News Link: The Copp-Dash Inspire Award, a major new grant program, has been created to honor the lives and storytelling abilities of Jonny Copp and Micah Dash, who died last spring in an avalanche in China along with young filmmaker Wade Johnson. The new awards, sponsored by Black Diamond, La Sportiva, Mountain Hardwear, and Patagonia, and administered by the American Alpine Club, will back climbers who propose bold adventures in remote ranges—and who have the desire and skill to bring back creative stories in print, video, photos, and other media. 

In a unique twist, the grant winners also will be able to tap mentors at the Adventure Film Festival, Alpinist magazine, and Sender Films, along with photographers John Dickey and Mikey Schaefer, for technical and creative advice before and after their trips. 

A pool of $20,000 will be available for expeditions in 2010 and early 2011, with applications due March 31. Read more about the new grants at the AAC’s Inclined blog. Or, click here to download an application.