Indian Mountaineering Foundation hosts Climbathon 2013 in the Bara Shigri glacier region

The Indian Mountaineering Foundation is hosting Climbathon 2013 on the Bara Shigri Glacier in Himachal Pradesh (20 July - 10 August) this summer. There is no participation fee for the event which is sponsored by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation - if you are an Indian citizen. Climbers from outside India are welcome but will be charged a fee which will be directly communicated to them. Application forms can be found here and must be sent in by...

Mountain Protection Commission speaks out on UNESCO designation for Mont Blanc

The UIAA Mountain Protection Commission has expressed concern that a proposal by the mayors of two towns near Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, endangers ongoing efforts to designate it as part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. The letter signed by commission president Linda McMillan on 18 March 2013 was in response to an application by the mayors of Chamonix (France) and Courmayeur (Italy) last year to use the region's historical association with...

International mountain accident database proposed by Mountaineering Commission

The UIAA Mountaineering Commission has approved a proposal to develop a standardized, international system of collecting and analysing accidents to better identify areas where safety and training can be improved, and help insurance companies better understand risk in mountain activities. The idea for a global database managed by the Mountaineering Commission and housed on the UIAA website was approved at a recent commission meeting in Bavšica, Slovenia. It now heads to the UIAA Management Committee for...

Chile becomes first South American country to become accredited to new UIAA Training Standards

Update: The Mountaineering Commission met in Bavšica, Slovenia in March, 2013 to discuss among other things a training course for sport climbing that was submitted by the Federación de Andinismo de Chile (FEACH). The Training Standards Panel reviewed the proposal and is pleased to report that the course has been accredited by the UIAA - International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation. With the approval, Chile becomes the the first South American country (and Federation) to hold a UIAA...

Chamonix to host international mountain festival in early June

The month of June is usually an ideal time for classic rock and snow Alpine climbing and ski touring and what better place than around the famous mountain town of Chamonix, France. Here in the shadow of Mont Blanc, Francoise Call is organizing the Chamonix Mountain Festival (1 June – 7 June 2013) which she hopes will attract climbers from around the world who have only one thing on their mind, to climb, climb and climb. Not...

2013 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour concludes in Kirov

The 2013 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour concluded in Kirov, Russia today with overall World Champions being declared in the Lead and Speed categories for both men and women. The official overall winners are: Julia Oleynikova: Women's World Cup Speed Egor Trapeznikov: Men's World Cup Speed Park Hee Yong: Men's World Cup Lead Maria Tolokonina: Women's World Cup Lead Park last won an overall title in 2011. His win was the result of a combination of consistently...

Rivalries, records and retirement mark the 2013 UIAA Ice Climbing World as it arrives in Kirov, Russia for grand finale

Athletes have arrived in Kirov, Russia, for the grand finale of the 2013 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour. Opening cermonies begin on 8 March at 1330h followed by the start of Lead qualification for women and Lead qualification for men if time perimts. There will be live-streaming of the event with coverage ending at 2000h. Some memorable moments from this year's tour which began in Cheongsong, Korea in January which has been marked by rivalries,records and retirement include: ...

Second wave of via ferrata set recalls within six months

Second wave of via ferrata set recalls within six months 25 Feb, 2013 Editor's Note:  This release contains an updated table of affected via ferrata sets dated 17 April 2013. Press Release Second wave of via ferrata set recalls within six months Considerable deficiencies found in many via ferrata sets 25 February 2013, BERN, Switzerland: A group of manufacturers has issued a recall of certain via ferrata sets following a meeting of the UIAA (International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation) Safety Commission in Munich, Germany. Following a...

New Training Standards program ready for evaluation

An innovative multi-year UIAA Training Standards program conducted in cooperation with the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) is in the final stages of evaluation and will provide a template for a much sought-after service from federation members. The Nepal program, supported by a charity called the Petzl Foundation, is for a trekking leader training scheme with "train the trainer” courses to be administered by the NMA. Steve Long of the UIAA Training Standards Panel said the model can...

Pavel Batushev sets a Speed record in Busteni, Romania

A Speed record by Russia’s Pavel Batushev was the big story out of the 2013 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour stop in Busteni, Romania. Batushev’s blistering run up the 15 metre wall obliterated the previous record of 8.74 seconds held by his colleague Pavel Gulyaev. Other highlights from the competition held under wintery and snowy conditions included the a powerful finish by the always colourful HeeYong Park of Korea who came first in Men’s Lead and a...