News has reached us of the death of our member Richard Brooke who was born in 1927, a member in 1950 and ACG in 1953 (Retired).
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Perfect Storm: First ascents on the forgotten side of Mont Blanc
Simon Richardson and Micha Rinn describe recent first ascents of the Diamond Ridge on the Grandes Jorasses and Perfect Storm on Mont Blanc.
The talk will start with renowned Italian climbing historian Luca Signorelli outlining significant historical events on the Italian side of the range, and finish with a Q&A.
MOUNTAIN CONDITIONS 25/06/2020
The good weather this week has allowed for a lot of activity.
For the hikers in mid mountain, the conditions have slowly improved but there is still some snow, notably in Aiguilles Rouges.
The Chéserys lakes and Lac Blanc do not present a problem but the cols du Brévent, Cornu and Glière still have snow and the correct equipment is needed.
Likewise, for the Tour des Aiguilles Rouges, crampons could prove useful.
The Grand Balcon Nord traverse should be without problems despite two short snow patches where care is needed, especially with children..
On the Tour du Mont Blanc, there is still snow on the cols but a good track is being created. Good boots and poles are highly recommended. The footbridge crossing the Bionnassay torrent on the way up to the Col de Tricot is in place.
There is quite a lot of activity in the high mountain but the lack of night-time freezing is causing some problems for the snow routes. Even with early starts there is a risk of soft snow.
Albert 1er sector : With the hot weather the snow on the glaciers is very soft Be aware of the time of day!
Generally good conditions for the Forbes Arete and the Migot Spur.
The normal routes on the Aiguille du Tour, Tête Blanche and Petite Fourche are popular
Table Ridge was done a few days ago, the party keeping their crampons on throughout the route, the approach by the Table Gully is OK if frozen.
The approach to the hut by the moraine remains preferable until the snow patches disappear on the path from Charamillon/Col de Balme.
Argentière sector: No problems with the approach via the glacier. Rock climbing behind the hut OK. The Glacier du Milieu, Col du Tour Noir and Flèche Rousse Ridge have been done recently in good conditions. The Y Couloir and the Couturier OK if there is a good freeze. No new information for the N faces.
Mer de Glace/Leschaux sector: The Y couloir on the Verte was done 23/6; soft snow on the approach. The bergscrunds go in the middle. The ice steps have unconsolidated snow on the crux Exit by the left branch with ice in the middle. A party had problems on the Cardinal. No news concerning the Drus for the moment.
Couvercle Sector: The Whymper couloir is in condition if there is a good freeze. This morning, Thursday, several parties turned back due to stonefall though some continued. The normal routes on the Droites and Courtes, including the traverse, are tracked. The S ridge integral on the Moine was done, still snow on the W side and on the descent. The Moine ridge on the Verte looks to have a lot of snow. The traverse to the Leschaux hut is mainly dry but two snow patches make an ice axe and crampons advisable.
A party took advantage of a weather window to do the Linceul a few days ago. They bivvied on the summit and descended via the Boccalatte. The upper part of the Petites Jorasses still has snow. The Périades and Aiguille de l'Eboulement look feasible if the time of day is respected.
Torino sector: Quite a few parties have done the Kuffner ridge, the Brenva Spur and the Aiguilles du Diable recently. The Tour Ronde is OK (N Face and Gervasutti) except for the normal route. The Aiguilles d'Entrèves and Marbrées traverses are OK. The Dent du Géant and the Rochefort Ridge are also being done. The rock routes are rapidly coming into condition with the heat.
Cosmiques sector: Conditions for the normal route on the Tacul are very good. The Mont Maudit is technically more difficult, two axes needed. For the moment, the way up is by a little gully below the exit of the Kufner then traverse the entire slope to the Col du Mont Maudit.
The traverses of the Pointes Lachenal, Lolo (Laurence) and Cosmiques Ridges are in good condition. Likewise, for the gullies; Chéré, Contamines Negri, Grisolle, Mazeaud and the Allemands. Be aware of snow sluffs later in the day. The Midi-Plan is tracked, there and back until the Rognon. The S facing rocks are snow free.
Plan de l'Aiguille sector: Good conditions for the Frendo Spur (exit to the right), the Mallory-Porter and the Eugster diagonal if the time of day is respected.
Crampons and ice axe could prove useful for the approach to routes on the Chamonix Aiguilles. There have been parties on the Peigne but the Blaitière is not free of snow yet The Lames Fontaine, Petits Charmoz traverse and “M” look feasible.
Grands Mulets sector: The hut is closed but there seems to be plenty of activity towards the Mont Blanc, via the plateaux and the N ridge of the Dôme, no further information. Numerous snow sluffs have been observed.
Tête Rousse/Goûter sector: Generally good conditions for the normal route up Mont Blanc, though the ridge just before the Tournette rocks is very narrow. .
The N face of the Aiguille de Bionnassay was done a few days ago.
The Rognes path is officially closed, (council order.)
Durier sector: Still a lot of snow on the approach to the hut, take care if there is not a good freeze or later in the day.
Some parties have done the Aiguille de Tricot and the Bionnassay traverse.
The traverse from the Dômes de Miage is OK if there is a good freeze.
Conscrits sector: Generally good conditions in this sector. The footbridge on the summer path has been repaired and is in place.
Robert Blanc sector: Conditions are also good in this area.
The TMB variants from the Fours and Enclave cols still have a lot of snow Good equipment is necessary, including crampons if the temperatures drop.
Italian side: The Mont Blanc by the Aiguilles Grises has been done recently though some parties have turned back due to lack of freezing. Parties have also turned back from the Tournette Spur
From the Monzino, the Pointe Innominata and the Innominata Ridge were done on 24/06. The rock routes on the Aiguille Croux, (Ottoz, Bertone-Zapelli, Cheney,) are popular; crampons and ice axe being useful for the approach. There was a party on the Gabarrou-Long, (Brouillard Red Pillars). No news for the moment about the Peuterey Ridge integral.
You will have worked out that the conditions are generally good but that the high temperatures have created complications for certain routes and approaches. Choosing the right route and respecting the time of day are the key factors for the moment. There is a risk of storms in the coming days.
The OHM is looking forward to receiving information about your outings,
The Rucksack Club and Alpine Club, two of Britain’s oldest mountaineering clubs, combine to take you up the classic six great north faces of the Alps, with accounts from 6 different members. As ticklists go this is short, sweet and an easy one to remember, but containing formidable and historic routes, it's not such an easy one to complete and has become the ticklist for the serious alpinist. It's the Matterhorn, Eiger, Grandes Jorasses; the Petit Dru, Cima Grande di Laveredo, and Piz Badile. Tonight in part 2, the Alpine Club hosts, as we visit the Petit Dru, Cima Grande di Laveredo, and Piz Badile, with speakers James Thacker, Dominic Oughton and Ian Bryant.
As usual, we will finish with a Q&A
Nick Simons, Nicholas Smith and Richard Ive
After the very popular Alpine ClubCast4, which looked at some of the classic alpine ridges, tonight three Alpine Club members talk about some of Switzerland's most compelling alpine rock routes.
Nick Simons takes us up the 400m shining slab of the Canton Vaud, the Miroir d'Argentine, and Nicholas Smith talks about two lesser known ridges close to Saas, the Cresta del Lago Maggiore and the Jegigrat. Finally, Richard Ive talks about one of the longest, hardest and finest ridge climbs in the whole of the Alps - the West Ridge of the Salbitschijen.
Aimed at whetting appetites for a future trip, the talks will be followed by a Q&A session.
Mountain Conditions 19/06/20
A quick update on snow conditions. There will be more information after this weekend’s feedback.
From Saturday, the weather is due to stabilise and from Sunday, should become warm and sunny.
This weekend the Leschaux, Charpoua, Argentière, Plan Glacier and Durier huts will open.
High mountain: some parties turned back before reaching the summits, (Chardonnet, Mt Blanc, Dômes de Miage...) There was a lot of deep snow making the routes a lot more tiring.
Albert 1er sector: Aiguille du Tour is well tracked and in good condition, some surface snow sluffs. There is a good 60cms on the Forbes Ridge, not tracked. The Migot has been skied. There is hardly any snow at the hut. The best approach is by the moraine as there are still exposed snow patches on the summer path coming from Charamillon.
Couvercle sector: There was a party on the normal route of the Droites but they turned back due to too much snow. The freezing conditions are not good but the Droites, Courtes and the Whymper look to be in condition. The rock routes are still too damp, (snow), including the S ridge of the Moine.
Aiguille du Midi and Torino sector: 40cm of very humid snow has fallen which is now crusty snow on the surface. The traverses of the Cosmiques Ridge, Laurence Ridge, (Lolo), Pointes Lachenal, and Marbrées are tracked. The Tour Ronde has been skied. The Tacul Triangle looks to be in condition, (plenty of snow).
Goûter sector: The normal route up Mont Blanc is tracked. There is a lot of snow between the Rognes and Tête Rousse and it is preferable to approach by the glacier. More than a metre of windblown snow has fallen at the Gouter hut. The cable at the Grand Couloir is in place, though some of it is still under the snow. Good crampon skills are needed for the descent from the Gouter. The glacier below the Tête Rousse is all on snow.
Conscrits sector: It is finished for skiing here. The footbridge on the summer path is still not in place, (damaged and not yet repaired) For the approach by the glacier it is best to keep to the true right bank without crossing the river, then following the cairns after the steep section, as marked by the hut warden. The snow routes appear to be in condition, (Aiguille de Tré la Tête and Blanche) but need time to stabilise. There is still a lot of snow on the Dômes de Miage.
At the Grand Paradiso, the routes from the Chabot are tracked and in good condition.
Mid mountain: There is still quite a lot of snow at the TMB cols and on the Tour des Aiguilles Rouges. Hopefully, this will disappear from the paths after a week of sunny weather.
The footbridges at Bionnassay and Armina (Italian Val Ferret) are in place. Some of the TMB variants are not in condition yet.
Snow is still causing some problems for rock climbing in the Aiguilles Rouges, crampons could be useful.
The Rucksack Club and Alpine Club, two of Britain’s oldest mountaineering clubs, combine to take you up the classic six great north faces of the Alps, with accounts from 6 different members. As ticklists go this is short, sweet and an easy one to remember, but containing formidable and historic routes, it's not such an easy one to complete and has become the ticklist for the serious alpinist. It's the Matterhorn, Grandes Jorasses, Eiger, the Petit Dru, Cima Grande di Laveredo, and Piz Badile. Tonight in part 1, we are hosted by the Rucksack Club to celebrate what has become known as "the trilogy": Matterhorn, Grandes Jorasses, and the Eiger, with speakers Andy Kirkpatrick, Martin Cooper, Nick Wallis, Bill Deakin and Cec Rhodes.
As usual, we will finish with a Q&A.
William Mitchell, John Colton, Ben Tibbetts
We are celebrating mountaineering artists past and present:
First, William Mitchell, an art dealer, climber, and writer, who has written the first book in English about Gabriel Loppé. As a prolific artist and mountaineer, Gabriel Loppé (1825-1913) was the first painter to have depicted what the French call ‘la haute montagne’.
We are joined by John Colton, who discovered the wild places of Yorkshire and a love of drawing from an early age. By the time he was twenty this had developed into serious mountaineering and painting combined. John has previously exhibited at the Alpine Club in 2013 and was described as the first exhibitor who actually draws whilst engaged on serious Alpine climbs. These include the Walker Spur on the Grandes Jorasses and the Innominata route on Monte Bianco.
Finally, we have Ben Tibbetts who last year published ‘Alpenglow’, the result of an obsessive project involving 10,000 hours of climbing, to reach all the highest summits of the Alps. It is a book full of meticulous historical research, inspiring photography, intricate and beautiful drawings, and writing that captures the essence of each route. We’re not clear yet about what Ben will show, but we can expect some of his drawings of the mountains and routes shown in Alpenglow, and the stories of the climbs that inspired them.
Followed by a Q&A
A reminder: 79 images from the AC Collection can be viewed here:
https://artuk.org/shop/featured-collections/the-alpine-club-collection.html
where you can order your own print, for which the Alpine Club receives payment
MOUNTAIN CONDITIONS 04/06/2020
First the good news. The by-law forbidding overnighting in the mountains was lifted on the 2nd June. The bad news is that the weather has changed for the worse, (though this should eventually improve conditions which were very dry for the beginning of June.)
The French huts will be allowed to open, with certain conditions, (reduction in capacity, bedding and pillows not supplied…) Please consult the dedicated website ( https://www.chamoniarde.com/montagne/refuges ) which will be updated regularly.
Until the huts open, the winter rooms remain accessible, though a bivouac, (individual tent,) is better adapted to the current health situation.
The Conscrits and Trè la Tête huts opened on 2nd June.
Here are the dates on which the following huts hope to open:
The Grands Mulets and Requin huts will not open this summer. It is not certain when the Couvercle hut will open, as work is foreseen there. The Chamoniarde site will keep you informed.
The situation in Switzerland and Italy appears to be similar with the progressive opening of the huts.
Concerning the high mountain conditions, the good weather these last weeks has allowed for a lot of activity. The snow routes are mostly in good condition. Aiguille du Tour; Chardonnet (Forbes Ridge + Migot Spur); Aiguille d'Argentière (Flèche Rousse, Y Couloir, Glacier du Milieu), Aiguille Verte (Couturier, Whymper), Midi-Plan Ridge, Cosmiques Ridge, Mont Blanc du Tacul (normal route, Contamine-Negri, Contamine-Grisolle), Kuffner Ridge, Mont Blanc normal route, Mettrier Ridge and Dômes de Miage traverse were done frequently.
On the other hand, the Trois Monts route is not in condition. A large serac bars the way on the N face of Mont Maudit and the seracs lower on the face are unstable.
Rock climbing conditions are good on the S faces but there remains some snow on faces not that exposed to the sun.
Some reports on recent outings can be found in the cahier de course.
These conditions will probably change with the unsettled weather period that has started.
For hikers : the Barberine path has re-opened. The 4x4 track up to the Mottets from Planards is closed until July 31, more info : https://www.chamoniarde.com/actualites/sentiers/fermeture-chemin-4-4-des-mottets
Given the bad weather, the other good news is that the climbing wall at Les Houches has re-opened.
We are saddened by the news that Mike Bullock passed away on Friday 24th April.
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Mountain Conditions 29 May 2020
The latest information before this three-day weekend.
It should be no surprise that it is still too early for the classic walks at altitude, such as the mountain lakes tour, the North Grand Balcon or the Jonction.
In the Cheserys/Lac Blanc area there is still plenty of snow and the lakes remain covered. The northern slopes and the high cols remain present problems as there is still snow on some paths. Care and correct equipment are needed.
The Aiguillettes des Posettes and des Houches, Tête de Balme, Alpages de Loriaz, Planpraz via Plan des Chablettes and the Jovet lakes at Contamines Montjoie offer excellent views without snow problems.
In general, the paths bellow 2000/2200m remain feasible, for example, le Chapeau, la Floria,and Bossons glacier, but check first that there is no maintenance work being done at: fermetures pour travaux..
Overnighting, either a bivouac and in a winter room, remains forbidden for the moment, (and certainly for this weekend). Only day trips are allowed. Hopefully, this will change soon.
Not much has change for the high mountain since the last report, other than ski conditions have deteriorated, the snow being icy below about 3500m.
At Argentière, it is still possible to put skis on at the level of Lognan and get in a few turns.
Albert 1iere sector: it is still best to approach by the moraine. Activity has been reported on the Aiguille du Tour and the Forbes Ridge. The Migot Spur looks feasible.
Last weekend the normal route on the Mont Blanc du Tacul, Contamine-Negri, Pointes Lachenal traverse, Cosmiques Arete, Cosmiques Spur, Aiguille du Midi S face, Frendo Spur and Mallory-Porter were climbed..
The normal route and the N ridge of the Dôme route (ice on the ridge, no information for the Jonction traverse), on Mont Blanc have been done.
The Talèfre sector can be accessed via the Egralets or by the “new” Charpoua/Couvercle approach.
For the Conscrits, the footbridge has been seriously damaged by rock fall; repair is foreseen for mid-June. In the meantime, access is by the Tré la Tête glacier.
For rock climbers: there has been a lot of activity on the valley crags and also on the Aig du Mid (S face) For the climbs near the Plan de l’Aiguille, crampons and ice axe are needed for some of the approaches. For example, the NNE ridge of the M has been done in good conditions, but crampons are highly recommended.
The lifts and huts will open one by one during June/July, depending on the precautionary measures taken for each.
For the lifts: consult the dates here.
For the huts, regular updates are available on the Chamoniarde site: Chamoniarde/huts site.
The Office de Haute Montagne is open to the public Monday to Saturday 9h to12h and 15h to 18h.
A mask is obligatory as is respecting the rules posted at the office. For the moment, it is best to ask for information by phone or email.
The Chamoniarde training courses for this summer are still under review. All relevant information will be posted soon on the Chamoniarde site and on social media.
The Chamoniarde team is looking forward to receiving information from your outings to feed into their bulletins.
A celebration of three mountaineers of the Golden Age, with a scientific slant. Nanna Kaalund, Roland Jackson and Rachel Hewitt talk about the achievements of three great Victorians.
Followed by a Q&A.
The 2020 Summer Meet was planned for July in La Bérarde, in the heart of the Écrins. This site has excellent climbing and many people have fond memories of climbing and walking there.
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has cast a shadow over this, and we have watched events unfold.
The decision on the meet has been delayed as we have watched events, but we are now 6 weeks before the meet. Although there is some relaxation in France (and the UK), travel is still restricted, with severe limitation on entry into France. There will be quarantine measures in place until at least the week before the meet.
MOUNTAIN CONDITIONS 20/05/2020
Some information for the long bank holiday weekend.
The return of the good weather, together with the opening of the Aiguille du Midi lift and the Montenvers train, has allowed for a lot of activity in the high mountain. Take heed of the warm weather, conditions will have certainly changed since last weekend. We are between the ski and alpine seasons. Skis and snowshoes remain useful for moving about the mountain.
Tour Sector: The hut is accessible either on foot, (a snow patch to cross near the water outlet then dry until the junction with the other path below the hut), or on ski, (a part of the moraine still has snow, 1hr of carrying.) A lot of people were on the Table Couloir (mixed section low down, final ridge OK,) and the normal route on the Aiguille du Tour. Some parties have done the Migot Spur.
Argentière Sector: The skiing still starts at the rocky section of the Pierre à Ric. Last weekend the Couturier Couloir was in good condition, (still 30m of ice at the narrows.)
Talèfre Sector: No information other than to reach the hut, the central gully and the Pierre à Bérenger are dry. It is better to go by the Egralets ladders (free of snow but the equipment on the ledges may not be all there.)
Aiguille du Midi Sector: The lift will be open from Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th. The ridge is in good condition, (no ice,) and with some stakes in place
Skiing remains the main activity. Return trips from/to the Aiguille are popular. The upper part of the Valley Blanche is in good condition but this is not the case lower down, (crevasses at the Salle à Manger, sticky snow and the skiing ends at the junction with the Leschaux glacier, 1hr of walking to the Montenvers ladders.)
The Glacier Rond and the Cosmiques couloir have been done, no further information. It is recommended to return to the Plan de l'Aiguille, (one starts walking well above the old Glaciers station.) Be aware that conditions are changing rapidly.
Quite a few skiers have been going, there and back, to the Col des Marbrés and the Col d'Entrèves.
The Gervasutti couloir was popular (good conditions), as was the normal route on the Tour Ronde (no further information.)
The normal route on the Mont Blanc du Tacul was done in good conditions last Sunday. The bergschrunds are OK and one can keep the skis on throughout. There were some parties on the Chere couloir, (looks to be very dry,) on the Contamine-Grisolle (black ice showing through) and on the Contamine-Negri. The Gervasutti couloir has been skied, (conditions have probably changed since). As last year, the bergschrund for the Mont Maudit looks to be problematical .
The Cosmiques Arete has been done, (approach on foot tracked.) The west Pointe Lachenal was popular. The traverse has not been done but looks to be in condition.
Not many rock climbers about even if the south facing rocks look to be dry, (e.g. Aig du Midi S face, Cosmiques Spur, Pointes Lachenal.) There is still a bit of snow on the ledges.
Mont Blanc : No recent information concerning the Jonction. There looks to be ice on the N ridge of the Dôme du Goûter. Again, the descent via the Plateaux « looks » OK.
Dômes de Miage: The Mettrier ridge was OK but with a long carry. The Dômes traverse and descent by the Armancette is still feasible with skis, ( the walking starts above the lake) The Aiguille de la Bérangère, there and back, is also OK via the Mauvais Pas. (The skiing starts at the glacier.)
Skiing is finished for this year at the mid altitudes, (Buet etc).
Hikers should not forget it is only the start of the season and there is still a lot of snowabout. Not everybody is aware that more than half of mountain accidents happen to hikers.
As well as the hikes indicated in last weekend’s bulletin, the following are now feasible: the Aiguillette des Posettes from Le Tour or the Col des Montets, the Signal Forbes from Montenvers, (N/B. the Grand Balcon North traverse still has too much exposed snow,) the Bellachat hut from Chamonix, the chalet des Pyramides, the chalets de Pormenaz from the Tête de la Fontaine, the chalets de Miage from Gruvaz.
Multi pitch routes are now permitted so it is possible to climb in the sun, for example at the Cheserys. The Evettes via feratta (La Flégère) is feasible but does involve a long walk from the valley.
Attention : The Barberine cliff is in Switzerland: the border police have done numerous controls and the fine is 100 CHF per person for someone crossing the closed border. This is also true for the Baberine canyon.
We will be marking the 65th anniversary of the first ascent of Kangchenjunga which, at 8586m, is the third highest mountain in the world.
Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner is the first woman to climb all the 8000m peaks without the use of supplementary oxygen. She talks about her ascent of Kangchenjunga in 2006 via the South-West Ridge and is joined by Stevan Jackson, who led the second British ascent of the SW Face in 2000, 45 years after Joe Brown and George Band. Mick Conefrey also joins us to talk about his new book on the subject, ‘The Last Great Mountain’. Finally, Leo Dickinson will show some unseen footage of Joe Brown describing the final stages of the first ascent.
Followed by a Q&A.
CLICK HERE for details
Mountain Conditions 13/05/2020
Back in business !!!
A little information as activities restart. Even if one cannot go too far, or too hard and the weather is decidedly unreliable, everyone is happy that we can hike, bike and ski again.
The Company du Mont Blanc has confirmed that the Aig du Midi cable car and the Montenvers train should be open on weekends 16th/!7th and 21st/24th May.
The snow level has receded a lot during the lockdown period. Conditions are several weeks in advance compared of other years. To get an idea, look at the webcams on the Chamoniarde site.
Bad news for the ski tourers, who will have long walks carrying their skis. The skiable snow starts around 1800m on the N side, e.g. 100m below Pierre à Bérard hut, at the water outlet on the true right moraine of the Tour glacier and at the last big bend on the Pierre à Ric below the Lognan station.
Above, the snow is Spring nevé, pleasant to ski but with the more recent snow often being soft and “sticky”.
It is difficult to judge the conditions in the high mountain and also difficult to access within a day. The recent bad weather from the SW has plastered snow on the faces and concealed the underlying bad situation. The Tacul Triangle was seen to be very dry on the 12th May. Without doubt, snow will have accumulated in other areas and care is needed with unstable conditions.
Hikers will find that the snow level starts around 1800m, regardless of orientation, and is fairly continuous from this level. Therefore, it is too early for hikes to the mountain lakes, (Lake Blanc, Chéserys lakes, Lake Cornu...), the Grands Balcons etc.
On the other hand there are some beautiful early season walks e.g. Cerro chalet, Bossons glacier, the Floria - Chapeau, Loriaz chalets, Pendant Alpage from Lavancher, Tête de Prapator, Montenvers via the Mottets buvette, Blaitière Alpage, Montagne de La Charlanon, Planpraz via the Plan des Chablettes, Chailloux chalet (some snow still on the Aiguillette des Houches), Prarion via the Col de la Forclaz, Lac Vert and the Ayères chalets, Varan hut.....
The Parc de Merlet opens on the 16th May. The bridge way to the Bérard waterfall is accessible.
It is also a good time for mountain biking (with or without “assistance”) and for crag climbing!!!
Please do not hesitate to telephone the Chamoniarde for more precise details or to pass on your information.
In February 1975 Rab Carrington and Alan Rouse brought hard Scottish style climbing to the Alps with their winter ascent of the Terray Rebuffat route on the Aiguille des Pélerins. 17 years later Andy Parkin and Mark Twight climbed the nearby ‘Beyond Good and Evil’ and in February this year Jon Bracey, Matt Helliker and Pete Whittaker added ‘Beyond Reason’. In their own way each of these ascents have set new standards for the sport.
Why has this corner of the Chamonix Aiguilles been a test bed for the best climbers of their generation? Find out on 26 May.
BMC Honorary Medical advisor David Hillebrandt chairs a team of three mountaineering doctors - Chris Imray, Paul Richards and Jeremy Windsor - to share advice, experiences, and a Q&A.
The Alpine Club owns a large collection of mountain art and photography, formed from donations by members, artists and generous collectors. We are keen to make our collection as available as possible to the public and, in addition to our regular programme of exhibitions, we also offer several ways for you to purchase or license copies of these sublime works.
Whether you're a researcher who wants to inspect a specific image, a media professional in search of historic footage or a lover of mountain art looking to decorate your walls, our team of volunteers are here to help.
Sandy Irvine on the 1924 Expedition to Mount Everest
The Alpine Club Photo Library extends from the birth of alpinism in the 19th century all the way up to the present day and includes images from some of mountaineering history's most famous expeditions along with a small selection of film footage. If you are searching for a specific image or would like to gain a better idea of our collection, please contact our Photos Team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. They will be able to assist you with licensing digital copies from our collection.
A portion of the Club's artistic collection is available to view on-demand via ArtUK. These high-quality stills, produced from the original works, are also available to purchase as framed prints via the ArtUK website. The funds raised from sales go back into the Alpine Club Library, enabling us to preserve and curate our collection.
A larger sample of our collection can also be viewed on The Watercolour World, but TWW does not currently offer an option to purchase prints of these works.
If you're in the market for something smaller by way of a gift or memento, our shop includes greeting cards and calendars featuring photos and paintings from our collection, as well as pieces from contemporary mountain artists.
Also available for purchase is 'The Artists of the Alpine Club', a compendium of AC artists and their works, compiled and written by Peter Mallalieu and featuring some of the finest examples from our archive.
Finally, if you are not looking to purchase a work, but would like to see an image or painting from our collection for research purchases, you can always reach out to our librarian at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. They will be able to direct you to the appropriate department and/or arrange a viewing.
