News

The UIAA Management Committee, in a bid to enhance a much sought after service to member federations, has approved a set of proposals for voluntary Training Standards  to be delivered as a professional service.

The debate over whether to bolt or not to bolt on mountains has been renewed with a new working paper  on a controversial issue that often pits sport climbers versus adventure (trad) climbers.

An international mountaineering competition takes place in the Pamirs July and has attracted teams from a number of countries including Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Ukraine, Belorussia, France, Croatia and Iran.

The Kosovo Mountaineering and Alpinists Federation (KMAF) in cooperation with regional partners is organizing an International Expedition in the border triangle of Kosovo, Montenegro and Albania (Southeastern Europe) that includes an ascent of Maja Jezercë (2694 metres), the highest peak in the Dinaric Alps.

Grivel, one of the world’s leading mountaineering equipment manufacturers has become one of the sponsors of the UIAA (International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation).

Steve Long, chair of the UIAA's Training Standards Working Group of the Mountaineering Commission was in Nepal last September and again in early 2012 as part of a joint UIAA - Petzl Foundation program to train trek leaders.

Be sure to check out the various youth camps being organized by UIAA member federations of Italy, Ukraine  and France in the summer as Global Youth Summit Events,

Public access to a proposed conservation area in the Rio De Olivares for the 5 million inhabitants of Santiago and the controversial HydroAysen hydroelectric project were among the issues tackled by the Access Commission of the UIAA in a meeting held in Chile earlier this month.

UIAA Management Committee member Mark Richey of the American Alpine Club was the proud recipient of the prestigious Piolet d’Or (golden ice axe) award for the successful first ascent of Saser Kangri II previously the world’s second highest unclimbed mountain.

Sandstone climbing aficionados should take note that 31 March 2012 is the deadline for applying for a subsidized week long opportunity to climb in Adrspach, one of the most famous sandstone climbing areas in the Czech Republic.