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 Member
 

News

Alpine Club 2017 Photo Competition Results

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Parent Category: News
Created: Monday, 13 November 2017 14:51

Mountain Landscape:

  
Commended:  
Vanishing Castle Andrey Golovachev
Kitchen Views Ben Thorne
Highly Commended:  
Go with the Floe Andrey Golovachev
Third:  
Biancograt Tony Westcott
Second:  
Atmosphere on the Aretes de Rochefort Tom Hare
First:  
Matterhorn from Hirli Ben Tibbetts
   

Mountain Action:

  
Commended:  
On Dables Arete of Tacul Ben Tibbetts
Scotland comes to the Ecrins Tom Hare
Highly Commended:  
On Peuterey Ben Tibbetts
Third:  
Walking on the glass Andrey Golovachev
Second:  
On Kuffner, Mont Blanc Ben Tibbetts
First:  
On Innominata Ridge, Mont Blanc Ben Tibbetts


 

 

 

 

 

2017 Sumur Lungpa Expedition

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Parent Category: News
Created: Thursday, 09 November 2017 08:08

After a multi-day trek up the steep Sumur Lungpa to establish a base camp by the Sumur Lakes at 5,160m, Derek, Drew, Rafal and Howard made the first ascent of Point 6068 via its technically easy SW slopes (Alpine F) on 18th September following an arduous 5h of post-holing from a high camp at 5,743m. Deceptively, this top turned out to be the high point of three convergent ridges rather than a true peak per se and was thus called Deception Point. We were unable to get a Ladakhi translation. Only roped glacier travel was required.

Read more: 2017 Sumur Lungpa Expedition

Lt Col Simon Hall MBE RM

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Parent Category: People in the news
Created: Friday, 03 November 2017 11:23

News has reached us of the untimely death of Club Member Lt Col Simon Hall MBE RM.

Members are invited to send their tributes to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  so that they can be posted on the website.

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Norman Hardie

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Parent Category: People in the news
Created: Wednesday, 01 November 2017 14:12

It is with great sadness that we report the death in New Zealand on 30th October of Honorary Member Norman Hardie, a member of the team to first ascend Kangchenjunga in 1955 and past President of the New Zealand Alpine Club.

Members are invited to send their tributes to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so that they can be posted on the website

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Fred Beckey

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Parent Category: People in the news
Created: Wednesday, 01 November 2017 14:03

The Alpine Club is deeply saddened by the news that AC Honorary Member Fred Beckey has died at the age of 94. A climber who had an unparalleled number of first ascents to his name, right across the US.

''But in the end, its really the selection of climbs that tell us the most about the world's most accomplished climber. Beckey's favorite climbs are defined by purity of line, position, and quality of movement - not difficulty. Fred's new book makes me really appreciate his innate ability to choose nature's most beautiful lines'' Mark Kroese writing in both the AAJ 2012 and the AJ 2013.

Members are invited to send their tributes to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  so that they can be posted on the website.

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Iain McMorrin

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Parent Category: People in the news
Created: Wednesday, 01 November 2017 13:39

We are saddened to receive news of the death of our member, Iain McMorrin.

Members would be welcome to send their tributes to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  so that they can be posted on the website.

 

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2017 UIAA Mountain Protection Award

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Parent Category: News
Created: Wednesday, 25 October 2017 16:04

“It’s all bullshit on Everest these days,” the late Sir Edmund Hillary once said. Wrong animal. Every year 12,000 kg of solid human waste is dumped at Gorak Shep at the head of Nepal’s Khumbu valley, the produce of thousands of mountaineers, trekkers and their entourages of sherpas, porters etc who congregate at Everest Base Camp in the climbing seasons. Unsurprisingly there is a pollution hazard for communities downstream.

Read more: 2017 UIAA Mountain Protection Award

UK Alpine Introductory Meet

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Parent Category: News
Created: Saturday, 07 October 2017 18:49

Friday 8th – Sunday 10th June 2018

George Starkey Hut, Patterdale, NE Lakes

Main Road (A592), Patterdale Village, Cumbria.  Nearest Postcode: CA11 0NN

Grid Ref – NY 396162 (OS Outdoor Leisure Map No 5)

Meet Details:

The AC are planning a training focused meet based in Patterdale (Lake District). The focus will be on transferring skills to Aspirant Members who wish to improve their alpine skills and to Full Members in need of a refresher after a break from alpine climbing.

Informal training and guidance will be provided by Sandy Allen.

Topics will range from what to put into your rucksack to some basic Alpine mountaineering skills.

Read more: UK Alpine Introductory Meet

Young Alpinist Event, Peak District

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Parent Category: News
Created: Friday, 22 September 2017 10:12

The Alpine Club is working with the BMC to look at ways of helping young, talented British climbers to improve their skills and knowledge about expedition climbing ...

Venue - Bob Downes Hut (Climbers Club), Froggatt, Peak District, S32 3ZJ http://www.climbers-club.co.uk/venues/ro-bob-downes-hut-froggatt/

Cost - £10 to cover travel costs of speakers and evening meal (veggie and meat spag bol?) for Saturday evening - any surplus to go into club funds to assist with future meetings 
10 bed places at the hut for the Friday (29th) and Saturday (30th) nights have been reserved for accommodation. The cost of these are £12 per person per night and these are on a first reply first served basis. 
If you are an experienced, keen British alpinist under 35 years old and wish to attend then book a place on the event by emailing 
Tim Elson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and cc Ian Parnell at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This is not an introductory programme for alpine climbing, but targeted at those who already have significant experience in Scottish winter climbing,  summer and winter alpinism and perhaps expeditions. You don't need to be jogging up North Faces or climbing Scottish grade VIII to come along, just to be actively climbing in the mountains and be excited about expedition alpine climbing. If this sounds like you then please come along!

AC Meets Programme 2018

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Parent Category: News
Created: Sunday, 03 September 2017 11:16

Interested in organising a meet for the Alpine Club?  It's easy!

The club is looking to extend its programme of meets, which offer great opportunities for members to get to know each other by climbing, walking or mountaineering, both within the UK, and overseas.  

As well as the flagship Alpine Club summer meet, and regular winter climbing meets, not to mention the programme of Aspirant meets at home and in the Alps, the club is adding new venues each year, as members come forward to offer suggestions.

Read more: AC Meets Programme 2018

Elisabeth Parry

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Parent Category: People in the news
Created: Monday, 14 August 2017 11:23

News has reached us about of the death of our member, Elisabeth Parry, who died on 27th July aged 95 peacefully at home.

Members would be welcome to send their tributes to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so that they can be posted on the website.

 

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John Monks

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Parent Category: People in the news
Created: Sunday, 13 August 2017 11:08

We are saddened to learn of the death of our member John Monks who died on 9th August. His funeral will take place at the catholic church in Nyon, Switzerland on 18th August.

Members would be welcome to send their tributes to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so that they can be posted on the website

 

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AC Pembroke Meet 22-26 June 2017

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Parent Category: News
Created: Tuesday, 08 August 2017 22:57

Despite a few last minute cancellations, there was still a great turnout for the AC North Pembroke Meet based at Porthclais Farm, with 15 attendees either camping or campervan-ing at this spacious campsite, a three-minute sprint from the nearest climbing.

 

Read more: AC Pembroke Meet 22-26 June 2017

Gasherbrum IV East Face

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Parent Category: News
Created: Tuesday, 08 August 2017 13:19

For a brief report of a determined Alpine Club attempt on Gasherbrum IV East Face shut down by unprotectable rock band.

CLICK HERE

BMC Survey

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Parent Category: News
Created: Tuesday, 08 August 2017 12:39

Dear Member

Most of you will be aware that the BMC are undertaking a complete review of their governance and operations.  The Review will informed by the findings of a Member Survey.  This is now available to complete on the link below.  All 85,000+ members of the BMC are being asked to complete this survey. 

 As one of the Founding Clubs of the BMC, and the only Club in the UK fully dedicated to Alpinism and the ethics and ethos of mountaineering, your views are important.  I would encourage all members to take this opportunity to take part and make your views on the future role and governance of the BMC known: https://www.thebmc.co.uk/bmc-independent-organisational-review-member-survey

Kind regards 

 

John Porter

President

Walt Unsworth

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Parent Category: People in the news
Created: Thursday, 06 July 2017 15:05

It is with sadness that we have learnt that Walt Unsworth died on the 7th of June. He was born in 1928 and elected a Member in 1968. He also founded Cicerone Press. A full obituary will follow. Members would be welcome to send their tributes to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  so that they can be posted on the website.

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“An Invitation to Seek Blessings from His Holiness The Dalai Lama”

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Parent Category: News
Created: Wednesday, 28 June 2017 09:31

Not the kind of invitation you receive every day. And one AC vice-president Stephen Goodwin was more than happy to accept.

The invitation came from the Himalayan Club. As part of its 90th anniversary celebrations, the HC had been fortunate enough to secure an audience with the Dalai Lama at Dharamsala, the Tibetan ‘capital in exile’ in Himachal Pradesh, India.

 

Read more: “An Invitation to Seek Blessings from His Holiness The Dalai Lama”

Young Alpinist Event, North Wales

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Parent Category: News
Created: Wednesday, 28 June 2017 08:58

The Alpine Club is working with the BMC to look at ways of helping young, talented British climbers to improve their skills and knowledge about expedition climbing.

As part of this process an evening meeting will be held at The Beacon Climbing Centre in North Wales on Saturday 15 July and all keen, young British alpinists are invited.

If you are an experienced, keen British alpinist under 35 years old and wish to attend then book a place on the event by emailing Nick Colton: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This is not an introductory programme for alpine climbing, but targeted at those who already have significant experience in Scottish winter climbing, summer and winter alpinism and perhaps expeditions. You don't need to be jogging up North Faces or climbing Scottish grade VIII to come along, just to be actively climbing in the mountains and be excited about expedition alpine climbing. If this sounds like you then please come along!

CLICK HERE for more details

More Articles ...

  1. Announcing the George Starkey Hut Maintenance Meet
  2. John Ashburner
  3. Piolets d’Or 2017
  4. 2017 MACCF Grant Spring Recipients

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