Guide Like Liz – Empowering Future Mountain Leaders
Liz Daley Scholarship
In memory of Liz Daley, this scholarship supports women and gender diverse climbers in launching careers in alpine guiding. Awardees receive full or partial scholarships to approved courses.
The “Guide Like Liz” Scholarship – In Memory of Our Friend and Colleague
Thank you for your interest!
Purpose
This scholarship is awarded annually to support women and gender-diverse climbers in pursuing a career in alpine guiding. The funds can be applied to approved American Alpine Institute courses where Liz taught and guided, and are intended to encourage those with a love for the mountains and a passion for adventure to follow their dreams and explore guiding as a profession.
Currently, the guiding career path has a small percentage of gender diverse guides despite the fact that the climbers in these roles are among the best in the business. We hope that providing this incentive will allow the future Liz Daleys of the world to take the first step toward a potential long and rewarding career.
Inspiration
This scholarship program was inspired and designed to honor the guiding career of Liz Daley, who lost her life far too early in an avalanche in Patagonia on September 29, 2014. Liz was the consummate mountain guide: professional, thorough, patient, and instructive. Her passion for the mountains was infectious, and her enthusiasm for the life she chose revealed itself every day in her smile. Her self-reliance and work ethic were exemplary, and her sense of humor took the edge off tense situations. She was unique in every way.
She honed her skills in splitboarding, rock, and alpine climbing in the North Cascades, Alps, Andes, and Alaska. Her humility belied the fact that she was a pioneer in the splitboarding world. She was a sponsored athlete, but she never flaunted it. She just shared her stoke, and we were lucky to be part of it.
Qualifying Programs
- Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership Part I
- Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership Part II
- Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership Part III
- Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership Part IV
- Alpinism 1
- Alpinism 2
- Alpine Ice Climbing
- Technical Rope Rescue Comprehensive
- Leave No Trace Master Educator Training
- Other courses may be considered depending on availability and applicant qualifications.
Applications
Eligibility:
- Self-identify as belonging to marginalized genders, including female, genderqueer, trans, non-binary, and femmes, who are comfortable in female-centered spaces
- 18 years of age or older
- Meet or exceed the listed prerequisites for the requested program(s)
- Potential recipients must submit a professional resume, outdoor resume, letter of recommendation, and completed application that expresses why they would make a great mountain guide, trip leader, or outdoor educator.
An application missing a resume, letter of recommendation, or outdoor resume is considered incomplete and will not be considered for the scholarship. For more information or tips on outdoor resume creation, feel free to email us at info@alpineinstitute.com.
The Guide Like Liz Scholarship is open for applications from February 1 through October 31. We will announce the winners in late December.
