MOUNTAINEERING WORLD UNITES IN SKOPJE

Skopje, North Macedonia, became the centre of European climbing and mountaineering when hosting the UIAA Spring meetings from 29 April – 3 May. The event was the first major UIAA in-person gathering since the Covid-19 pandemic began. In addition to UIAA Executive Board and Management Committee meetings, the General Assemblies of the European Mountaineering Associations (EUMA) and the Balkan Mountaineering Union (BMU) were also held. Collaboration was positive between all three organisations with a number of...

UIAA VOLUNTEER SERIES: JOOP SPIJKER

Having been associated with the UIAA Mountain Protection Commission since 1997, Joop Spijker’s maximum term as a full member of the Commission came to an end in May 2022. The UIAA thanks Joop for his quarter of a century of commitment to the UIAA during which time its Mountain Protection Commission has made significant strides. In this latest UIAA volunteer series article, he reflects on the past 25 years. “Before joining the UIAA,” reflects Joop, “I...

SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES IMPLEMENTED DURING RECENT UIAA ICE CLIMBING WORLD TOUR

The UIAA continues to investigate ways that it can make its competition events more sustainable. Ahead of the 2021-22 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour and for the first time, the federation put in place a dedicated Sustainability Plan for event organisers to adhere to. Through continued collaboration between its Mountain Protection (MPC) and Ice Climbing Commissions, the UIAA plans to make the guidelines even more stringent for coming seasons. The Ice Climbing Commission wishes to highlight some...

REGISTER FOR WOMEN GOING TO ALTITUDE CONFERENCE

On the weekend of 10-11 September 2022, the UIAA - in collaboration with the Swiss Alpine Club, Swiss SportClinic, SGGM (Swiss Society for Mountain Medicine) and the ISMM (International Society for Mountain Medicine) - will organise a Women Going to Altitude Conference. This event, to be held near Pontresina, Switzerland will follow the UIAA Medical Commission's update to its paper Women Going to Altitude, first released in 2008. The revised paper is expected to be released...

PIPES/BLACK DIAMOND: SAFETY CHECK FOR AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVER / BEACON MODE FAILURE

Pipes and Black Diamond have observed a small number of devices with malfunctioning electronics. In this case, the device might not switch from send mode to search mode. If you own/use a Pipes or Black Diamond Avalanche Transceiver, please visit the link and follow the instructions to check if your unit is affected. For full details, mode verification instructions and contact details please click here. UPDATE: On 5 May, the German Alpine Club (DAV) shared an important...

Destination North Macedonia
for Spring Meetings

The UIAA Spring Meetings will take place in Skopje, North Macedonia from 28 April - 3 May. The event will be hosted by UIAA full member, the Mountaineering Federation of North Macedonia (FPSM). A profile of the hosts can be found here. The event is the first major UIAA in-person meeting since 2019. The Spring Meetings will include the following UIAA sessions: UIAA Management Committee UIAA Executive Board UIAA Commission Presidents Individual UIAA Commissions (Ice Climbing, Mountaineering,...

Plastics on the Peak Report released

The 2021 Global Mountain Waste Survey was created with the objective to try to fill a knowledge gap of the types and quantity of waste present in remote mountain areas globally. The UIAA and the UIAA Mountain Protection Commission contributed to this study and in the compilation and dissemination of the survey among UIAA members, to collect the data that was eventually analysed and reported below. The following communication is courtesy of GRID-Arendal, a Centre collaborating...

Profiling the Mountaineering Federation of North Macedonia

At the end of April, the Mountaineering Federation of North Macedonia (FPSM) will host the UIAA spring meetings. This includes the UIAA Management Committee meeting, several Commission meetings as well as the General Assemblies of both EUMA (European Mountaineering Associations) and BMU (Balkan Mountaineering Union). For the UIAA it will be the first major in-person gathering since the General Assembly in 2019. Counting nearly 300 full members, the FPSM is one of the most active federations...

UIAA STATEMENT ON CLIMBING RESTRICTIONS AND THE ONGOING SITUATION IN UKRAINE

31 March - On 3 March and taking into account the latest recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the UIAA - International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation - Executive Board (EB) agreed to suspend all UIAA officials from Russia. Delegates from the Russian Mountaineering Federation (RMF) and Russian officials and athletes are excluded from all UIAA-sanctioned activities and events. With regard to specific questions about the Everest climbing season, the general granting of permits for expeditions and organised mountain...

BMC supports Ukrainians impacted by the humanitarian crisis

UIAA full member, the British Mountaineering Council (BMC), has published information on how its members can register as hosts to those from the Ukrainian climbing community. The UIAA will also share details provided by other member associations running similar initiatives. Published by BMC on 18 March: On 18 March UK Government launched its ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme. Individual sponsors are asked to provide homes or a spare room rent-free for as long as they are able, with a...