UIAA Statement on historic 8000m Achievements

STATEMENT FROM THE UIAA MOUNTAINEERING COMMISSION The generally accepted 14 x 8000 metre peaks have an iconic historical value that in many ways transcends mountaineering as they have entered a more universal culture. When Reinhold Messner completed the 14 x 8000 metre peaks in 1986 he was lauded for that fact but perhaps even more so for the manner in which he had accomplished this extraordinary feat before many others even considered it possible. No oxygen, often...

CLIMBER SAFETY: SETTING THE STANDARDS

Developing the highest standards for climbing gear has been one of the cornerstones of the UIAA since the 1960s. Spearheaded by its Safety Commission, significant investment and resources are deployed to continually review international standards for climbing and mountaineering equipment as well as identify potential new ones. UIAA Safety Commission President Lionel Kiener recently provided the following update on the progress of safety standards while underlying the importance for the end user, the climber. UIAA ROCK ANCHORS:...

INAUGURATION OF ASIAN ROCK CLIMBING FESTIVAL

The UIAA recently supported the first edition of the Asian Traditional Rock Climbing Festival. Held near Almaty, the event was organised by UIAA member association the Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MSCFRK), partnered by the Union of Asian Alpine Associations (UAAA), the continental body for Asia and recognised by the UIAA. The driving force behind the event’s creation was Kazbek Valiyev, vice President of the MSCFRK. Support for the event, primarily...

ALPINE LEARNING PROJECT WEEKS: GOING BEYOND BORDERS

All projects nominated for the UIAA Mountain Protection Award receive close support and promotion from the UIAA during their lifecycle. For the annual winner of the Award, there is the added factor of global publicity and prize money. In this mini series, the UIAA speaks to the past three recipients of the Award to discuss their recent progress and the positive impact winning the MPA had. All three of the past editions were supported by...

UIAA PRESIDENT PETER MUIR PAYS VISIT TO UIAA BERN OFFICE

Peter Muir recently paid his first visit to the UIAA Office in Bern since becoming President in October 2020. Muir’s visit was scheduled around several strategic meetings which helped advance progress across a number of core areas of the UIAA Strategic Plan: Sustainability. Discussions with UIAA Mountain Protection Commission President Carolina Adler on the progress being made on the revised UIAA Environmental and Social Guidelines (due for release at the end of 2023) as well as...

2023 MPA Nominee –
Croagh Patrick Sustainable Access and Habitat Restoration

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text] Healing path erosion scars along with habitat restoration [/vc_column_text][vc_separator type="transparent" up="20" up_style="px" down_style="px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_single_image image="82645" img_size="full" qode_hover_animation="" qode_css_animation=""][vc_separator type="transparent" up="20" up_style="px" down_style="px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text] Snapshot [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] The Croagh Patrick Stakeholders Group was formed as a community response to concerns over erosion of the main path on the mountain. The diverse group of organisations found a sense of shared purpose by putting the mountain first...

2023 MPA Nominee –
Climbing4Climate

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text] Raising awareness for climate change through climbing and daily decisions [/vc_column_text][vc_separator type="transparent" up="20" up_style="px" down_style="px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_single_image image="81601" img_size="full" qode_hover_animation="" qode_css_animation=""][vc_separator type="transparent" up="20" up_style="px" down_style="px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text] Snapshot [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Started by the IFMGA mountain guide, Roeland van Oss, Climbing4Climate is a project to raise awareness on how climate change affects the mountains and to encourage each and every individual to do their part by joining...

2023 MPA Nominee –
Apus Aventuras

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text] Involving the ancestral community to conserve natural and cultural heritage [/vc_column_text][vc_separator type="transparent" up="20" up_style="px" down_style="px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_single_image image="82634" img_size="full" qode_hover_animation="" qode_css_animation=""][vc_separator type="transparent" up="20" up_style="px" down_style="px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text] Snapshot [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] A project driven by the loss of great natural and cultural wealth, little or almost no waste management and the abandonment of local communities from their ancestral territories in a community of the Province of Salta,...

2023 MPA Nominee –
8vos a los 30s: Ep # 1 Fernanda Lechón

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text] Rock climbing trips empowering indigenous women to catalyse planned development [/vc_column_text][vc_separator type="transparent" up="20" up_style="px" down_style="px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_single_image image="82628" img_size="full" qode_hover_animation="" qode_css_animation=""][vc_separator type="transparent" up="20" up_style="px" down_style="px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text] Snapshot [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] 8vos a los 30s was born from the spirit of sharing the growth of Ecuador’s female rock climbers. The web series carries out rock climbing trips (rocktrips) for 10 years throughout the world with women from...

2023 MPA Nominee –
Climate Statement – Elite Swiss Climbing National Team

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text] An athlete driven initiative to align with the federation’s climate goals [/vc_column_text][vc_separator type="transparent" up="20" up_style="px" down_style="px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_single_image image="82617" img_size="full" qode_hover_animation="" qode_css_animation=""][vc_separator type="transparent" up="20" up_style="px" down_style="px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text] Snapshot [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] The climate statement of the Elite Swiss Climbing athletes has the vision of reducing the impact of competitive sport on the environment. The measures chosen and outlined in the statement are effective in reducing greenhouse...