New members - October 2015 - Congratulations
The Alpine Club welcomes new members
Read more: New members - October 2015 - Congratulations
The Alpine Club, the world’s first mountaineering club, was founded in 1857. For over 150 years, members have been at the leading edge of worldwide mountaineering development and exploration.
With membership, experienced and aspiring alpinists benefit from a varied meets programme, regional lectures with notable guest speakers, reduced rates at many alpine huts, opportunity to apply for grants to support expeditions, significant discounts at many UK retailers, extensive networking contacts, access to the AC Library and maps - and more!
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Expedition: Aug 2015 Katkar Nala - supported by Climbing Fund
The aim of our expedition was to complete first ascents of peaks at around 5,900m in the Greater Himalaya, in the Zanskar / Ladakh region of northern India. We also sought to plan and carry out everything independently; to pursue Alpine style / mixed snow and rock routes; and to summit some of the remaining unclimbed Zanskar peaks.
Mountain Arts Festival at Rheged
The AC is supporting the inaugural Mountain Arts Festival at Rheged this November, announced by Community Action Nepal in association with RGS-IBG NW Region.
AC President, Lindsay Griffin, writes to Nepal's Ministry of Tourism
23rd September 2015
To the Ministry of Tourism, Nepal
It has come to the attention of the Alpine Club that there is a proposal for foreign trekkers in Nepal to be required to hire at least a guide or a porter. We acknowledge the role played by local guides in bringing a deeper experience to the trek. However, we also recognise there needs to be freedom of choice, and would like the Ministry to be aware that there are a number of British trekkers who do not employ guides or porters when visiting mountain areas. We believe that if they are required to employ a guide or porter, many of these people will decide not to visit Nepal, and instead go elsewhere to trek, or for their mountaineering.
Independent trekkers bring considerable extra income to the local communities, and with Nepal currently trying to re-build its market following devastating earthquake damage, the timing of this proposal seems inappropriate. We believe that if trekkers of any nationality are able to come to Nepal without the explicit need to hire guides or porters, there will be an appreciably greater number visiting the country, and with this greater economic benefit.
Yours Faithfully
Lindsay Griffin, President of the Alpine Club.