|
The UIAA is the organization that represents
several million mountaineers and climbers,
world-wide, on international issues. Formed in
1932 it now has over 88 members associations
from some 76 countries, all of national
importance. It is recognized by the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the
International Federation representing
mountaineering and climbing.
What does the UIAA do?
By gathering together leading experts from
all over the world into working Commissions it
studies and helps to resolve issues and problems
that mountaineers encounter wherever they climb.
Representatives of all its member
associations meet every year to discuss the most
important issues concerning international
mountaineering. Its larger associations meet
twice each year to monitor progress of the
Commissions and to set strategies for future
work.
How is it financed?
By subscriptions from its member
associations. Apart from a small secretariat at
the head office in Switzerland all the work done
for the UIAA is carried out on a voluntary
basis. Each association contributes to the
overall costs and the costs of their members
working in the Commissions.
How is the work done?
Much of the work is carried out by the
Commissions which are formed and maintained
according to the needs of the member
associations.
What benefits are there in supporting the
UIAA?
- Its regular meetings at an international
level allow a continuous interchange of
information that is vital to defending the
rights of the mountaineering and climbing
community.
- Its contacts with governmental and
non-governmental organizations mean that the
special needs of climbers and mountaineers are
not ignored or under represented.
- It enables mountaineering and climbing
associations to meet and exchange or even
resolve common problems. It provides a forum
for exchanging ideas and opinions on the
future opportunities and threats to the
activity world-wide.
- It enables climbers and ski mountaineers
to compete in international competitions.
Alpinism Commission: Eliza Moran
Youth Commission: Ralph Erenzo
Canadian Alpine Club Liaison: David Jones
Access and Conservation Commission: Linda
McMillan
Medical Commission: Jim Litch
Documentations/Expeditions Commission:
Elizabeth White
Ski Mountaineering Commission: Jim
McCarthy
UIAA North American Honorary Vice President:
Jim McCarthy
General Assembly/Senior VP/Honorary Member:
William Lowell Putnam
Legal Studies Group of the Alpinism
Commission: Jim McCarthy, Ted Vaill
Safety Commission: Dave Custer
usuiaasafetyrep(at)yahoo.com, Mark
Pilate (alternate)
Visit the UIAA website and check out the UIAA
World Journal. The Journal is a great
way to keep posted on world news and events.
UIAA Hut Stamps
Hut stamp order form
 
Alpine clubs in many countries throughout the
world have erected huts to provide climbers with
convenient, safe and economical staging points
for climbs in major mountain ranges. The Union
Internationale d'Associations d'Alpinisme
(UIAA), makes hut stamps available to AAC
members providing reciprocal membership
privileges at mountain huts operated by alpine
clubs throughout the world. The stamps provide
discounts in Austria, Canada, France, Germany,
Greece, Italy, Liechtenstein, Spain, and
Switzerland.
AAC members can order a UIAA hut stamp
directly through The American Alpine Club. The
price of the stamp varies each year based on
international exchange rates, but is typically
between $40 and $60. Members staying more than a
few nights at a participating hut should recoup
the cost of the stamp through the reciprocal
membership rate.
The following web pages contain information
about climbing huts that honor the UIAA hut
stamps. Some clubs include very specific
information about individual huts, including
photos.
Though not covered under the UIAA reciprocity
program, the New Zealand Alpine Club owns and
operates climbing huts throughout the country,
including Mount Cook and Mount Aspiring National
Parks, two of the premiere climbing ranges in
New Zealand.
The Mexican Federation of Mountaineering and
Climbing maintains a system of free huts near
popular mountaineering destinations in Mexico.
Currently are 10 active huts, including are two
huts on Popocatepetl, three on Pico de Orizaba
and six on Iztaccihuatl.
The Alpine Association of Slovenia provides
information on mountain huts in Slovenia.
UIAA Environment Label
What is it?
The UIAA Environment Label has been
introduced to promote high standards of conduct
and responsible access for climbing and mountain
activities. Any provider of organized mountain
activities such as a training centre, trekking
or expedition organization, qualified instructor
or guide who is prepared to support and act
according to the UIAA’s Environmental Objectives
and Guidelines can apply for the label. These
are published in English, French, German and
Spanish and are available on-line at:
www.uiaa.ch/commissions/download.asp?idobject=40
Topics
It is the aim of the Tyrol Declaration to help
realize the innate potential of mountain sports
for recreation and personal growth as well as
for promoting social development, cultural
understanding and environmental awareness. To
this end, the Tyrol Declaration picks up on the
traditional unwritten values and codes of
conduct inherent in the sport and expands on
them to meet the demands of our times. The
fundamental values on which the Tyrol
Declaration is based, hold true for all
individuals engaged in mountain sports worldwide
- whether they be hikers and trekkers, sport
climbers, or mountaineers seeking to push their
limits at high altitudes. Some of the guidelines
offered may (at times) only be relevant to small
elite alpine parties, however the majority of
proposals agreed to, address the mountain sports
community as a whole. We especially hope to
reach out to our youth, for they are the future
of all mountain sports.
The meet in Gothenburg was the second
International Women's Climbing Meet ever, with
105 participants from the following nations:
Georgia, Ukrain, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Poland,
Czech Republic, Ireland, United Kingdom,
Switzerland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The
Meet was held in honor of The International Year
of the Mountains (IYM) 2002.
The purpose with this meet was to encourage
international relations and to develop consensus
amongst women climbers worldwide, to promote the
understanding of climbing as an activity for all
and to share opinions from women climbers and
women representatives of international
federations. We wished to support the
development of women's climbing in particular
with respect to breaking down of gender- and
cultural barriers. The official statement of
support sent from these representatives to the
UN, in honor of the International Year of the
Mountain, was published on the UN web site.
Special Thank you:
Thank you to the contributions and
participation of the following individuals who
became known as the North American team: Tom
Frost, Jim Bridwell, Peter Croft, Beth Rodden,
Tommy Caldwell, John Harlin and Eliza Moran.
Additional thank you for written material and
views offered and incorporated go to John Bachar,
John Middendorf, TM Herbert, Richard Bence, Yvon
Chouinard, Royal Robbins, Steve Davis, Joe
Kelsey and Lynn Hill.
|
