News

As the flame in Beijing was extinguished on August 24, hundreds of young climbers from around the world lit torches on mountaintops to keep Olympic values alive.

“The emotions and feeling that we were gathering with our friends on different peaks in the world on the same day, same hour, it was really special,” says Zdenka Mihelic from the UIAA Youth Commission.

In South Africa, Italy, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, Slovenia and Greece young climbers celebrated "Ekecheiria", the ancient Greeks' name for the peaceful period which reigned during the Olympic Games.

"I am very happy to see so many young climbers and mountaineers being inspired by the Olympic Games and its spirit of peace and co-operation and in their own way going faster, higher and stronger," says UIAA Youth Commission President Anne Arran.

A US geography professor has created an atlas of computer generated aerial views of the Himalaya, available for all on the internet. The atlas contains over 700 life-like panoramas that offers climbers a unique view of the mountains they plan to climb.

The National Park Service (NPS) in Yosemite, United States, is asking climbers for help with a study of lichens growing on big rock faces. Those who volunteer for one or more days between September 1- 21 will get free camping, experience with field work and the chance to meet up with other climbers.

This year the Norwegian Alpine Club (NTK) is celebrating its hundredth  anniversary. The members have elected their first woman president to lead the club into the next century.

The UIAA deeply regrets the death of the eleven climbers on K2.

Climbers and mountaineers will take part in a workshop on conservation across borders in Kathmandu, Nepal from November 11-14. An important part of the event is to gather information for an upcoming book on transboundary conservation.

The International Academy of Sports Science and Technology (AISTS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, is offering a scholarship for one student for its internationally recognised postgraduate programme in sport management.

Youth from nine countries have taken part in a climbing coaching and route setting meet in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Top French climber and Petzl team member Tony Lamiche was there to share his skills.

Best-selling author and humanitarian Greg Mortenson will speak at the Galen and Barbara Rowell Lecture Series.

The American Alpine Club is going global this summer, hosting four international climbing events.