Climbers Against Cancer donates US$16,000 to American cancer research organisation

John Ellison surrounded by CAC volunteers (Photo: CAC ) Vail, USA: Climbers Against Cancer founder John Ellison announced today that his group will will be contributing $16,000 USD (£10,000) to the Cancer Research Institute, an American cancer research organisation. The cheque will be handed over to a representative of the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) on Saturday, June 7. This marks the fifth such donation that CAC has made since its formation in 2013 with similar donations being made in France, Australia,...

Safety Commission to answer questions about standards and your climbing and mountaineering equipment

If you’ve ever had a question about UIAA safety standards as it relates to your climbing and mountaineering equipment, now is the time to ask. The Safety Commission has launched a question-and-answer process about the world-renowned UIAA Safety Standards which have been developed by mountaineers and climbers for the mountaineering and climbing community. This makes them the most acceptable standards world-wide and is the result of collaboration with the European Standards organization, CEN, for harmonization of standards....

UIAA Peak among 104 new peaks allowed for climbing in Nepal

The UIAA – International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation has had a peak named in its honour by the Nepal government. UIAA Peak (6063m) in the Solu Khumbu region of Nepal is one of 104 new peaks that have been opened for mountaineering. Some of the other peaks have been named after famous mountaineers such as Tenzing Norgay, the first man to climb Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary and the legendary French climber Maurice Herzog who made...

John Ellison: founder of Climbers Against Cancer (CAC) honoured by UIAA

John Ellison and UIAA president Frits Vrijlandt before Ellison received a UIAA award in recognition of his role in founding Climbers Against Cancer (Photo: UIAA) 24 May 2014, MUNICH, Germany: John Ellison’s refusal to be bowed down by the cancer, instead establishing a charity that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from climbers and mountaineers, has been honoured by the UIAA – International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation. The award which was handed to Ellison at a meeting of...

German Alpine Club president Josef Klenner receives special UIAA award

German Alpine Club president Josef Klenner receives special award from UIAA president Frits Vrijlandt in Munich, Germany (Photo: Sophie Gerard for UIAA) Klenner’s twin passions of conservation and love of climbing and mountaineering was recognized on 24 March 2014 with a special award by the UIAA at a gathering in Munich, Germany. "Great things happen when men and mountains meet,” said Frits Vrijlandt, president of the UIAA – International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation. "In the case of Klenner,...

Western University renews support for UIAA Mountain Protection Award

he UIAA Mountain Protection Award is now a $10,000 prize with the renewed support of Western University and a yet to be named sponsor. This year’s deadline for receiving nominations for projects is 31 August 2014. The award is open to companies which organize tourism / adventure activities in mountain areas and associations which have developed innovative ecotourism activities. All projects submitted are reviewed by the Assessment and Awards Team and if chosen for nomination will be...

Avalanche on Everest kills 13 Sherpas with three more missing and presumed dead

Sherpas descend a slippery slope on Mount Everest. (Photo: Kristoffer Erickson for National Geographic News) The most recent update from the Nepal Mountaineering Association website contains a statement released by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation after a high official level visit to Everest Base Camp led by Hon'ble Minister on 24 April 2014. The full text can be found here. Photographs from the funeral procession held in Kathmandu on 21 April 2014 can be found here. 23 April 2014 Ang...

UIAA president and executive board member to participate in elite Swiss ski mountaineering race

Frits Vrijlandt and Thomas Kähr are passionate about all things climbing and mountaineering. Ski mountaineering, however, has a special place in the hearts of Vrijlandt, president of the UIAA and Kähr, a UIAA executive board member. That’s why both Vrijlandt and Kähr are in Switzerland 29 April -3 May 2014 to participate in the Patrouille des Glaciers, considered to be the largest and toughest ski-mountaineering events in the world. The event which takes place once every two years...

Olympic officials praise UIAA for role in display of ice climbing at Winter Olympics

8 April 2014, ANTALYA, Turkey: UIAA president Frits Vrijlandt met Kit McConnell, the recently appointed Director of Sports for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Christian Wassmer, manager,  IOC Winter Games at the Sport Accord convention here. Mr. Wassmer complimented the UIAA – International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation with  the impressive display of ice climbing at the Ice Climbing Festival held in the Olympic Park in Sochi Russia during the recently concluded Winter Olympics. Ice climbing was showcased...

Major changes made to World Anti-Doping Code

Editor's Note: Dr Nenad Dikic and Dr Marija Andjelkovic of the UIAA Anti-Doping Commission update us significant changes between to the World Anti-Doping Code, with the new code becoming effective on 1 January 2015: The World Anti -Doping Code ("the Code”) is the core document that provides the framework for harmonized anti-doping policies, rules and regulations within sports organizations and among public authorities. The ultimate goal is for all athletes to benefit from the same anti-doping procedures...