RACE ON TO DECIDE COMMUNITY WINNER

One of the innovations to feature as part of the 2019 UIAA Mountain Protection Award is the Community Award. This initiative provides the opportunity for the general public to recognise the projects they feel most deserving of support. Throughout the past month, the 12 projects showcased as part of the 2019 UIAA Mountain Protection Award have been profiled on the UIAA’s Facebook channel. The four projects to provide the highest audience engagement figures will now be shortlisted for a final poll...

UPDATED UIAA MEMBERS DIRECTORY

The UIAA has updated its online members associations directory. The resource provides a rich array of information about each member association including links to dedicated articles and features, contact information, member social media channels and information about climbing in different member countries. Members are encouraged to provide the UIAA Office with updates and further information and to use the resource to share information with other members about visiting their country, mountain regions, permits and climbing facilities. Updates should be sent to news@theuiaa.org The UIAA...

UIAA GENERAL ASSEMBLY INFORMATION:
WELCOME TO CYPRUS

The 2019 UIAA General Assembly will be held on 2 November in Larnaca, Cyprus and hosted by the Cyprus Mountaineering Climbing & Orienteering Federation (C.M.C.O.F.). “It is a great pleasure and honour for the Cyprus Mountaineering Climbing & Orienteering Federation to host the 2019 UIAA General Assembly in Larnaca,” explains the association’s President Pavlos Georgiades. “The C.M.C.O.F. is proud to have been given the privilege to host this very important annual meeting of the UIAA. I’m...

Yuriy Skurlatov, 1941 – 2019

The UIAA is saddened to hear about the passing of Yuriy Skurlatov at the age of 77. Vice President of the CFR (Climbing Federation of Russia), a position he had held since 1994, Skurlatov dedicated much of his life to climbing and had enjoyed a close association with the UIAA. He was Vice President of the UIAA Youth Commission from 1987-1990 and played a key role in the hosting of several UIAA Commission meetings in...

IMF confirms opening of 137 Himalayan peaks

The Indian Mountaineering Foundation, a UIAA member association, has shared the recent news that the Indian government has agreed to opening 137 Himalayan peaks to foreign climbers. Until these new measures were announced, foreign climbers had to seek permission from the Ministries of Defence and Home to climb these peaks. Foreigners can now directly apply to the IMF for permits. A dedicated guide can be downloaded here. The Times of India reports that the decision came...

THREE ASIAN ROCK CLIMBING FESTIVALS CONTEND 2019 AWARD

Rock festivals from India, Kazakhstan and Korea have been shortlisted for the 2019 UIAA Rock Climbing Festival Award. The Award which shines its spotlight on a different continent each year has been open to application from festivals from Asia throughout 2019. This follows its four previous editions which saw victors from Africa, Europe, North America and Central/South America. The 2019 UIAA Rock Climbing Festival Award Nominees are:India: Suru Boulder Fest Kazakhstan: Almaty International Rock Climbing Festival Korea: Trad Climbing...

FQME: 50 years of discovery and excellence

Five decades, that is a significant achievement. In the fall of 2019, the Fédération québécoise de la montagne et de l’escalade (FQME), established in Canada, will celebrate its golden 50th anniversary. The FQME has been an associate member of the UIAA since 1975. Over the years, the FQME has established and affirmed its reputation in the province of Quebec. The organization ensures the development and promotion of outdoor, indoor, rock and ice climbing as well as mountain skiing to its 3,800 individual members and...

EVEREST AND KILIMANJARO ISSUES TO BE TACKLED BY UIAA WORKING GROUP

In May and June, the UIAA – International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation – published statements in response to two significant climbing stories. The first was related to the 2019 Everest climbing season, the second proposals to construct a cableway up Kilimanjaro. The two statements received significant international media coverage. A key message in both statements was the UIAA’s willingness to work with stakeholders and help find solutions. To deliver on this pledge, the UIAA Executive Board...

Advisory:
Video, Climb Safe: How to belay with the ATC

In April 2019, the UIAA and the DAV (German Alpine Club) collaborated on a series of videos dedicated to belaying. Ten videos produced by the DAV were translated into English with the support of the UIAA Safety Commission. These videos are available to view on the UIAA Skills page. An additional video, how to belay with the ATC, was not posted. It is now available following the publication of an advisory below courtesy of the UIAA...

Sunday Afternoons Partners with UIAA’s Respect the Mountains Project

A global leader in technical hats that offer superior protection from the elements, Sunday Afternoons has been redefining what headwear can do for over 25 years. Oregon-based and family-owned, the company has signed on with the UIAA Respect the Mountains (RtM) project to help preserve and protect mountain ecosystems globally. As an official partner, Sunday Afternoons is committed to raising awareness about the RtM movement and will offer sun-protective headwear for sale at events and...