Young climbers from around the world are planning to light a torch on top of Mount Olympus on August 24 to keep Olympic values alive as the flame in Beijing is extinguished.
The UIAA Youth Commission is now calling on member federations to organise their own climbs on August 24. The events will celebrate “Ekecheiria”, the ancient Greeks’ name for the peaceful period which reigned during the Olympic Games. Many federations might already have groups climbing on mountains on this date, and the commission invites them to join youth in other countries and light torches as part of the Global Youth Summit. Proposals for events can be sent to coordinators Zdenka Mihelic (Zdenka.mihelic @ siol.net) or Anne Arran ( anne @ thefreeclimber.com)
The event on Mount Olympus, Greece is organised by the Hellenic Mountaineering and Climbing Federation and the Italian Alpine Club (CAI). They have participants from South Korea, Spain, Italy, Greece, Ukraine and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia taking part so far.
Other events are planned in Italy, where 205 young alpinist groups from CAI will be lighting torches on 205 Italian peaks – to symbolise each of the National Olympic Committees spread over five continents. In the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 15 tops of more than 2,500m will be climbed.
“I am very happy to see so many young climbers and mountaineers being inspired by the Olympic Games and its spirit of peace and co-operation and in their own way going faster, higher and stronger,” Commission President Anne Arran says. “We will be listening carefully to the young climbers’ messages from the tops.”
There are still a few more free places at the Olympus event for climbers aged 16-20. More information is to be found in the youth calendar or by contacting the organiser, Giampaolo Covelli (giampaolo.covelli @ tin.it )
If you have never before climbed a 5000 meter peak, here is your chance. This summer young mountaineers aged 18-30 years will ascend Mt Kazbek in Georgia.
This international ascent is organised by the the Club Mountain Traveller (CMT) on behalf of the Mountaineering & Climbing Association of Georgia from 12th – 19th July. Young members from all UIAA associations are welcome. The event has been offered since 2003 and you can read a report by one of the participants in the 2006 ascent.
The expedition will be led by experienced instructors from the Mountaineering & Climbing Association of Georgia. The accommodation will be in tents and in a meteorological station at 3600m.
The cost is 230 EUR, which includes the entire programme, accommodation and food, payment on arrival. The starting point is Tbilisi, you can fly to Tbilisi airport.
The trek to the slopes of Mt Kazbek goes through the beautiful Aragvi Valley and Jvari Pass (2380m), across alpine pastures and the Gergeti Glacier.
The classic path to the 5047m summit does not require a great deal of advanced mountaineering experience, and is fine for those who want to make an ascent of a 5000m peak for the first time. Although the route is not technically difficult, you will need to be familiar with the basic use of crampons and ice axes. You should be in good physical condition as there is only a few days of acclimatization before the ascent. You should be prepared to sleep in a tent on a glacier.
You will find more information in the invitation. If you have any questions, please contact Zurab Kutchava. If you would like to take part, you must send in the registration form before June 25, 2008.
Are you living in the northern hemisphere and can’t get enough of snow and ice? Then why not take the chance to try out ice climbing in Africa in the middle of July?
The KwaZulu-Natal Section of the Mountain Club of South Africa is inviting you to a Winter meet, taking place in Drakensberg, South Africa from the 5 to 13 July 2008.
The objective is to introduce the participants to Africa and its premier ice climbing venue, Giant’s Castle, which is located in the Drakensberg.The programme is still to be finalised and will be forwarded to participants in June 2008. However, five days will be spent in the Drakensberg at Giant’s Castle. It is an eight hour walk in with full ice gear, food and tent on your back at 3000m above sea level. So you must be fit! Participants will also get to climb at some of KwaZulu-Natal’s premier rock climbing venues, swim in the Indian Ocean and sight see.
International participants must organise their own travel to Durban International Airport, where they will be picked up by the hosts on 5 July. The event is subsidised by The KZN-MCSA, so the participation fee is just 100 British pounds. Accommodation will be in host’s homes.
Participants need to bring all their ice gear and hiking gear including a tent. Some equipment can be hired, but you must confirm this in advance with the organisers by email.
If you would like to take part, please email the The Mountain Club of South Africa before the registration deadline 31 May 2008. Places will be offered on a strictly first-come, first-served basis!
You might not be going to Beijing this summer, but you still have the chance to be a part of the Olympics. As part of the Global Youth Summit, we are inviting young mountaineers to ascend Mount Olympus (mt.2917), Greece.
The ascent to the top will be on Sunday 24th of August, the date of the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing. While one Olympic Torch is dimming, another Torch will be lit on the top of Mount Olympus by the UIAA Youth Mountaineering People to keep the Olympic values and ideals alive and send a message of peace and friendship to all young mountaineers in the world.
The ascent is not very difficult. We will be hiking and scrambling (meaning that you must also sometimes use your hands).The mountain is 2917 mt. high and close to the Aegean Sea so fog and storms are quite frequent in the afternoons.
After the ascent it is possible to stay with your new mountaineering-friends and climb in the Meteoras as well as swimming and sightseeing.
This UIAA event is co-ordinated by the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) with support from the Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing. We would like to invite you to participate with 3-4 young people and 1 adult leader from each UIAA Federation. The maximum number of participants is 40 and the age of participants is 16 – 20 years old.
There are two options, one cost 285 Euros, one 370 Euro. It addition comes flights etc. (More details in the invitation).
For more information, please read the invitation. If you want to take part, please submit the registration form before 25th May.
If you have any questions, please contact Dolores de Felice
Participants might also be interested to read about the Olympic symbols, the Olympic Games in Antiquity and about mental processes of Olympic athletes.
15-18 May 2008 the Russian Mountaineering Federation and the Red Fox company are organising the Red Fox Elbrus Race festival. The programme includes a high-speed run to the Elbrus Peak, snow-shoes race and ski-mountaineering competitions.
Those who want to take part, should download the race regulations and register by e-mail before the 20 April 2008.
There will be three diciplines:
High-speed run to the Elbrus Peak. This is a unique event for the real sportsmen and women. The climb to the West Elbrus Peak is one of the world’s most popular runs to high summits and mountain Marathon races. The main challenge lays in the mixed race route: snow, ice and great altitude. Reaching the Elbrus peak is not for all climbers. It’s the most complex physical-testing lap of the race. Participants: climbers, mountaineers and experienced multisportspeople.
Snow-shoes run. The snowshoes are ideal gear for moving on snow. Snowshoeing is also a great way to enjoy nature. Trekking on snow-shoes is an obligatory lap of winter adventure races, which are very popular in Europe.
Ski–mountaineering. Vertical race and rally. Ski–mountaineering is a great winter sport, with official competitions organised by the UIAA- ISMF. Special “skins” are fastened under the skis to prevent them from slipping when you are going up. The Russian national team will take part in Red Fox Elbrus Race.
The prize fund for the competitions is 4000$.
The Elbrus peak is the highest peak in Europe and is situated in the Russia’s most popular mountain region. The history of Elbrus races is very rich. This 3-days race will bring all sport communities in the Caucasus together and attract the best Russian sportsmen and women, great audiences and mass media. Check out the event web site (Russian language) for more information.
The Ukrainian Mountaineering and Climbing Federation invites young mountaineers aged 16 – 30 years to join their ascent of Mt Elbrus, summer 2008.
To invite young mountaineers from all countries to an international joint ascent of Mt Elbrus is a yearly tradition of the The Ukrainian Mountaineering and Climbing Federation. This year the event will last 11 days, from the 7th – 17th of July. At 5642m, Mt Elbrus is the highest peak in Europe and is situated in the Central Caucasus, Kabardino-Balcaria region, Russia.
To get an idea of what the expedition week will be like, you can read the report and see a photo gallery from last year’s Mt Elbrus ascent.
“The ascent is not technically difficult in summer, so participants must not have deep knowledge or wide experience in using mountaineering techniques. However low temperature, severe winds and possible bad weather demand courage and strong will power from the climbers,” says expedition leader Alexander Zaidler. The group will do acclimatization training before the final ascent. The ascent is part of the Global Youth Summit.
The participation fee is 280 Euro. For detailed information, please read the information pack and fill out the application form if you would like to take part.
From 11 July – 30 July 2008 the Russian Mountaineering Federation (RMF), together with the Russian outdoors company RedFox, will organise a big festival of mountaineering and extreme sports. Leading athletes of rock-climbing, mountaineering, base-jumping and hill running will take part in the festival, which will be located in the gorge of Uzunkol, in the Caucasus. The biggest event of the Festival will be the Open Russian mountaineering championship, including an Open Women Team’s Cup.
Women’s Cup
For the first time, the RMF will organise an Open Women’s Cup, and female climbers from all over the world are invited to take part. The athletes will compete on the most popular peaks of the Western Caucasus: Dalar, Dolomite and Kirpitch (Brick). The programme will include routes of different difficulty grades – from routes D- (3 Russian Grade) up to routes of the most complex level ED (6 Russian Grade). Each team can choose routes appropriate for their technical and physical level.
The main goal of the Women’s Cup is for women climbers of different countries to exchange experiences, and to boost the popularity of women’s mountaineering in Russia.
The Cup will be divided into two stages – as in the classical scheme of the Russian national mountaineering competitions. The first stage will be a qualification round (or so-called “School”), which will be easily accessible to spectators.. All athletes of each team must take part, competing in speed and technique while rock-climbing a short multi pitch route (3-4 pitches) In the second stage the teams will climb peaks.
Each team shall consist of 2-3 athletes, and one person as a team representative. All female climbers are invited! Athletes are free to invite photographers and journalists. The organisers will make preparations so that they can take magnificent pictures for your sponsors from one of the most beautiful gorges of the Caucasian mountains.
July 15: Trek to the bottom of the routes, preparation for the climbing.
July 16: The climbing begins
July 28, 15.00: The second stage of the Cup will close.
July 29, 12.00: The official ceremony, where the winners and awards of the Women’s Cup will be announced. Closing of the Festival.
Men’s championship
The organisers invite athletes from Russia, the CIS, the European countries and the Americas.
Each team can have 2-4 members and a leader. The ascent routes will be 5B/TD+ and 6А/ED on the most popular peaks of the district of Dalar and Brick.
Athletes are free to invite photographers and the organsiers will make preparations so that they can take magnificent pictures for your sponsors. Please register before the 30th April 2008
Men’s programme
July 11: Arrival and registration at the base of Uzunkol
July 12: Inauguration of the Festival.
July 14-15: Competitions in the disciplines of speed and technique with a short multi pitch route (3-4 pitches). Competition area will be easily accessible to spectators.
July 15-28: Ascents of peaks.
On July 29: Official award ceremony
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