The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) recently published a guide regarding the potential perils of buying climbing equipment online, notably the abundance of non-certified equipment offered by dubious sellers. The UIAA endorses the BMC article which advises buying gear 'which conform(s) to the relevant CEN or UIAA standard,...
The higher we climb, the colder it gets: atmospheric air temperature drops by 1.2 degrees for every 200 metres of elevation gain, or six degrees per 1,000 metres. Meanwhile, extended physical exertion requires extra energy at higher elevations. Thus when you feel drained due to...
The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) is organising a Mountaineering Festival at four locations in the Indian Himalaya. Each location is unique offering some truly exciting challenges for international climbers. The aim of the 2018-2019 Mountain Festival is to facilitate easier access to the Indian Himalayas...
Making good decisions regarding group safety is not always easy, especially if these decisions prove unpopular. Before reaching the right decision, you must have the right tools. This includes assessing the following criteria when planning a route: It is the responsibility of the group leader to...
The first UIAA assembly took place in 1933 at Cortina d'Ampezzo at the invitation of the Italian Alpine Club and in the shape of a fourth international mountaineering congress. Thirty-three organizations were present, emanating from eighteen countries which were the real founders of the Union: Germany, Austria, Belgium,...
The American Alpine Club (AAC) is hosting its 10th annual International Climbers’ Meet (ICM), to be held the week of 7-14 October in Yosemite Valley. The ICM offers three days of education programming, host climbers available for guidance, and, as per usual, an international cast...
The latest in our series of extracts from the UIAA Alpine Skills Summer handbook focuses on group dynamics and forms part of a chapter dedicated to 'Leading a Group' which tackles the way people behave and relate to others in an exacting environment which can elicit unexpected...
To mark International Women’s Day, celebrated on 8 March, the UIAA dedicated the latest instalment of its Passion for the Mountains series to exploring how, and when, a lifetime relationship with the mountain environment commenced for a number of women with close ties to the...
The following communication is courtesy of UIAA member FFCAM (Fédération française des clubs alpins et de montagne) regarding the early opening of ten refuges in the Massif des Ecrins for visitors interested in cross-country skiing and other activities. Refuges will open from 24 March. A reminder that courtesy of...
Orienting yourself in the mountains in good weather poses few problems for the attentive navigator. It is, however, quite different with reduced visibility. In a thick fog, even the most seasoned mountaineer has no point of reference. Although you can navigate in bad weather with a solid...