Mountain Hardwear announced the recipients of the 2011 Expedition Sponsorship Program. Mountain Hardwear will give total of $10,000 to help fund three expeditions: The Dusty Camel's Pacific Coast Trail (PCT) Thru-Hike and documentary film, to protect and conserve the PCT; Cerro Pollone 2011, first free ascents on the West Pillar and East Summit of the Cerro Pollone; and Human-Powered First Descents, Alaska in the Chilkat Range from the LeBlondeau Glacier near Glacier Bay National Park.
The Dusty Camel's Pacific Coast Trail (PCT) Thru-Hike
Andy Laub, Ian Mangiardi and Dave Dagresta, a trio otherwise known as The Dusty Camel, will thru-hike the 2600-mile Pacific Crest Trail from south to north beginning in April 2011. The team will create a documentary film of their challenges and achievements to inspire others to experience, preserve and enjoy the outdoors. The Dusty Camel will seek to raise funds and awareness for the protection and conservation of the lands encompassing the PCT. www.thedustycamel.org
Cerro Pollone 2011
Scott Bennett and Blake Herrington will travel to Patagonia in January 2011 to attempt the first free ascent of the West Pillar of Cerro Pollone. They hope to continue along the ridge crest to also make the first ascent of the East Summit of Cerro Pollone adopting a light, fast, free-climbing style on both attempts. The journey will begin in the Rio Electrico valley on the approach, traverses a shoulder of the main icecap and negotiates unknown terrain en route to the base of the climb.
Human-Powered First Descents, Alaska
Joe Eppler, Doug Byerly, Chris Trimble, Stephen Eginoire and Stan Prichard, all residents of southwest Colorado, will be dropped off via fixed-wing airplane on LeBlondeau Glacier near Glacier Bay National Park to approach and ski several first descents accessible only by foot in the Chilkat Range, Alaska.
Mountain Hardwear is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear Company.
