The second series of the UIAA podcast series Mountain Voices concluded in late June with an exclusive interview with the legendary ski mountaineer, ultra runner and mountaineer Kilian Jornet. Throughout Series 2 a wide ranging number of climbing and mountaineering topics were covered in the spheres of climate change, safety, ethics and competition sport.
Series 2 followed on from 2024’s launch of the podcast. The two series to date have each been made up for six episodes. For late 2025/early 2026, the UIAA is exploring the expansion of Mountain Voices, with a move away from the series format to a dedicated monthly episode.
Any brand/company wishing to partner future series/episodes of Mountain Voices are invited to contact news@theuiaa.org
Series 2 review
The series kicked off with Episode 7: Glaciers: What Future? It features renowned ice climber Will Gadd and mountain researcher Mary Sanseverino who discuss the emotional impact and scientific observations of glacier retreat, particularly in Canada. Filmmaker Craig Leeson shares insights from his documentary The Last Glaciers, highlighting the human impact on fragile ecosystems. Mountain guide Tom Harris offers the case study of New Zealand’s Fox Glacier and the existential implications for mountain guiding as a profession.
Episode 8: Ice Climbing: Team France focused on the sport’s competitive side and notably the UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour with engaging interviews featuring the Ladevant brothers—Tristan and Louna—whose sibling rivalry and mutual support provide a human touch to elite ice climbing. UIAA officials Rob Adie and Etienne Grillot discuss strategic efforts to elevate ice climbing to Olympic sport status, while former competition ice climber Annabelle Bouchardon assesses how the competition walls can prove to be a gateway to careers in the high mountains.
In Episode 9: Climbing Yawash Sar & Ethics in Mountaineering, the series delves into human achievement. Legendary British alpinists Mick Fowler and Victor Saunders recount their inspiring first ascent of Yawash Sar in 2024, continuing their storied partnership into their senior years. Greg Moseley, UIAA Mountaineering Commission (MountCom) President and Saunders, Vice President of MountCom, expand the conversation with reflections on the newly released UIAA Declaration on Hiking, Climbing and Mountaineering. They discuss the purpose of the document and some of its broader messages.
Episode 10: How Safe is Your Bolt? addresses the subject of rock anchors, bolting and corrosion. Climber Stephan Siegrist and André von Rotz, UIAA CEO, introduce the Swiss Rebolting Project and emphasise the importance of preserving historical climbing routes. The discussion then turns to science and research as UIAA Safety Commission experts Fred Camps and Per Forsberg explore bolt corrosion and the risks posed by stress corrosion cracking. This addresses the importance of the UIAA’s internationally renowned safety standards and work in bolting/rock anchor research.
Episode 11: Mountain Hut Culture of the Alps, explores and celebrates the Alpine hut tradition. Mountain guide and hut photographer Ben Tibbetts and Jean Miczka, an expert in huts and climate change, offer their insights into hut design, usage, and the evolving role of huts amid climate change. Marion Herren of the Swiss Alpine Club provides an institutional perspective, detailing current challenges and innovations.
The series concludes with Episode 12, featuring an exclusive interview with Kilian Jornet. In a thoughtful interview, Jornet discusses his 19-day expedition to summit all 82 4000m peaks in the Alps and shares insights into the Kilian Jornet Foundation’s work on engaging youth, inclusion as well as environmental and social responsibility. He also reflects on some of his achievements as well as his time on Everest.
Mountain Voices is presented by Tarquin Cooper, co-produced by Peter Bourne and Tarquin Cooper and edited by Tom Tushaw.
For a full archive of episodes and links to play episodes please visit the dedicated website page.
