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,...
Delegates from UIAA member, Japan Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Association (JMSCA), recently visited areas of Nepal affected by April 2015’s devastating earthquake to assess the recovery in person. Together with several other mountaineering and outdoor organisations in Japan, the JMSCA has helped raise significant funds in...
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...
Following on from its contribution to the International Federations’ Impact In Leading The Way To Towards A Sustainability Agenda meeting in November 2017, the UIAA was one of twenty major federations to participate in a workshop dedicated to biodiversity conservation and organised by the IUCN, International...
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 UIAA Newsletter for March 2018 is now available to view. Hosted by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), March's UIAA Management Committee meetings provided a chance for delegates and Commission Presidents to reconvene and discuss the UIAA's progress following on from October's General Assembly. The meetings concluded...
Kathmandu, Nepal hosted UIAA Executive Board and Management Committee meetings from 22-24 March, an opportunity for UIAA delegates from around the world to exchange ideas, advance on strategic discussions and share updates on progress following October’s UIAA General Assembly held in Shiraz, Iran. The meetings were...
Our latest UIAA MedCom advice article focuses on a less technical, less high-altitude related subject. Instead it is directed at general suggestions designed to guide those who are unfamiliar or less experienced with mountain terrain and who wish to hike or climb. This information is...
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,...