Unimak Island in the Aleutian chain. The traverse includes first descents on three volcanoes and over 30,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain over the course of their 75 mile trip.

Dan Corn and Kevin Mahoney of Jackson Hole and Madison, New Hampshire will attempt a first descent of Denali’s coveted South Face, via the Haston – Scott route.

Jonathan Mingle of Berkeley, California received a grant for the Sankar-Darcha traverse in the Indian Himalaya. While this traverse has been previously completed, Jonathan’s goals for the expedition are unique. He will partner with local skiers and conduct avalanche awareness seminars in the remote mountain villages along the traverse.

2008 EXPLORATION GRANT RECIPIENTS

Joe Stock of Anchorage, Alaska was awarded an exploration grant to fund his team’s proposed first ski traverse and documentation of the unexplored areas of the Tordillo Mountains in the Aleutian range of Alaska.

Jaimie Laidlaw of McCall, Idaho, was awarded an exploration grant supporting his participation in an international team’s attempt to climb and ski Himalaya’s 8163 meter Mount Manaslu.

Scott Cordner of Big Bear City, California, and his team have been awarded an exploration grant for their proposed attempt at first ski descents on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. The Corder expedition will be one of the first foreign ski expeditions to visit Kamchatka and will have the opportunity to raise awareness of the cultural and geographic features of the Peninsula.

Jason Thompson of Bozeman, Montana has been awarded a grant to support his ski exploration and documentation of the Caucasus Region of Georgia, an expedition that will focus not only on skiing, but also the political and social nature of this remote mountain region.