News

New routes and new friendships were made by  the climbers from 15 different countries who met in Lofoten, Norway between March 8 and 15.

 The UIAA has amended its Anti-Doping Policy and Procedure to reflect changes to the World Anti-Doping Code introduced by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) at the beginning of this year.

Linda McMillan, the new president of the UIAA Mountain Protection Commission, presents her vision of how climbers, mountaineers and trekkers can help study and protect mountain environments.  

In the following article, McMillan argues that the UIAA can “claim the high ground” on mountain protection:

From my work with the IUCN’s Mountains Biome group, I see the need and the opportunity to bring three important mountain stakeholder groups—science, sport, and tourism—together to improve mountain protection around the world. Most scientists have not yet realized the great natural potential of sport and tourism to help them to document, understand, preserve and protect precious natural and cultural resources in mountain regions.

The Youth Commission is pledging to use the declaration from the recent World Sport for All Congress  when forming action plans and initiatives.

A UK member of the UIAA Medical Commission has compiled an easy-to-understand document on how to stay safe and healthy when ascending Kilimanjaro. 

Young climbers aged 17 to 25 are invited to a week of climbing and hiking in the Bicaz Gorges national park in Romania. The camp will welcome mountaineers of all abilities from August 15-23.

Markus Bendler, Maria Tolokonina and Pavel Gulyaev were the big winners of the 2009 Ice Climbing season. Tolokonina from Russia ranked first in both the Women's Speed and Lead disciplines after winning five out of six competitions.

Russian athlete Maria Tolokonina and countryman Pavel Batushev won the women and men's World Cup speed competitions in Mojstrana, Slovenia on January 31.

A Japanese expedition lead by mountaineer Tamotsu Nakamura has photographed and documented little-known peaks and ranges in South East Tibet and Sichuan, China.

The Austrian climber Markus Bendler, and Russian and Italian athletes were the big winners at the Ice Climbing World Championships that concluded in the Swiss resort of Saas Fee on January 24.