PINK SUMMITS x OSPREY SCHOLARSHIP

Budget covers UIAA-certified mountain guide/instructor (only for Kyrgyzstan), local permits, domestic transport, meals while on the mountain & accommodation (huts or tents), group gear. Personal gear, insurance and flights are not covered.

This round, we will award scholarships to two recipients.

If you don’t have your own project, you can apply for any future projects that Pink Summits may organise or support in 2026-2027.

Ski touring / snowshoeing in Türkiye

A winter journey (unguided) towards Mount Ararat (5,137m) combines ski touring or snowshoeing with a queer-visibility and storytelling project. Dates: TBD, one week in April or May.

Ski touring + ice climbing in Kyrgyzstan. Guided.

Spend time in the Tian Shan developing winter mountain skills through guided ski touring and an ice-climbing course. Dates: February 20-28.

Ski mountaineering in Georgia

An unguided expedition in the Kazbegi region could combine ski touring, glacier and mountaineering skills and, for experienced applicants, an ascent of Mount Kazbek. Dates: TBD, one week in March, April or early May.

Have another idea?

Propose your own project. It could take place anywhere in Europe, Central Asia or elsewhere in the world, provided that it is realistic within the scholarship budget and demonstrates a meaningful connection between winter mountain sports and queer visibility.

Your project could be:

• a ski tour or ski-mountaineering expedition
• a snowshoeing or winter trekking adventure
• a snowboarding or splitboarding project
• an ice-climbing course
• a winter mountaineering objective
• a documentary, photography or storytelling project connected to a winter adventure
• an initiative that helps other LGBTIQ+ people access winter mountain sports
• or another bold idea that connects queer visibility, mountains and winter adventure

You can apply if you:

• are 18 years or older
• self-identify as part of the LGBTIQ+ community
• have some experience in mountain, outdoor or adventure sports
• can communicate in English at a conversational level
• support the mission of Pink Summits: promoting queer visibility through mountain sports
• are able to participate in the proposed activity,

You do not need to be an experienced alpinist.

We particularly encourage applications from LGBTIQ+ women, people with disabilities, refugees and migrants, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), and people who face financial barriers to participating in outdoor sports.

There are no geographic restrictions on applicants.

Your application should tell us:

Your adventure
What winter mountain activity or project would you like to undertake?

Your story
Why are you drawn to this adventure?

Your visibility project
How could your adventure contribute to queer visibility, community building or storytelling?

Your experience
What relevant outdoor or mountain experience do you already have?

Your development
What skills would you like to learn or improve?

Your future involvement
How would you like to contribute to the Pink Summits community after the scholarship?

Previous high-level mountaineering experience is not required. We are interested in motivation, commitment, realistic planning and the potential of the project.

November 1, 2026, at midnight Central European Time (CET).

Applications submitted after the deadline will normally not be considered.

After the application deadline, a committee consisting of members of the Pink Summits team and representatives of Osprey will review the applications.

Selected finalists will be invited to an online interview.

The committee will consider, among other things:

• your motivation and personal story
• your experience in outdoor or mountain sports
• the feasibility of your proposed project
• your ideas for queer visibility and storytelling
• your interest in remaining involved with Pink Summits

As a scholarship recipient, you will become part of the Pink Summits community.

We ask you to:

• stay involved with Pink Summits where possible
• contribute to future events or activities according to your availability
• share your experience through photos, videos, interviews or written stories
• create content that can help make queer people more visible in mountain and outdoor sports
• acknowledge the support of Pink Summits and Osprey in relevant project communications
• respect local communities, environments and applicable safety regulations

We do not expect you to put yourself at unnecessary risk for the sake of a story, photograph or sporting achievement.

Winter mountain sports involve inherent risks, including avalanche hazards, extreme weather, falls, crevasses and other serious hazards.

Applicants are responsible for demonstrating that their proposed project is appropriate for their experience and that suitable safety measures are in place.

The processing of the personal data required for the application serves exclusively to administer and select recipients of the scholarship.

Your data will only be accessible to the relevant Pink Summits and Osprey teams and will not be passed on to third parties except where this is necessary for administering the scholarship or where you have given your consent.

Please see our privacy policy for further information about data processing, storage and your rights as well as the Privacy Policy for Osprey Europe Ltd.

By applying, you acknowledge that Pink Summits and Osprey may use application-related photos, videos and texts for communication about the scholarship and the organisations.

The scholarship has a maximum value of €1,750.

Cash payment is not available. Scholarship funds will be provided through eligible travel, accommodation, training, equipment, guiding or other agreed project expenses, normally arranged or reimbursed by Pink Summits.

The scholarship cannot be transferred to another person.

Pink Summits reserves the right to exclude applicants or finalists who provide incorrect information or manipulate the application process.

If you submit photographs or videos as part of your application, you confirm that you have the necessary rights and permissions to submit them.

Pink Summits reserves the right to modify, postpone or cancel a proposed adventure where weather, safety, political circumstances, travel restrictions or other circumstances make the project unsuitable. The alternative adventure will be proposed and discussed with the scholarship recipients.

If you have questions or need assistance with your application, please contact:

[email protected]