Eco friendly Everest summit

The members of the Eco Everest expedition 2008 have reached the summit. The purpose of the expedition was to field test an environmentally friendly approach to climbing and draw attention to climate change. You can read more about the Eco Everest expedition in our previous article. One of...

Spurs banned at Ice Climbing competitions

The UIAA Ice Climbing Commission (ICICC) has decided to ban the use of spurs, effective from the 2009 competition season. The decision was made after a new survey of competition competitors showed that the majority of the athletes prefer not to use spurs. The commission notes that...

Everest Closure

Statement: At the General Assembly of the UIAA in October 2007, the member federations applauded the promise of the Chinese Mountaineering Association (CMA) to take the UIAA flag to the summit of Mt Everest, as part of the Olympic torch relay. The logic was simple. The...

Press release: Mount Everest

UIAA regrets Mount Everest access decision by China Statement by Mike Mortimer, President of UIAA (International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation) The UIAA regrets the recent decision by the government of China to close the north side of Mount Everest to mountaineering expeditions for several weeks during May...

Youth ascent of Mt Kazbek

If you have never before climbed a 5000 meter peak, here is your chance. This summer young mountaineers aged 18-30 years will ascend Mt Kazbek in Georgia. This international ascent is organised by the the Club Mountain Traveller (CMT) on behalf of the Mountaineering & Climbing...

Climbing meet in South Africa

Are you living in the northern hemisphere and can't get enough of snow and ice? Then why not take the chance to try out ice climbing in Africa in the middle of July? The KwaZulu-Natal Section of the Mountain Club of South Africa is inviting you...

Young Olympic ascent

You might not be going to Beijing this summer, but you still have the chance to be a part of the Olympics. As part of the Global Youth Summit, we are inviting young mountaineers to ascend Mount Olympus (mt.2917), Greece. The ascent to the top will...

Access situation on Everest

The expeditions planning to ascent Everest this spring are facing problems. Permits are currently not being issued either by Chinese or Nepali authorities. The UIAA Expedition Commission is using their contacts in Tibet and Nepal to stay updated and we will pass on any information we...

The Rowell Award For the Art of Adventure

The UIAA is to become a Friend of the Rowell Award For the Art of Adventure. The award is given to an "adventurer whose artistic passion illuminates the wild places of the world, and whose accomplishments significantly benefit both the environment and the peoples who inhabit these...