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!
Becoming a MemberBelow is a list of Alpine Club Symposia.
Organised by members of The Alpine Club, events focus on the mountains of a particular area, or on a specific aspect of mountaineering. Each symposium runs for a whole day and is typically held at a weekend in the Lake District, North Wales or the Peak District. During the day experts on the subject, including top mountaineers from around the world, give a series of illustrated presentations, creating an event that is both informative and inspiring. Take a look at the impressive list of speakers at recent and forthcoming symposia to see why these events are so popular. The symposia are usually open to members at a discount, as well as non-members.
Symposia are particularly useful for anyone planning an expedition or looking for new places to visit. Many expeditions have started in the bar after a symposium; but be warned: these events can be dangerously inspirational!
Instead of a lecture on Tuesday 26 October 2021 we shall be showing a film conceived by John Porter and centred around Everest by those that were there. This is an opportunity to both see the film and hear a commentary by AC members who were inspired by the early pioneers.
To celebrate the centenary year of the first Everest Expedition, the Alpine Club have produced a film: Everest – By Those Who Were There – 1921 -1922 – 1924. Julie Summers, Sandy Irvine’s great niece, guides us through those early expeditions using images, artefacts and written materials never seen or exhibited before. Extensive use of clips from John Noel’s 1922 and 1924 films take us back in time and bring these early pioneers back to life. Alpine Club members inspired by those early pioneers, contribute their thoughts: Reinhold Messner, Rebecca Stephens, Sir Chris Bonington, Dawson Stelfox, Melanie Windridge, Sandy Allan, Crag Jones, Leo Houlding, Ed Douglas and AC President Victor Saunders. They discuss the scientific, geographical, and technological achievements as well as the remarkable contributions of the Sherpas and Bhotias. The film takes us from the first thoughts of climbing Everest in the 1890’s to the mystery of Mallory and Irvine’s disappearance. It provides a new perspective on the social, political and mountaineering importance of the world’s highest mountain.