To a certain extent, I think that we need to continue to remind members about the benefits available. A coming example will be climate change as we invite members to join us in our growing initiatives to demonstrate leadership in recognition and adaption by providing excellent opportunities for members to develop their own sustainability plans which they may not be able to manage themselves because of capacity. Then there’s the many tangible benefits with our services and research in safety, mountain medicine and training. The UIAA is the global mountain network. It’s most visual manifestation is the General Assembly itself. It is there that if members face an issue or a problem, the chances are they will meet some other national federation who has faced the same problem. Problems are rarely unique and can be solved through collaboration. Bringing like-minded climbing organisations together is one of the main roles of the UIAA.
2024 Annual Report
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Contents
President's Report
My motivation for re-election:
I have really enjoyed being President for four years. I am delighted to continue for another four. There’s still work to be done. I came to the conclusion that the current Articles of Association have served the UIAA well but certain revisions were needed to reflect the UIAA of 2024 and beyond. We’ve improved communication between the Management Board and the Commissions about what each expected. Across the next four years, I would like to further develop all levels of communication and ensure that greater standardisation is in place. The latter is core to us being more agile in delivering on our promises and projects.
My first four years as President of the UIAA:
Challenging, Progressive, Educational, Fun.
Peter Muir, Alpine Club of Canada (ACC), became the 14th UIAA President when elected during an online General Assembly in 2020. He was re-elected for his second and final term during the 2024 GA in Malta. In his Annual Report, Muir reflects on the progress that the UIAA has made under the first era of his tenure and where the focus lies on the road to 2028.
Words from Peter Muir, President of the UIAA
Where I’d like the UIAA to be in 2028:
The Articles of Association should reflect the reality of where the UIAA is now and clearly define levels of responsibility. I would like to expand the resources that are available because one of the limitations of the agreed Strategic Priorities 2025-2028 is that they are aspirational. We already do some things very well but we need to ensure that we have the resources to fulfil our potential. This income needs to come from partnerships and sponsorship or through revenue from some of our activities. We can also help ourselves by reducing the tendency to ‘reinvent the wheel’ which is a drain on volunteer time.
The UIAA at 100
Wider global representation is one of the seven goals of the new Strategic Priorities. The UIAA marks its centenary in 2032 and the ambition is for us to have well over 100 members and greater representation in some continents, especially in Africa. We need to have a much higher profile. As an anecdote, I’d like to see every climber in my country – Canada – know what the UIAA is, as opposed to – for some people – just being a curious little tag on a carabiner. What does the UIAA really does stand for? What’s available from it? It’s a big task and it is essential.
Part 1: Executive Review - President's Report
One thing I’m particularly pleased with is the collegiality, within the Executive Committee and the Management Board. I’d like to spend a few words on two departing members – Françoise Jaquet and Lode Beckers. Françoise has done a remarkable job as treasurer and in committing her time and expertise to projects like developing standard operating procedures, which were badly needed for the organisation as a whole. Lode, likewise, is a very smart person. He’s dedicated to what he does and has strong, sound opinions. He is someone who has challenged us all to think in different ways.
I am delighted that Martin Lascano and Amit Chowdhury were re-elected in Malta for their second terms. They have produced incredible work in their respective fields of responsibility. Together with Simon Alden, who in 2024 expertly led the hosting of our General Assembly in Malta, Yongfeng Wang and our two newly elected members, Saray Khumalo and Yolanda de Both, we have an incredibly diverse EC.
I am delighted that Martin Lascano and Amit Chowdhury were re-elected in Malta for their second terms. They have produced incredible work in their respective fields of responsibility. Together with Simon Alden, who in 2024 expertly led the hosting of our General Assembly in Malta, Yongfeng Wang and our two newly elected members, Saray Khumalo and Yolanda de Both, we have an incredibly diverse EC.
Our Medical and Safety commissions have benefitted from extraordinary leadership and impressive dedication from their members. This has made the structure bigger than individuals. In other words, everybody understands what their role is and what the objective of the Commission is. These Commissions are scrupulous in what they undertake. They pick tasks which bring added value and are achievable. And they bring real expertise and excellence to the project. The recent work on bolting and on advice for women in climbing has been impressive.
In turn, they have greatly increased the profile of the UIAA, and they have also greatly increased the safety of people, or their access to knowledge and risk management resources. So the proposed Safety Centre of Excellence needs to be a crystallisation of this – access to knowledge. People, especially when starting out, do not always know the questions to ask. If, for example, you’re a woman who wants to go to Nepal, trekking or climbing , what is it you need to know? Well, the UIAA can provide access to that guidance.
As training is a core and popular service, it is also a component of these strategic priorities, with a focus on refining its structures and standardisation for even greater impact and appeal.
In turn, they have greatly increased the profile of the UIAA, and they have also greatly increased the safety of people, or their access to knowledge and risk management resources. So the proposed Safety Centre of Excellence needs to be a crystallisation of this – access to knowledge. People, especially when starting out, do not always know the questions to ask. If, for example, you’re a woman who wants to go to Nepal, trekking or climbing , what is it you need to know? Well, the UIAA can provide access to that guidance.
As training is a core and popular service, it is also a component of these strategic priorities, with a focus on refining its structures and standardisation for even greater impact and appeal.
The UIAA has recently published its Sustainability Charter, the long-awaited update to the 2002 Environmental and Sustainability Guidelines. That together with our climate action plans are not only foundational documents for the UIAA and its members but also living documents. Members can start on their climate journey at whatever point they are at. Not many have the resources of the major eight to ten federations. We represent a large number of smaller members with fewer resources. Our role is to assist them throughout their journey to becoming more sustainable and in being able to prepare for the impacts of climate change. A case in point is the experiences of clubs like the Alpine Club of Canada, German Alpine Club and the Swiss Alpine Club in rebuilding huts or making them more sustainable operations.
From a UIAA position we need to lead from the front. You can’t tell people what to do if you’re not doing it yourself. I just find that intolerable position. So our internal Climate Action Plans are equally important and we need to be transparent on our progress.
From a UIAA position we need to lead from the front. You can’t tell people what to do if you’re not doing it yourself. I just find that intolerable position. So our internal Climate Action Plans are equally important and we need to be transparent on our progress.
My hope is that the new structure ‘World Ice Climbing’ is going to enable the people who are experts in this field to work with a greater degree of independence. Personally I don’t think that the previous ‘Commission-type of structure’ works for ice climbing. This is a specialised project. If you look at other major organisations they have very specific structures in place to develop their sports and by people who are fully focussed on that. They are experts. I don’t see a sport like ice climbing growing without that same kind of structure. Only then will you enable the sport to develop.
The UIAA signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration in early September. This is a commitment from the UIAA to further promote the participation of women in all aspects of climbing and mountaineering – including in our own governance. One thing we need to ensure is that women are encouraged to follow pathways to key positions both in member federations and at the UIAA and that the nominating procedures dictate this. When the time comes and my time as UIAA President ends, I would be thrilled if there are number of strong female candidates and a female President. Representation is important not only in terms of gender but also in ensuring we truly represent different cultures and parts of the world. We’ve taken positive steps towards this on an Executive Committee level.
Read: UIAA signs Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration: Promotion of Women in Climbing and MountaineeringThe UIAA is an attractive proposition to potential brands and partners. We welcome all kinds of opportunities – from supporting specific events to the federation as a whole. The UIAA as the global mountain network can provide great visibility and credibility to a brands. Our work takes us to some of the world’s most extreme and fragile environments.
Increasing our visibility on a global scale and being even more relevant is important. Our new podcast series Mountain Voices has enabled us to engage on different topics and with influential personalities in the climbing and mountaineering world. One project under discussion is the potential for a UIAA Awards platform which may provide the opportunity to recognise certain people and achievements. However, we need to make sure that this brings added value and that it is not a drain on existing resources.
We also need to focus on the return in 2025 of the Mountain Protection Award, which for us is a major project which recognises people and organisations who are changing the mountain world for the better.
Listen: Mountain Voices podcastWe also need to focus on the return in 2025 of the Mountain Protection Award, which for us is a major project which recognises people and organisations who are changing the mountain world for the better.
In September 2024, André von Rotz was appointed as new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the UIAA. He will assume the position on a full-time basis from 1 February 2025. André succeeds Nils Glatthard who has held the position of UIAA CEO since July 2017. Nils will continue in his role throughout a period of transition until early 2025.
We are excited to welcome André as our new CEO. In a field of excellent candidates, the selection committee strongly agreed that he met all the criteria required for the position. We are confident that he will be a strong asset to the Management Board and UIAA members in their work to bring the UIAA to its full potential. That said, he has a tough act to follow coming after current CEO Nils Glatthard. There’s little question that Nils leaves a significant and lasting legacy that provides a solid foundation for the UIAA in the years to come.
Press releaseWe are excited to welcome André as our new CEO. In a field of excellent candidates, the selection committee strongly agreed that he met all the criteria required for the position. We are confident that he will be a strong asset to the Management Board and UIAA members in their work to bring the UIAA to its full potential. That said, he has a tough act to follow coming after current CEO Nils Glatthard. There’s little question that Nils leaves a significant and lasting legacy that provides a solid foundation for the UIAA in the years to come.
Strategic Priorities
At the 2024 General Assembly, agreement was reached on the new UIAA Strategic Priorities for the period 2025-2028. The priority is now the creation of implementation plans for each of the defined seven priorities.
Part 1: Executive Review - Strategic Priorities
Part 1: Executive Review : Strategic Priorities
For the years 2025-2028 the UIAA has set seven priorities for development:
The UIAA will strive to better serve its member federations in all parts of the world by providing leadership in matters of global concern and by building its relevance to the wider climbing and mountaineering community.
By clearly defining and more actively promoting the benefits of membership based on the needs of individual federations, the UIAA will aim to grow beyond 100 member federations by its 100th anniversary in 2032.
By clearly defining and more actively promoting the benefits of membership based on the needs of individual federations, the UIAA will aim to grow beyond 100 member federations by its 100th anniversary in 2032.
Recognising that rock climbers and hikers constitute
a significant segment of the membership base, the UIAA will devote more resources towards addressing matters important to rock climbers and identifying opportunities for growth in relation to hiking, thereby supporting the needs and expectations of its member federations while increasing its relevance to potential new members.
a significant segment of the membership base, the UIAA will devote more resources towards addressing matters important to rock climbers and identifying opportunities for growth in relation to hiking, thereby supporting the needs and expectations of its member federations while increasing its relevance to potential new members.
The UIAA is fully committed to developing ice-climbing as a sustainable, global sport. The objectives for 2025 - 2028 are twofold:
1.That the UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour grows to achieve sporting excellence and develops in a sustainable manner, with secured financing, stable regulations, organising body and business model ensuring its future.
2. That ice climbing becomes an Olympic sport - "The Olympic Dream"
1.That the UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour grows to achieve sporting excellence and develops in a sustainable manner, with secured financing, stable regulations, organising body and business model ensuring its future.
2. That ice climbing becomes an Olympic sport - "The Olympic Dream"
The UIAA will focus its long-standing and globally recognised work on continual improvement of climbing safety and standards through a Safety Centre of Excellence, encompassing equipment standards and certification, medical and safety advice, accident
reporting and analyses, legal analyses, educational content and content reviews and communication.
reporting and analyses, legal analyses, educational content and content reviews and communication.
Building on its widely recognised training standards and certificates and the pool of knowledge and experience among its larger member federations, the UIAA will aim to promote more widely its standard programmes and supporting the efforts of member federations to develop their training structures according to their needs.
With our commitment to the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action framework and recognising the serious global challenges of climate change and degradation of the natural environment, the UIAA will lean on the best available research, data and practices to relate how climate change affects our activities in the mountains and the mountain communities, how to adapt, and how to act responsibly.
The UIAA will work by itself and with our member federations to minimalise the impact of our activities on the climate and natural environment. To support these actions, we will provide realistic climate change and sustainability guidance adapted to the nature, needs and size of our member federations.
The UIAA will work by itself and with our member federations to minimalise the impact of our activities on the climate and natural environment. To support these actions, we will provide realistic climate change and sustainability guidance adapted to the nature, needs and size of our member federations.
The UIAA will develop its financial resources and its financial stability by renewing existing partnerships, by developing new ones, and by encouraging specific Commissions to develop and expand their income generating services.
2024 UIAA General Assembly
The 2024 UIAA General Assembly was held from 8-9 November in Malta and expertly hosted by UIAA member association, ClimbMT. Over 110 delegates from 50 countries attended the event. Among the guests were UIAA Honorary Member and former President Frits Vrijlandt, IFSC President Marco Scolaris and Julian Pace Bonello, President of the Maltese Olympic Committee.
Among the headlines from the GA:
The re-election of Peter Muir as UIAA President. The re-election for two Executive Committee members (Amit Chowdhury and Martin Lascano) as well as the election of two new members (Yolanda de Both and Saray Khumalo), the hosting of the 3rd Climate Change Summit, panel discussions (dedicated to rock climbing and hiking, the UIAA Strategy as well as Commission projects), the approval of the UIAA Strategic Priorities 2025-2028 and the creation of an Operating Unit (‘World Ice Climbing’) for competition ice climbing.
In addition to the GA, the autumn UIAA Management Board meeting was held as well as meetings for the Mountaineering, Mountain Protection and Youth Commissions. Two days of courses in collaboration between the UIAA Training Commission and ClimbMT were staged after the GA.
Part 1: Executive Review - General Assembly
The inaugural International Mountain Sports Training Course was held in Bariloche, Argentina in April and comprised an intensive three-day programme designed to advance the skills and knowledge of mountain sport enthusiasts in various critical areas. The course was organised by the UIAA in close collaboration with host federation FASA (Federación Argentina de Ski Snowboard y Andinismo) and the ISMM (International Society for Mountain Medicine).
The event proved to be a massive success uniting over 100 participants from all over the world. International and local speakers and experts came from a number of fields in mountain rescue and mountain and high-altitude medicine. Course participants included a number of instructors, trainers and young medical personnel from all overArgentina as well as neighbouring South American countries.
Sharing knowledge: An inspiring first mountain sports training course
Urs Hefti, UIAA Medical Commission President, and course leader
“We had an idea of running a course in South America because it hasn’t been done before and it is an opportunity to bring together lots of interesting people with different backgrounds and for the UIAA to share its experience in teaching. It was also important for the UIAA to learn about techniques and methods local to Argentina and South America.”
Peter Muir, UIAA President
"The course was a significant success and it was great to see the engagement of those involved. The theory sessions created a number of interesting debates and allowed participants to learn not only about the latest in international mountain medicine research and thinking but the challenges facing those working in the unique context of Argentina and South America. The UIAA is keen on taking this course model to other countries and parts of the world over the coming years.¨
Magdalena Kast, FASA President
“I believe that after finishing this training course there are two main objectives: one is the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences and the second is the responsibility that we have to keep on going and to bring people together who can share the passion and conviction of teaching. Especially as most of the people who are involved are volunteers.”
Bariloche Course 2024
Part 2: Achievements - Bariloche Course 2024
In 2022, and as a contribution from the UIAA to the observance of the UN-declared International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development, the General Assembly of the UIAA adopted the proposal made by the UIAA Mountain Protection Commission to review and update the UIAA’s ‘Environmental Objectives and Guidelines’, which were first published in 2002 to observe the first International Year of Mountains. Looking back at the original guidelines, they have indeed stood the test of time and have remained highly relevant for the UIAA. However, climbing and mountaineering have undergone considerable changes in the 20 plus years since then, and so have the conditions in which we exercise these activities in the mountains.
The UIAA’s Mountain Protection Commission delegates, as well as other UIAA volunteers, past and present, have contributed to the review and update of these guidelines, which take stock of these changes and the role that climbers and mountaineers need to play in how we respond to the ensuing impacts, and conversely, how we affect these trends.
The full document can be downloaded here and from the dedicated website page. The webpage is essentially a short form version of the document which offers a summary of its cardinal messages for both the UIAA and its members (addressing climate change, reducing impacts to the natural environment, reducing social impacts and promoting positive social change). However, the short form version should not be viewed independently of the full document.
Going forward, the UIAA MPC stands committed to offering its expertise, service, and support to the UIAA and its members in accompanying the ongoing practical application of these guidelines through concrete actions. Conversely, the MPC also encourages the active engagement and contributions from the UIAA, its members and their communities in sharing experiences and lessons learned that offer insights for improving these guidelines as part of their ongoing application and review.
Release of new Sustainability Charter
In October 2024, the UIAA published its Sustainability Charter
Background
The new Charter
Sustainability Charter
“These guidelines are a compilation of years of deliberations among Commission delegates on how best to update and modernise the UIAA’s 2002 UIAA Environmental Objectives and Guidelines. Not only was this update considered necessary in view of fast-changing environmental and social impacts that affect climbing and mountaineering, but also in view of the impacts that our activities themselves have in mountain regions and beyond. Furthermore, given the observance of the UN-declared International Year of SustainableMountain Development in 2022, the timing for such an update was imperative.”
Carolina Adler, UIAA MPC President (2016-2024)
“For these guidelines, sustainability is broadly applied as an overarching principle that guides the responsibilities and actions that the UIAA, its members, and its community of climbers and mountaineers can take when pursuing and promoting climbing and mountaineering, considering the potential environmental, social, and economic impacts that these activities can have on the mountains and beyond. We focus on the expected practical actions that the UIAA can take at the organisational level, plus those of its members, and the broader climbing and mountaineering community in taking collective action. As the MPC we are encouraging the knowledge and practice sharing amongst theUIAA and its member federations.”
Paul Kwakkenbos, UIAA MPC President
Part 2: Achievements - Sustainability Charter
In recent years, the UIAA has dedicated significant investment, some 200,000 euros and counting, and resources to research related to rock anchors and bolts. Initially, this centred around the subject of corrosion and stress corrosion cracking failure. A significant milestone was reached when the updated UIAA Rock Anchors Standard was released in 2020. However, work in this field remains significant. While new products – certified to Standard 123 – are now available on the market, the challenge is ensuring both bolters and climbers are aware of the issues related to corrosion and the importance of using certified products.
Essential work in climber safety
Rock Anchors & Bolts
Part 2: Achievements - Rock Anchors & Bolts
Map of failed rock anchors
Support SafeCom with its analysis and help add more areas to the global map linked above and thereby improve the information available to climbers about dangerous or potentially dangerous areas to climb.
Report failed rock anchors here.
Late in 2023, the Working Group released a revised guide to Denali (6194m), the highest peak in North America as well as a new paper on Fuji (3776m), one of Japan’s most recognisable landmarks. Revisions to papers on Aconcagua (6961m), the highest peak in South America and Kilimanjaro (5895m), Africa’s highest point, were completed during the year. For the first-time advice papers were created for Mount Kosciuszko (2228m), Australia’s tallest mountain, and Lenin Peak / Ibn Sīnā Peak (7134m).
Advice papers related to two mountains – Everest (8849m) and Mont Blanc (4805m) - are due early in 2025. These two peaks have regularly made the headlines in recent years for issues related to overcrowding, access, climate change and challenging rescues. The Working Group is focusing on completing advice on the classic Seven Summits meaning future papers on Vinson (4892m) and Elbrus (5642m).
Information produced across all papers has a strong focus on preparation and acclimatisation. Advice is also focused on those who lack climbing and mountaineering experience and are considering join expeditions to some of this honeypot destinations. That said, information provided is pertinent to all of those preparing to scale any of the summits.
The Working Group, made up of medical doctors and mountaineers from over 15 countries, plan on creating a paper for each of the Seven Summits.
The papers provide a range of advice including the pros and cons of different routes, the best time(s) of year to climb, information on access and permits as well providing guidance on the experience required, what to consider and how to prepare. There is significant cross-over with the UIAA Medical Commission’s high-altitude papers. Covering topics including altitude sickness, drinking clean water, preparing for an expedition as well as specific advice for women, children and people with different medical conditions, important and relevant aspects from these papers are referenced.
UIAA creates Summit Series
A UIAA Medical Commission Working Group has embarked on an ambitious project to provide guidance about climbing some of the world’s most iconic peaks and famous mountain ranges.
Medical High Peak Series
Denali
Kosciuszko
Fuji
Aconcagua
Lenin Peak
Kilimanjaro
Part 2: Achievements - Medical High Peak Series
As the declaration introduction identifies:
“These are a set of recommendations and norms, rather than rules that will hopefully resonate with climbers and mountaineers worldwide.”
These norms are the following:
We report the style by which we climb with honesty.
We help others in need, even at the expense of our own goals.
We accept other people’s styles when different from our own.
We respect the natural ecosystems in climbing areas and mountain regions.
We will not harm the experience of others while hiking or climbing.
We recognise climate change and seek to reduce our impact.
We consider the effect on others before taking risks.
We adhere to local regulations and respect local communities and cultures.
We support the right of access to the wilderness with responsibility.
The declaration was officially approved at the 2024 UIAA General Assembly in Malta and has been conceived to exist in a number of different formats.
UIAA publishes new Declaration on Hiking, Climbing and Mountaineering
UIAA Declaration
Part 2: Achievements - UIAA Declaration
The UIAA Mountaineering Commission was tasked by the UIAA Executive Committee to draft this new Declaration as the previous version (Tyrol Declaration 2002) required updating. The Mountaineering Commission was supported in the development and delivery of this new Declaration by a number of other UIAA commissions as well as the UIAA Executive Committee and Management Board.
“It is hoped that the new Declaration will provide the basis for a number of initiatives planned for the future, notably providing a platform for views and opinions on matters mountaineering and climbing. In this way, the Declaration will be a living document reflecting the views of mountaineers around the world.”
Greg Moseley, UIAA Mountaineering Commission President
To clarify the best practice for climbers and mountaineers from a mountaineering viewpoint. This particularly refers to the style of rock climbs and ascents of “alpine” peaks.
To lay out the generally accepted norms for behaviour that the UIAA considers optimal. This includes the ethics and style with which we climb and the environmental and social considerations that we should be aware of.
The purpose of the new declaration is twofold:
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Please click here for more about the Declaration including background information.
In March 2024 and following a significant volume of work, the UIAA Legal Affairs Commission announced the launch of its global data base of climbing and mountaineering case-laws. The Legal Affairs arm of the UIAA supports the federation in all areas concerning law, giving the best possible advice through its network of international law experts and collects and shares know-how in relation to mountains and sports. The database project was one of the main objectives of the Commission when it was formed in 2022.
The database includes judgments from courts, tribunals, and authoritative bodies. Users can search for cases based on the key activity, such as winter hiking, outdoor climbing, indoor climbing, the accident location, or type of a proceeding, e.g. civil, criminal, or disciplinary. Each entry includes a comment from the UIAA Legal Affairs Commission and links to the original case-law if available. The intention is for the database to serve as a live tool with regular updates.
Creation of an international database of judgements on climbing and mountaineering accidents
Legal Database Launch
Part 2: Achievements - Legal Database Launch
“With the database, you can trace not only the facts of accidents that happened in the mountains, but also their legal consequences. Another added value of the database is the comments from the UIAA, which will help you to understand the broader context of the case. While the database has been launched with details of a number of important cases, its future impact is dependent on regular contributions. We welcome guest contributors with relevant case-law knowledge to contact us or to file a new case to the database directly.”
Klara Dvorakova, Legal Affairs Commission President
The database will serve as a tool to increase knowledge amongst members and the climbing community regarding legal risks and consequences of mountaineering and climbing. Where appropriate, and in the report findings, the UIAA will highlight any important synergies with its other international standards, notably in climber safety and mountain medicine. The database focuses on cases decided by official authorities and doesn’t include every mountaineering accident. To support the promotion of the database, the UIAA regularly publishes findings from individual cases through a series of articles to feature in its monthly newsletter.
The creation of World Ice Climbing, a self-governed Operating Unit within the UIAA, was approved at the 2024 UIAA General Assembly in Malta.
World Ice Climbing
“This is a very positive step. The approved new structure of ice climbing is going to enable the people who are experts in this field to work with a greater degree of independence. Personally I don’t think that the previous ‘Commission-type of structure’ worked for ice climbing. This is a specialised project. If you look at other organisations they have very specific structures in place to develop their sports and by experts who are fully focussed on that. This is a major step in allowing the sport to develop”
Peter Muir, UIAA President
Part 2: Achievements - World Ice Climbing
Shortly after the creation of the Operating Unit, following an extensive recruitment process, the UIAA Management Board elected the first three officials to the inaugural World Ice Climbing Board. They are:
The Board is also comprised of athlete representatives, elected by the Athlete’s Committee:
JoAnne Carilli-Stevenson
Etienne Grillot
Alexandru Paun
USA
France
Romania
IRL
GBR
ACC - Chair
FFCAM
CAR
MI
BMC
Eimir McSwiggan
Willis Morris
As per the revised UIAA Articles of Association, World Ice Climbing (WIC) is defined as such:
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The UIAA is the sole and exclusive international body recognized by the International Olympic Committee IOC governing Ice Climbing competitions worldwide.
The UIAA General Assembly establishes a competitive Ice Climbing operating unit to be known as World Ice Climbing for the purpose of governing, directing, regulating, promoting, developing and the general furtherance of competitiveIceClimbing (its “Objects”).
World Ice Climbing operates on a self-guided and self-governed basis and on behalf of the UIAA as beneficial owner will administer, apply, preserve and develop the competitive Ice Climbing assets and funds of the UIAA.
The Chair of World Ice Climbing will have an obligation to report regularly on the work of the WIC Board to the UIAA Executive Committee. WIC is also requested to present a quarterly financial update and a risk assessment twice a year to the UIAA Management Board.
One of the first major tasks of World Ice Climbing was – in collaboration with the UIAA Office and event organizers – the delivery of the 2024-2025 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour, partnered by Outdoor Research. This includes five World Cups on three continents, a World Youth Championships and six Continental Cups.
Alongside the World Tour, the Board members first task will be the creation of several committees to continue the progression of the sport in the areas of event management,
rules and regulations, training of officials, developing the sport for the Olympic Games, and more. These committees will be populated with experts who will continue to push the sport forwards.
Over the past few seasons, a dedicated Governance Group has led the sport. The UIAA thanks all members of the Governance Group for the time and effort they have dedicated to ensuring competition ice climbing has continued to thrive over the past two seasons. This includes UIAA EC member Martin Lascano, UIAA MB members Eimir McSwiggan, Phil Powers and Andy Syme as well as Heeyong Park and Gyu Hyung Min from the Korean Alpine Federation.
Accident Database Launch
A number of UIAA member federations and rescue organisations have established systems to collect data about accidents. Their approaches vary, from gathering of individuals stories for publication, through data collection by online reporting forms to general statistics compiled by the rescue services. Some efforts are community-driven, some organised by climbing federations, and some by public services.
Altogether a substantial amount of data is being collected and often put to good use for the benefit of climbing safety, but until now there has been no uniform approach. The UIAA, led by a dedicated working group, has brought together data and knowledge from the national systems that exist, and created an international database
UIAA launches database of accident reporting systems
Part 2: Achievements - Accidents
Furthermore, the UIAA will publish a series of articles highlighting case studies from the database.
Work in progress on a comparative analysis of data from USA, Japan, and Norway with respect to factors such as spatial and temporal distribution of accidents, sex and age of the victims, types of accident, and injuries sustained.
Developing a UIAA position paper on accident reporting to argue the need for accident data and address certain concerns regarding liabilities, responsibilities and ethics.
Having collected reporting forms from 12 accident reporting systems, an analysis with respect to types of data collected, reporting protocols, and data usage is now being conducted.
These next steps include:
'This is something of a soft launch but after over a year of research, analysis and collaboration with owners of the reporting systems we are delighted that the database is now a live tool. Consolidating information on the international reporting systems known to the UIAA is great progress and part of the federation’s commitment to establishing a Safety Centre of Excellence. However, it is only the first step in the ambitions of the working group'
Working Group Chair Stein Tronstad (Norwegian Climbing Federation, UIAA Management Board)
Version 1 of the database went live in October 2024 with information on nearly 20 systems from 16 countries published by the close of the year. For each reporting system, information detailed in the database includes scope of the platform, its purpose, a summary from the UIAA about the areas of climbing and mountaineering represented as well as links to reporting results. The database will be subject to frequent updates.
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Anyone wishing to provide information about a system not currently listed on the UIAA database can do so by contacting the Accidents Working Group.
Communication
The Communication department of the UIAA is responsible for the federation’s external communications, the UIAA’s digital platforms, social media, and supporting UIAA commissions, working groups and member federations with all communication-related needs. It is also the main contact point for media requests.
In numbers:
The calendar year 2024 proved to be extremely productive with a number of important deliverables.
Episodes of Mountain Voices podcast
UIAA Ice Climbing website articles
Growth in social media followers across all platforms
Views on Facebook
Views on Youtube
Website page views
UIAA Website articles
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Part 2: Achievements - Communication
While the new UIAA website was launched in October 2023, a significant number of enhancements and new features were added in 2024, including pages dedicated to rock anchors and bolting and the creation of areas for UIAA databases for accident reporting and legal case studies. Furthermore a page covering member benefits has also been produced.
UIAA WebsiteThe UIAA released Series 1 of its Mountain Voices podcast series. Across six episodes a number of topics were covered from Everest to Avalanches, Rock Climbing to Women at Altitude. Guests included Adam Ondra, Beth Rodden, Victor Saunders, Graham Zimmermann and a host of experts from the UIAA. Series 2 will launch in early 2025.
Mountain Voices podcastThe UIAA reported a 35% growth in engagement on its social media channels thanks to a more defined social media strategy closely integrated with the UIAA’s communication strategy. Across 2025, the UIAA will investigate expanding its reach into other digital and social areas.
A number of concerted communication campaigns ran in 2025, supporting commissions and the wider UIAA with their work. These included: women at altitude; the UIAA Medical Commission’s Summit Series, climate change case studies; release of the UIAA Declaration on Climbing, Hiking and Mountaineering and the UIAA Sustainability Charter; dedicated support and press centre for the UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour; development of resources for the UIAA’s work on rock anchors and bolting.
The UIAA releases a monthly newsletter dedicated to its latest news and services as well as a global newsletter released quarterly covering news from its member associations.
Participants often take turns leading groups under supervision.
Subscribe to the UIAA newsletter hereParticipants often take turns leading groups under supervision.
The UIAA worked on a light refresh of its branding guidelines late in 2024 including the colour palette and official logos. Early in 2025, the UIAA will distribute these assets as part of a wider communication outreach campaign to all member associations.
Download the latest UIAA logos and view other branding assetsThis Annual Report marks a departure from the previous version with a move to an entirely digital product. This has been conceived to allow for a greater integration with video, photos, the UIAA website and other assets which are online. The previous format had certain limitations in this respect.
View a full archive of UIAA Annual ReportsAn RSS feed can be used to receive instant updates of news from the UIAA.
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Report by
Peter Bourne, UIAA Communication Manager
Tom Tushaw, UIAA Social Media Manager
Anti-Doping
World-class competition ice climbing celebrates 25 years in Saas-Fee, Switzerland in 2025, the most extended competition presence in the sport of climbing. Since the year 2005, anti-doping has been a fundamental part of this sport. Dr Nenad Dikic, who started everything, pioneered this activity at the UIAA.
It is nice to be part of one’s own sporting history, and I hope it will continue for the next 25 years. Anti-doping was essential from the beginning. Even though ice climbing has historically had very few cases, athletes have the reassurance that there is a level playing field. Clean climbing, as a motto of anti-doping in ice climbing and sky running in recent years, can inspire all athletes.
Words from Peter Muir, President of the UIAA
Dr Marija Andjelkovic
President UIAA Anti-Doping Commission
Part 3: Commission Report - Anti-Doping
The main achievements of the UIAA Anti-Doping Commission for 2024 and its main projects and considerations for the future are detailed below:
In January 2024, the UIAA Anti-Doping Commission presented its role and activities to young competitors ahead of the UIAA Ice Climbing World Youth Championships in Champagny-en-Vanoise, France.
The UIAA was one of the first international federations to include an educational component in granting its annual athlete licence. It is now mandatory for athletes to pass such a test before being cleared to compete. Also, before the competition in Saas-Fee, senior ice climbers had a live lecture with a Q&A session discussing all the anti-doping activities they were interested in.
Article: Important anti-doping forum for young ice climbers The UIAA was one of the first international federations to include an educational component in granting its annual athlete licence. It is now mandatory for athletes to pass such a test before being cleared to compete. Also, before the competition in Saas-Fee, senior ice climbers had a live lecture with a Q&A session discussing all the anti-doping activities they were interested in.
There were 34 urine doping controls -16 in ice climbing and 18 in skyrunning, equally divided between the two genders. Ten additional analyses( six GHRF and four ERAs) were conducted.
On 14 June , the World Anti-Doping Agency informed UIAA that it had successfully addressed all actions in the Corrective Action Plan. That means that the UIAA complies with the World Anti-Doping Code and all rules and regulations, which is the crucial goal of one international federation in the anti-doping field.
Cooperation with the International Skyrunning Federation will continue in 2025, and the UIAA Anti-Doping Commission oversees the organisation and result management in testing for skyrunners.
The President of the UIAA Anti-Doping Commission, Dr Marija Andjelkovic, contributed to the completion of a paper titled Nutrition in Women at High Altitude in March 2024. The paper was part of a seven-part series by the UIAA Medical Commission.
Women at Altitude: Essential Medical Advice publishedPlans for 2025 stay the same, notably a focus on -in-and out-of-competition testing and athlete education. The Anti-Doping Commission will meet during the WADA annual symposium in Lausanne.
Legal Affairs
We are lawyers, and in our home associations, we typically deal with or lecture on legal issues related to liability in climbing and mountaineering. It’s a topic that genuinely interests us, and that’s why it naturally became the foundation for the recent revitalisation of our Commission’s work. The energy we put into creating the database of court decisions related to mountain and climbing accidents is now paying off—there’s a growing interest in joining the Commission.
Words from Peter Muir, President of the UIAA
Klara Dvorakova
President, Legal Affairs Commission
Part 3: Commission Report - Legal Affairs
The main achievements for the UIAALegal Affairs Commission for 2024, and its main projects and considerations for the future are detailed below:
Early in 2024 and following a significant volume of work, the UIAA Legal Affairs Commission is delighted to announce the launch of its global database of climbing and mountaineering case-laws. Full details are explored in Section 2, Achievements.
By the close of the year, the database included reports from 12 different cases. These are drawn from accidents which took place in ten different countries and on five continents. The UIAA regularly highlights new cases through its monthly newsletter and communication channels.
Thanks to the Argentine Federation (FASA), who voluntarily translated several case summaries into Spanish, those cases will soon be accessible online in Spanish as well.
Explore the databaseBy the close of the year, the database included reports from 12 different cases. These are drawn from accidents which took place in ten different countries and on five continents. The UIAA regularly highlights new cases through its monthly newsletter and communication channels.
Thanks to the Argentine Federation (FASA), who voluntarily translated several case summaries into Spanish, those cases will soon be accessible online in Spanish as well.
The Legal Affairs Commission has spearheaded greater collaboration with other UIAA commissions notably Safety and Training.
In this regard, the Legal Affairs Commission considers it highly important to support other UIAA commissions and bodies in drafting internal UIAA rules - for example, those governing training, testing, and assessment carried out by various commissions or their assessors. Such rules are essential for ensuring transparency, preventing potential disputes and limiting liability.
In this regard, the Legal Affairs Commission considers it highly important to support other UIAA commissions and bodies in drafting internal UIAA rules - for example, those governing training, testing, and assessment carried out by various commissions or their assessors. Such rules are essential for ensuring transparency, preventing potential disputes and limiting liability.
The Legal Affairs Commission now includes ten members (seven full, three corresponding) representing nine countries on five different continents.
The goal of the Legal Affairs Commission for 2025 is to continue the work already begun specifically, to develop the database into a representative source of information on how courts across all continents address accidents in mountain environments and on artificial climbing walls. In the longer term, the
Commission plans not only to expand the database with individual cases, but also to engage in broader comparative analysis of liability systems in different countries.
This type of work had already been undertaken by the Legal Affairs Commission's predecessor, which published a document in 2002 titled Report of the Legal Experts Working Group on Current Liability Issues Relating to Mountain Sports. Now, more than twenty years later, a thorough update of this document is appropriate.
View Report of the Legal Experts Working Group (2002)Commission plans not only to expand the database with individual cases, but also to engage in broader comparative analysis of liability systems in different countries.
This type of work had already been undertaken by the Legal Affairs Commission's predecessor, which published a document in 2002 titled Report of the Legal Experts Working Group on Current Liability Issues Relating to Mountain Sports. Now, more than twenty years later, a thorough update of this document is appropriate.
Medical
It is a privilege to chair a commission that consists of volunteer experts who already achieve a great deal in their daily lives and provide their skills, knowledge and expertise to the UIAA on a voluntary basis. My sincere thanks go to the members of the UIAA MedCom, with whom we are able to discuss exciting and important topics from the world of mountaineering in the UIAA and, if necessary, issue a recommendation. Interestingly, the projects are becoming more and more complex, which doesn't make it any easier to process them in a useful time frame.
Nevertheless, we are venturing on to the next challenge with the recommendation about children at altitude, after we were able to successfully conclude the topic of women at altitude. In the future, I would be delighted if we could offer more training and courses in different countries around the world, because on the one hand we have the expertise to do so, and on the other, unrestricted access to facts and knowledge is a privilege that we should strengthen.
Words from Peter Muir, President of the UIAA
Dr Urs Hefti
President UIAA Medical Commission
UIAA Volunteer of the Year, 2024
Part 3: Commission Report - Medical
In January 2024, a MedCom working group embarked on an ambitious project to provide guidance about climbing some of the world’s most iconic peaks and famous mountain ranges. By the close of 2024, this WG had made significant progress delivering six papers.
The Summit Series now includes guides to the following summits: Aconcagua, Denali, Fuji, Kilimanjaro, Kosciuszko and Lenin Peak.
Papers dedicated to Everest and Mont Blanc are expected to be published in Q1of 2025. The working group is on course to providing papers for each of the Seven Summits with releases dedicated to other peaks and ranges due throughout 2025.
In July 2024, MedCom also released a short form, print version of the series which was provided to delegates at both the 8th World Congress on Mountain & Wilderness Medicine and at the 2024 UIAA General Assembly.
MedCom delegates played a significant role in the organisation and content of a number of major international conferences.
The Summit Series now includes guides to the following summits: Aconcagua, Denali, Fuji, Kilimanjaro, Kosciuszko and Lenin Peak.
Papers dedicated to Everest and Mont Blanc are expected to be published in Q1of 2025. The working group is on course to providing papers for each of the Seven Summits with releases dedicated to other peaks and ranges due throughout 2025.
In July 2024, MedCom also released a short form, print version of the series which was provided to delegates at both the 8th World Congress on Mountain & Wilderness Medicine and at the 2024 UIAA General Assembly.
MedCom delegates played a significant role in the organisation and content of a number of major international conferences.
The inaugural UIAA International Mountain Sports Training Course held in Bariloche, Argentina is explored in detail in Chapter 2 and was conceived by the UIAA Medical Commission. The event proved such a success that future editions are planned in 2025.
The conference was broken into two parts, the first saw a series of presentations given on high-altitude medical subjects (from frostbite to hypothermia and from HAPE/HACE to water disinfection), while the second saw a series of practical sessions held in the field where demonstrations and workshops were given on a number of topics including rope work, bolting, hyperbaric chambers and mountain rescue.
A key component was collaboration with MedCom working with other UIAA Commissions (notable Safety and Training) and providing a spotlight for mountain rescue services from across Argentina to explain how they operate in some of the world’s most remote and complex mountain ranges.
Read the full report from BarilocheThe conference was broken into two parts, the first saw a series of presentations given on high-altitude medical subjects (from frostbite to hypothermia and from HAPE/HACE to water disinfection), while the second saw a series of practical sessions held in the field where demonstrations and workshops were given on a number of topics including rope work, bolting, hyperbaric chambers and mountain rescue.
A key component was collaboration with MedCom working with other UIAA Commissions (notable Safety and Training) and providing a spotlight for mountain rescue services from across Argentina to explain how they operate in some of the world’s most remote and complex mountain ranges.
In August 2024, a number of MedCom members delivered presentations at the 8th World Congress on Mountain & Wilderness Medicine held in Snowbird, Utah. One of the key topics that the UIAA provided information about is research related to women at altitude. At the close of 2023, several UIAA MedCom members played a major role in the publication of research related to several aspects about women at high altitude.
Across 2024,MedCom deployed significant time and resources to promotion of this advice.
The topic was also explored as a dedicated episode of the UIAA podcast Mountain Voices and as the first of an FAQ series MedCom is launching to lend its messages and advice more accessible to a wider audience. See next point.
Read report on projects for women in mountaineeringAcross 2024,MedCom deployed significant time and resources to promotion of this advice.
The topic was also explored as a dedicated episode of the UIAA podcast Mountain Voices and as the first of an FAQ series MedCom is launching to lend its messages and advice more accessible to a wider audience. See next point.
To make the newly published scientific information accessible (see Women In Mountaineering section) to the climbing community (and anyone else who wants to know), MedCom have translated the scientific language to plain English, and published it in the form of highly informative but easy-to-read Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQs).
The FAQs about women’s health at high altitude include questions such as “What do women need to know about contraception at high altitude?” to “Is it safe for pregnant women to go mountaineering at high altitude?”. MedCom hopes to expand the FAQ idea to other topics in the near future.
FAQsThe FAQs about women’s health at high altitude include questions such as “What do women need to know about contraception at high altitude?” to “Is it safe for pregnant women to go mountaineering at high altitude?”. MedCom hopes to expand the FAQ idea to other topics in the near future.
MedCom is planning significant contributions to similar courses as the one held in Bariloche, with the most likely the next edition to be held in Kosovo as part of the 2025 UIAA General Assembly programme.
A MedCom working group has embarked on updating the advice on children going to altitude. The literature review being completed in 2024, the working group will focus its efforts in bundling the evidence and providing pertinent recommendations for both medical practitioners and lay climbers.
Another topic of interest to MedCom are elderly mountaineers. Whilst output format is still being discussed, the Commission sees high value in providing more fact-based information to an important demographic group of mountaineers, to be released in 2025-2026.
As noted in two of the big achievements in Chapter 2, the year 2024 proved to be very active for the UIAA Medical Commission:
Mountaineering
“The revamped Mountaineering Commission had a busy and eventful year. Personally, I feel privileged to preside over the Commission at the heart of the UIAA’s activities and to influence in a small way, the direction of the organisation. Together with the Management Board and the Executive Committee, projects were agreed and some of the more important were in fact, realised. This is a tribute to the dedication and application of members of the Commission, both full members and corresponding members.
The projects have been without exception, interesting and challenging and with several being very much in the public eye, the UIAA has been able to contribute to the on-going discussion and debate over ethics and style. The rise and rise of the commercially-guided“ record-breakers” has been particularly noteworthy and we are hopeful that some of the content of the new Declaration will have an ameliorating effect on the crasser stories still (unfortunately) being labelled as “mountaineering”in both the mainstream media and across social media platforms.In a sense, the UIAA is the guardian of style and ethics and MountComm is determined that the norms of the vast majority of climbers will prevail.”
Words from Peter Muir, President of the UIAA
Greg Moseley
President, UIAA Mountaineering
Commission
Part 3: Commission Report - Mountaineering
The main achievements of the UIAA Mountaineering Commission for 2024 and its main projects and considerations for the future are detailed below:
Throughout the year, a group of dedicated volunteers worked on producing the content for the new “UIAA Declaration on Hiking, Climbing and Mountaineering” intended as an update of the highly-regarded Tyrol Declaration of 2002. Together with a contribution from the Mountain Protection Commission, this work was finalised in time for the General Assembly in Malta in November where it was accepted without a dissenting voice.
This document will form the basis of many of MountComm’s moves forward over the coming months and years as back-up opinion pieces will be attached to the Declaration, thus providing a living document.
Read the UIAA DeclarationThis document will form the basis of many of MountComm’s moves forward over the coming months and years as back-up opinion pieces will be attached to the Declaration, thus providing a living document.
The UIAA (and MountComm in particular) were asked to provide an “expert opinion” on the recognised number of 8000m peaks in Nepal.
After some considerable research (involving the International Union of Geographers), an opinion was issued stating that from a historical mountaineering aspect there are eight mountains over 8000 metres in Nepal and 14 in the world. Asa corollary to this work, a chapter in anew book on montology, “Mountain Lexicon”, was commissioned from MountCommand this was published during 2024.
Position statement on 8000m peaksAfter some considerable research (involving the International Union of Geographers), an opinion was issued stating that from a historical mountaineering aspect there are eight mountains over 8000 metres in Nepal and 14 in the world. Asa corollary to this work, a chapter in anew book on montology, “Mountain Lexicon”, was commissioned from MountCommand this was published during 2024.
As a result of decisions taken in 2023, a new Working Group concerned with Hiking and Trails(“H & T WG”), was set up under the MountComm umbrella.
Leadership of this Working Group has been entrusted to Alberto Vicari (CAI) and is proving very active with the first results coming out in time for the Malta GA.
Leadership of this Working Group has been entrusted to Alberto Vicari (CAI) and is proving very active with the first results coming out in time for the Malta GA.
In addition to the H & T Working Group, a WG to be concerned with Rock Climbing is being set up and there are on-going discussions to set the direction of this WG.
Several other initiatives have been taken during the year and projects are being revised and resuscitated. These include the Access Working Group Survey; a snapshot of access to wilderness areas which was completed in March 2024 and will form the basis of ongoing access work in 2025. In 2024 MountComm also took the climbing festivals initiative under its wing.
MountComm members contributed to the UIAA “MountainVoices” podcasts and took part in the Everest and ethics episode.
Discover the Mountain Voices podcastIn addition, MountComm was asked to comment in the media on a number of “incidents” during the year and thanks to the assistance of the office and the media manager, the UIAA was able to remain relevant its dealings with the press.
Mountain Protection
"The Climate Change Summit at the UIAA General Assembly 2024 was in a way a peak moment for the Mountain Protection Commission. In close collaboration with the Climate Change Taskforce and shortly before the GA, we published the foundational UIAA Sustainability Charter and the Climate Action Plans after considerable time invested from all involved. During the Summit, we were able to share these documents with all participants in Malta for the first time, thereby entering the next phase on our journey: engaging with all member federations for further climate action and sustainability initiatives.
In 2025, we will intensify our engagement activities with the UIAA family on sustainability and climate action and will also highlight mountain protection with our International Year of Glacier Preservation activities, and the re-launch of the UIAA Mountain Protection Award. With this in place, we are rightly positioned at the start of the UIAA strategy period 2025-2028. This could not have been possible without the collaboration and input from all within the Mountain Protection Commission, the Climate Change Taskforce and Management Board, the UIAA Office, and the contributions and collaboration with many others. We would like to sincerely thank you for this and what we achieved so far. We are looking forward to continuing working together with all of you. "
Words from Peter Muir, President of the UIAA
Paul Kwakkenbos
President, UIAA Mountain Protection Commission
Mary Sanseverino
Vice President, UIAA Mountain Protection Commission
Part 3: Commission Report - Mountain Protection
As noted in one of the big achievements in Chapter 2 – the publication of the UIAA Sustainability Charter - the year 2024 proved to be very active for the UIAA Mountain Protection Commission.
Publication of Sustainability Charter
The story of the release of the Sustainability Charter is covered in Chapter 2.
Climate Change Taskforce
Eight MPC delegates continue serving the UIAA Climate Change Taskforce and actively contributed to its outputs. As is customary, one of the ways the UIAA marked11 December’s International Mountain Day was to release its annual Carbon Footprint Report. For full details on the 2023 report and its main findings click here.
The third edition of the UIAA Climate Change Summit was celebrated under the slogan “UIAA Climate Action: commit, move, together, now!” and held in Malta as part of the 2024 UIAA General Assembly. Attending delegates had the opportunity to dive into two of the climate action pillars: commit, mitigate, adapt and educate & advocate in more detail and exchange on key elements and challenges with fellow member federation representatives. Each of the breakout sessions was facilitated by members of the UIAA Climate Change Taskforce.
During the interactive sessions Climate Change Taskforce members picked up on many ideas, best practices and further needed support from the UIAA membership. The latter will help shape future output from the UIAA to assure we can all move along the climate action journey together. As a symbolic gesture and to close of this year’s Climate Change Summit, GeneralAssembly attendees got to sign a banner to highlight their active commitment to climate change action.
International Year of Glaciers´ Preservation
One of the main commitments for the MPC in 2025 is to support the United Nations-declared International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP). Furthermore, starting from 2025, March 21 is recognised as the World Day for Glaciers. The global initiative aims at raising awareness about the critical role of glaciers, snow and ice. Through its activities, the UIAA and its members (federations) unquestionably have man impact and is impacted by glaciers, which it would like to honour through giving glaciers a voice throughout 2025. A dedicated working group within the UIAA Mountain Protection Commission has been created. In collaboration with UNESCO World Network of Mountain Biosphere Reserves, and Mountain Partnership, the UIAA is preparing a number of engagement opportunities and member federations as well as glacier lovers are invited to join activities and celebrate IYGP jointly. The UIAA’s activities officially commenced on International Mountain Day 2024 with the release of the first of its 12 case studies dedicated to glacier preservation. These stories will be distributed weekly from January to March across the UIAA social media channels and focus on the plight of glaciers indifferent areas of the world and from the perspective of a range of individuals–photographers, mountain guides, geologists, climbers and mountaineers and glacier experts.
Mountain Protection Award
The UIAA Mountain Protection Award returns in 2025 after the decision was made in 2023 to make this flagship mountain sustainability project a biennial event. The UIAA MPC has worked hard in 2024 to restructure the Award with a number of exciting new features and changes to be part of its 11th edition with registration opening on 1 March. One positive development is global technology powerhouse Lenovo signing a two-year partnership to support the UIAA’s work in mountain protection and the MPA as presenting partner.
Climate Action Plans: Case Studies
As part of its commitment through its Climate Action Plans, the UIAA has highlighted a number of important climate-related case studies. These include:
- The Alpine Club of Canada’s State of the Mountains Report
- The German Alpine Club’s significant investment in climate change programmes
- The Swiss Alpine Club’s analysis of the impact of climate change on its mountain huts
- Furthermore, the UIAA shared the State of the Cryosphere 2024 - Lost Ice, Global Damage report, where over 50 leading cryosphere scientists warn of vastly higher impacts and costs to the global economy given accelerating losses in the world's snow and ice regions. Contributions included those from MPC members and partners.
Focus for 2025
A key focus of the UIAA Mountain Protection Commission in 2025 is to make the Sustainability Charter come to life, through its website, engagement workshops, and webinars with UIAA member federations, and internally with UIAA Commissions and competition events.
Similarly, the Climate Change Taskforce will be bringing the climate action plans in various formats to the UIAA members as well as seek one-on-one discussions and prioritization actions with UIAA Commissions.
To answer a common request from the Climate Change Summit, the UIAA, throughout 2025, will continue to share best practices from its individual members as means of supporting all UIAA member associations in their own environmental sustainability and climate action journeys.
The story of the release of the Sustainability Charter is covered in Chapter 2.
DOWNLOAD THE PAPEREight MPC delegates continue serving the UIAA Climate Change Taskforce and actively contributed to its outputs. As is customary, one of the ways the UIAA marked 11 December’s International Mountain Day was to release its annual Carbon Footprint Report.
The third edition of the UIAA Climate Change Summit was celebrated under the slogan “UIAA Climate Action: commit, move, together, now!” and held in Malta as part of the 2024 UIAA General Assembly. Attending delegates had the opportunity to dive into two of the climate action pillars: commit, mitigate, adapt and educate & advocate in more detail and exchange on key elements and challenges with fellow member federation representatives. Each of the breakout sessions was facilitated by members of the UIAA Climate Change Taskforce.
During the interactive sessions Climate Change Taskforce members picked up on many ideas, best practices and further needed support from the UIAA membership. The latter will help shape future output from the UIAA to assure we can all move along the climate action journey together. As a symbolic gesture and to close of this year’s Climate Change Summit, General Assembly attendees got to sign a banner to highlight their active commitment to climate change action.
Strengthening our global commitment to climate actionThe third edition of the UIAA Climate Change Summit was celebrated under the slogan “UIAA Climate Action: commit, move, together, now!” and held in Malta as part of the 2024 UIAA General Assembly. Attending delegates had the opportunity to dive into two of the climate action pillars: commit, mitigate, adapt and educate & advocate in more detail and exchange on key elements and challenges with fellow member federation representatives. Each of the breakout sessions was facilitated by members of the UIAA Climate Change Taskforce.
During the interactive sessions Climate Change Taskforce members picked up on many ideas, best practices and further needed support from the UIAA membership. The latter will help shape future output from the UIAA to assure we can all move along the climate action journey together. As a symbolic gesture and to close of this year’s Climate Change Summit, General Assembly attendees got to sign a banner to highlight their active commitment to climate change action.
One of the main commitments for the MPC in 2025 is to support the United Nations-declared International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP). Furthermore, starting from 2025, 21 March is recognised as the World Day for Glaciers. The global initiative aims at raising awareness about the critical role of glaciers, snow and ice. Through its activities, the UIAA and its members (federations) unquestionably have an impact and is impacted by glaciers, which it would like to honour through giving glaciers a voice throughout 2025.
A dedicated working group within the UIAA Mountain Protection Commission has been created. In collaboration with UNESCO World Network of Mountain Biosphere Reserves, and Mountain Partnership, the UIAA is preparing a number of engagement opportunities and member federations as well as glacier lovers are invited to join activities and celebrate IYGP jointly.
The UIAA’s activities officially commenced on International Mountain Day 2024 with the release of the first of its 12 case studies dedicated to glacier preservation. These stories will be distributed weekly from January to March across the UIAA social media channels and focus on the plight of glaciers indifferent areas of the world and from the perspective of a range of individuals–photographers, mountain guides, geologists, climbers and mountaineers and glacier experts.
UIAA & International Year Of Glaciers’ PreservationA dedicated working group within the UIAA Mountain Protection Commission has been created. In collaboration with UNESCO World Network of Mountain Biosphere Reserves, and Mountain Partnership, the UIAA is preparing a number of engagement opportunities and member federations as well as glacier lovers are invited to join activities and celebrate IYGP jointly.
The UIAA’s activities officially commenced on International Mountain Day 2024 with the release of the first of its 12 case studies dedicated to glacier preservation. These stories will be distributed weekly from January to March across the UIAA social media channels and focus on the plight of glaciers indifferent areas of the world and from the perspective of a range of individuals–photographers, mountain guides, geologists, climbers and mountaineers and glacier experts.
The UIAA Mountain Protection Award returns in 2025 after the decision was made in 2023 to make this flagship mountain sustainability project a biennial event.
The UIAA MPC has worked hard in 2024 to restructure the Award with a number of exciting new features and changes to be part of its 11th edition with registration opening on 1 March.
One positive development is global technology powerhouse Lenovo signing a two-year partnership to support the UIAA’s work in mountain protection and the MPA as presenting partner.
Partnership with LenovoThe UIAA MPC has worked hard in 2024 to restructure the Award with a number of exciting new features and changes to be part of its 11th edition with registration opening on 1 March.
One positive development is global technology powerhouse Lenovo signing a two-year partnership to support the UIAA’s work in mountain protection and the MPA as presenting partner.
As part of its commitment through its Climate Action Plans, the UIAA has highlighted a number of important climate-related case studies. These include:
- The Alpine Club of Canada’s State of the Mountains Report
- The German Alpine Club’s significant investment in climate change programmes
- The Swiss Alpine Club’s analysis of the impact of climate change on its mountain huts
- Furthermore, the UIAA shared the State of the Cryosphere 2024 - Lost Ice, Global Damage report, where over 50 leading cryosphere scientists warn of vastly higher impacts and costs to the global economy given accelerating losses in the world's snow and ice regions. Contributions included those from MPC members and partners.
Discover more: Climate Action Plan Case Studies- The Alpine Club of Canada’s State of the Mountains Report
- The German Alpine Club’s significant investment in climate change programmes
- The Swiss Alpine Club’s analysis of the impact of climate change on its mountain huts
- Furthermore, the UIAA shared the State of the Cryosphere 2024 - Lost Ice, Global Damage report, where over 50 leading cryosphere scientists warn of vastly higher impacts and costs to the global economy given accelerating losses in the world's snow and ice regions. Contributions included those from MPC members and partners.
A key focus of the UIAA Mountain Protection Commission in 2025 is to make the Sustainability Charter come to life, through its website, engagement workshops, and webinars with UIAA member federations, and internally with UIAA Commissions and competition events.
Similarly, the Climate Change Taskforce will be bringing the climate action plans in various formats to the UIAA members as well as seek one-on-one discussions and prioritization actions with UIAA Commissions.
To answer a common request from the Climate Change Summit, the UIAA, throughout 2025, will continue to share best practices from its individual members as means of supporting all UIAA member associations in their own environmental sustainability and climate action journeys.
Similarly, the Climate Change Taskforce will be bringing the climate action plans in various formats to the UIAA members as well as seek one-on-one discussions and prioritization actions with UIAA Commissions.
To answer a common request from the Climate Change Summit, the UIAA, throughout 2025, will continue to share best practices from its individual members as means of supporting all UIAA member associations in their own environmental sustainability and climate action journeys.
The UIAA published its Carbon Footprint Report for 2023 on 11 December. The document, and a full archive of previous reports, can be downloaded from the link below.
Carbon Footprint Reports2025 marks International Year of Glaciers' Preservation. The UIAA wil mark the occasion with a series of communication initiatives.
Safety
“We observe more and more the need for neutral, high-level technical content information from associations, climbers, authorities and bolters. This is where the UIAA Safety Commission can contribute, thanks to a growing number of highly-skilled engineers. All contributing significantly, spending hours in meeting and to write documents on a voluntary basis. I'm expressing here my appreciation to have such a great team. We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Safety Commission in 2025 and we'll continue to help keeping climbers and mountaineers on the safe side regarding at least their equipment..”
Words from Peter Muir, President of the UIAA
Lionel Kiener
UIAA Safety Commission President
Part 3: Commission Report - Safety
SafeCom was able increase of its collaboration with likeminded bodies like the International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR), the UIAGM (International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations), UIAA member federations and other authorities. This was achieved greater interaction on projects of mutual benefit.
Annual meeting reportSafeCom, as part of one of the UIAA's driving strategic principles - The Mountain Centre of Excellence - has continued to diversify its services: not only (re)writing standards, but also establishing guidelines and producing clearer technical information.
SafeCom is working to the finalisation of new standards on avalanche transceivers, static ropes and via ferrata construction. Late in 2023, the Commission delivered a significant position statement on Electromagnetic Interference in Avalanche Transceivers. This was a subject addressed in a special episode of the UIAA podcast Mountain Voices.
Mountain Voices episodeIn recent years, the UIAA has dedicated significant investment, some 200,000 euros and counting, and resources to research related to rock anchors and bolts. Initially, this centred around the subject of corrosion and stress corrosion cracking failure.
A significant milestone was reached when the updated UIAA Rock Anchors Standard was released in 2020. However, work in this field remains significant. While new products - certified to Standard 123 - are now available on the Market, the challenge is ensuring both bolters and climbers are aware of the issues related to corrosion and the importance of using certified products. In 2024, the UIAA put together a dedicated website resource hosting all information related to the project.
SafeCom continues to work on updating standards, imminent is an update to the rock anchor standard with the addition of aspects related to quality control and welding control.
Rock anchors website pageA significant milestone was reached when the updated UIAA Rock Anchors Standard was released in 2020. However, work in this field remains significant. While new products - certified to Standard 123 - are now available on the Market, the challenge is ensuring both bolters and climbers are aware of the issues related to corrosion and the importance of using certified products. In 2024, the UIAA put together a dedicated website resource hosting all information related to the project.
SafeCom continues to work on updating standards, imminent is an update to the rock anchor standard with the addition of aspects related to quality control and welding control.
On the subject of bolting, the UIAA supported the organising of the first member association bolting workshop, held in the Republic of North Macedonia over the summer.
SafeCom held its main annual meeting in Padova, Italy in May. The event was hosted by the Italian Alpine Club (CAI). Among the topics covered was the accrediting of a new testing laboratory and the progress made in the delivery of new standards and revision of others. See a report here on the new Standards expected in the coming years.
First published in 2022, a video explainer about the UIAA Safety Label is now available in over 20 languages.
Full details of the translations can be found below. UIAA member associations and Safety Label Holders are encouraged to share the video on their platforms.
Read more hereFull details of the translations can be found below. UIAA member associations and Safety Label Holders are encouraged to share the video on their platforms.
The UIAA was saddened to hear about the passing of Vittorio Bedogni in Aori. Representing Club Alpino Italiano (CAI), Vittorio was a longstanding member of the UIAA Safety Commission.
An engineer by profession, Vittorio’s passion for all things mountains began at a young age. He dedicated significant time and commitment to sharing his knowledge and expertise. This was both in the context of the practise of sport and the safety of practitioners. In Italy, he was a national instructor both for mountaineering and ski alpinism. On both a national and international level, he was a major contributor in the development of knowledge around technical or methodological aspects that could contribute to the safety of climbers and mountaineers. As part of this commitment he joined the UIAA Safety Commission in 2008. Projects he played an instrumental role in delivering were the delivery of standards related to ropes, the dynamic behaviour of belaying systems, snow shovels and avalanche probes.
Read full tributeAn engineer by profession, Vittorio’s passion for all things mountains began at a young age. He dedicated significant time and commitment to sharing his knowledge and expertise. This was both in the context of the practise of sport and the safety of practitioners. In Italy, he was a national instructor both for mountaineering and ski alpinism. On both a national and international level, he was a major contributor in the development of knowledge around technical or methodological aspects that could contribute to the safety of climbers and mountaineers. As part of this commitment he joined the UIAA Safety Commission in 2008. Projects he played an instrumental role in delivering were the delivery of standards related to ropes, the dynamic behaviour of belaying systems, snow shovels and avalanche probes.
The UIAA was saddened to hear about the passing of Pit Schubert, UIAA Honorary Member and longstanding member of the UIAA Safety Commission, in March 2024.
Read full tributeBelow is a summary of achievements from the UIAA Safety Commission in 2024 as well as plans for the coming years:
50 years of SafeCom in 2025
- The UIAA Safety Commission marks fifty years of its existence in 2025 and has organised a series of events in April to mark the occasion.
- In 1975, the UIAA combined two existing entities - the Ropes and Belaying Methods Commissions - to create what is now commonly referred to as SafeCom. Throughout the past fifty years, SafeCom has spearheaded the research and delivery of a vast number of international safety standards for climbing and mountaineering equipment from static ropes to avalanche beacons, from carabiners to harnesses.
- The alumni of former SafeCom members and Presidents is impressive. A number of legendary climbers and mountaineers as well as pioneers in safety techniques have formed part of the Commission. These include Vitali Abalakov, Jean-Franck Charlet, Yvon Chouinard, Reinhold Messner, Werner Munter, Karl Prusik, Pit Schubert and Fritz Zintl.
- To mark its fifty years, SafeCom has created a programme of events around its traditional biannual spring meeting. Significantly, it will all take place in Chamonix, France, the very location where the UIAA was founded in 1932. Further details here.
2024 Achievements:
- SafeCom was able increase of its collaboration with likeminded bodies like the International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR), the UIAGM (International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations), UIAA member federations and other authorities. This was achieved greater interaction on projects of mutual benefit.
- SafeCom, as part of one of the UIAA's driving strategic principles - The Mountain Safety of Excellence - has continued to diversify its services: not only (re)writing standards, but also establishing guidelines and producing clearer technical information.
- SafeCom is working to the finalisation of new standards on avalanche transceivers, static ropes and via ferrata construction. Late in 2023, the Commission delivered a significant position statement on Electromagnetic Interference in Avalanche Transceivers. This was a subject addressed in a special episode of the UIAA podcast Mountain Voices.
- In recent years, the UIAA has dedicated significant investment, some 200,000 euros and counting, and resources to research related to rock anchors and bolts. Initially, this centred around the subject of corrosion and stress corrosion cracking failure. A significant milestone was reached when the updated UIAA Rock Anchors Standard was released in 2020. However, work in this field remains significant. While new products - certified to Standard 123 - are now available on the Market, the challenge is ensuring both bolters and climbers are aware of the issues related to corrosion and the importance of using certified products. In 2024, the UIAA put together a dedicated website resource hosting all information related to the project.
- On the subject of bolting, the UIAA supported the organising of the first member association bolting workshop, held in the Republic of North Macedonia over the summer.
- SafeCom continues to work on updating standards, imminent is an update to the rock anchor standard with the addition of aspects related to quality control and welding control.
- SafeCom held its main annual meeting in Padova, Italy in May. The event was hosted by the Italian Alpine Club (CAI). Among the topics covered was the accrediting of a new testing laboratory and the progress made in the delivery of new standards and revision of others. See a report here on the new Standards expected in the coming years.
- First published in 2022, a video explainer about the UIAA Safety Label is now available in over 20 languages. Full details of the translations can be found below. UIAA member associations and Safety Label Holders are encouraged to share the video on their platforms.
Training
Chairing the panel of national training experts has been the greatest privilege of my career. This report provides an opportunity to thank my colleagues, who provide their skills, knowledge and expertise to the UIAA on a voluntary basis, as well as providing a professional inspection service for member federations who seek accreditation for their qualification programmes.
Qualifications form the 'top rungs' of any training 'ladder' that includes a provision for taking responsibility for other participants. Whereas literally anybody can provide a training course, qualifications by contrast require governance, reliable standards, and a fair but realistic assessment process followed by ongoing experience and updating. This is why our Mountain Qualification Labels have provided a valuable quality badge for our member organisations for many decades, and it is also why only instructor and coaches holding a UIAA accredited qualification can deliver our new service of skills courses, following which successful candidates can access our online learning graduation courses to obtain their UIAA skills certificate.
Words from Peter Muir, President of the UIAA
Steve Long
UIAA Training Commission President
Part 3: Commission Report - Training
Words from Peter Muir, President of the UIAA
For 2024 the UIAA Training Commission focussed largely on consolidation, but also two significant international seminars were also delivered, at the request of the UIAA Office.
The Training Commission contributed to the UIAA International Mountain Sports Training Course held in Bariloche, Argentina by providing glacier safety and crevasse rescue training, alongside local Mountain Guides.
Following the UIAA General Assembly in Malta, the Training Commission provided an ambitious seminar about multi-pitch rock climbing, which was delivered successfully despite unseasonally appalling weather conditions on the day. Several successful accreditation inspections were delivered, most notably in Poland and Malta.
Members of the Traincom were invited as guest speakers at various conferences and ceremonies, both in person and online, worldwide. A rock-climbing international seminar has been scheduled to be delivered in North Macedonia as part of the lead-in to the General Assembly in Kosovo. This will capitalise on the successes gained from the climbing exchanges and seminars of the previous two General Assemblies (Malta and Turkey).
Traincom hopes to contribute to any Mountain Sports training event scheduled alongside the Management Committee to be held in Ladakh, India in May 2026, to further develop our long-term leadership training input into this region.
Following the UIAA General Assembly in Malta, the Training Commission provided an ambitious seminar about multi-pitch rock climbing, which was delivered successfully despite unseasonally appalling weather conditions on the day. Several successful accreditation inspections were delivered, most notably in Poland and Malta.
Members of the Traincom were invited as guest speakers at various conferences and ceremonies, both in person and online, worldwide. A rock-climbing international seminar has been scheduled to be delivered in North Macedonia as part of the lead-in to the General Assembly in Kosovo. This will capitalise on the successes gained from the climbing exchanges and seminars of the previous two General Assemblies (Malta and Turkey).
Traincom hopes to contribute to any Mountain Sports training event scheduled alongside the Management Committee to be held in Ladakh, India in May 2026, to further develop our long-term leadership training input into this region.
The Training Commission has been responsible for the structure and content of successive editions of the UIAA Alpine Skills Summer Handbook, a valuable memoire for all course students that has been already translated into multiple languages. In 2024 the Third Edition of the English language editions was published, providing significant new content for other language speakers to translate for their next editions.
The long-awaited accreditations module for qualifications within the UIAA members database went live and was tested, and further developed, thanks to cooperation with member federations, with particular thanks to our members from Poland and Malta. We are also indebted to the developers and to the UIAA Office for their attention to detail for the success of this ambitious and complex project.
Interest in the UIAA Personal Skills certificate graduations has continued to grow, with 1,500 enrolments in 2024.
Several Traincom members and their federations are mentoring UIAA member organisations with their training, coaching and qualification development initiatives, particularly in the Middle East, Balkan States and South America. This sort of collaboration is a tremendous benefit of UIAA membership, particularly for countries with nascent training programmes.
Interest in the UIAA Personal Skills certificate graduations has continued to grow, with 1,500 enrolments in 2024.
Several Traincom members and their federations are mentoring UIAA member organisations with their training, coaching and qualification development initiatives, particularly in the Middle East, Balkan States and South America. This sort of collaboration is a tremendous benefit of UIAA membership, particularly for countries with nascent training programmes.
Youth
In 2024, the UIAA Youth Commission organised several events aimed at fostering youth participation in climbing and mountaineering activities. These events underscore the UIAA's commitment to engaging youth in climbing and mountaineering, offering them platforms to develop skills, compete, and connect with the global climbing community.
The UIAA Youth Camps focus on providing young climbers and mountaineers with safe, educational, and adventurous experiences in the mountains.
Pavlos Georgiades, Youth Commission President
Jane Carney, Youth Commission Vice President
Words from Peter Muir, President of the UIAA
Part 3: Commission Report - Youth
Part 3: Commission Report - Youth
A breakdown of UIAA youth camps
Camps bring together young people (typically aged 16-26) from different countries.
Participants get to experience diverse cultures and make international friendships through shared climbing and mountaineering activities.
Participants get to experience diverse cultures and make international friendships through shared climbing and mountaineering activities.
Camps often focus on improving technical skills:
• Rock climbing
• Ice climbing
• Alpine climbing
• Via ferrata
• Dry tooling
Workshops emphasize rope techniques, belaying, rescue methods, and climbing safety.
• Rock climbing
• Ice climbing
• Alpine climbing
• Via ferrata
• Dry tooling
Workshops emphasize rope techniques, belaying, rescue methods, and climbing safety.
Teaching safe climbing practices is a core element.
Emphasis on Leave No Trace principles, environmental stewardship, and respecting mountain ecosystems.
Camps often include talks on risk management and first aid in remote areas.
Emphasis on Leave No Trace principles, environmental stewardship, and respecting mountain ecosystems.
Camps often include talks on risk management and first aid in remote areas.
Many camps integrate sessions about sustainable practices in the mountains.
Activities may include clean-up missions, discussions on climate change, and protecting fragile alpine environments.
Activities may include clean-up missions, discussions on climate change, and protecting fragile alpine environments.
Young climbers work together in teams, fostering cooperation, leadership, and communication skills.
Participants often take turns leading groups under supervision.
Participants often take turns leading groups under supervision.
Camps are designed to challenge participants physically and mentally.
They provide an opportunity for personal growth, confidence-building, and adventure in a supportive environment.
They provide an opportunity for personal growth, confidence-building, and adventure in a supportive environment.
In 2024, the UIAA Youth Commission organized several camps to promote climbing and mountaineering among young enthusiasts. Here are the details of some of these events:
2024 Youth Ice Climbing Camp
Dates: February 11-17, 2024
Location: Guillestre, Hautes Alpes, France
Details: This annual camp offered participants aged 16 to 26 the chance to engage in various forms of ice climbing, including single-pitch and multi-pitch routes. The program emphasized safe climbing techniques and equipment usage.
International Youth Climbing Camp
Dates: July 6-11, 2024
Location: Ariège, French Alps
Details: Organized by the Toulouse branch of FFCAM, this camp focused on various climbing forms, from single-pitch cliffs to multi-pitch routes on granite and limestone. Open to climbers aged 16 to 25, participants were required to lead climb at a minimum of 5b (French grade).
International Youth Alpine Camp
Dates: July 14-27, 2024
Location: Ailefroide, French Alps
Details: Organized by Mountaineering Ireland, this annual camp focused on the skills for Alpinism, Rock Climbing and trekking. Participants aged 18-26 climbed on single & multi-pitch routes, crossed glaciers and summited alpine peaks in the area. The venue moves between various alpine regions each year. Participants came with a range of prior experience and were well prepared for the courses they took part in.
Drytooling Youth Camp
Dates: October 11-13, 2024
Location: Brno, Czech Republic
Details: Hosted by the Czech Mountaineering Association in collaboration with HO Lokomotiva Brno and HUDY climbing gym, this camp introduced participants to competition ice climbing and drytooling. It catered to both beginners and experienced climbers, focusing on various techniques and equipment familiarization.
Chamonix Autumn Camp
Dates: September 8-18, 2024
Location: Chamonix, France
Details: Organized by the Romanian Alpine Club, this camp aimed to provide participants with comprehensive mountaineering experiences in the renownedChamonix region.
These camps exemplify the UIAA's dedication to nurturing the next generation of climbers by offering diverse and enriching experiences.
Dates:
February 11-17, 2024
Location:
Guillestre, Hautes Alpes, France
Details:
This annual camp offered participants aged 16 to 26 the chance to engage in various forms of ice climbing, including single-pitch and multi-pitch routes. The program emphasized safe climbing techniques and equipment usage.
February 11-17, 2024
Location:
Guillestre, Hautes Alpes, France
Details:
This annual camp offered participants aged 16 to 26 the chance to engage in various forms of ice climbing, including single-pitch and multi-pitch routes. The program emphasized safe climbing techniques and equipment usage.
Dates:
July 6-11, 2024
Location:
Ariège, French Alps
Details:
Organized by the Toulouse branch of FFCAM, this camp focused on various climbing forms, from single-pitch cliffs to multi-pitch routes on granite and limestone. Open to climbers aged 16 to 25, participants were required to lead climb at a minimum of 5b (French grade).
July 6-11, 2024
Location:
Ariège, French Alps
Details:
Organized by the Toulouse branch of FFCAM, this camp focused on various climbing forms, from single-pitch cliffs to multi-pitch routes on granite and limestone. Open to climbers aged 16 to 25, participants were required to lead climb at a minimum of 5b (French grade).
Dates:
July 14-27, 2024
Location:
Ailefroide, French Alps
Details:
Organized by Mountaineering Ireland, this annual camp focused on the skills for Alpinism, Rock Climbing and trekking. Participants aged 18-26 climbed on single & multi-pitch routes, crossed glaciers and summited alpine peaks in the area. The venue moves between various alpine regions each year. Participants came with a range of prior experience and were well prepared for the courses they took part in.
July 14-27, 2024
Location:
Ailefroide, French Alps
Details:
Organized by Mountaineering Ireland, this annual camp focused on the skills for Alpinism, Rock Climbing and trekking. Participants aged 18-26 climbed on single & multi-pitch routes, crossed glaciers and summited alpine peaks in the area. The venue moves between various alpine regions each year. Participants came with a range of prior experience and were well prepared for the courses they took part in.
Dates:
October 11-13, 2024
Location:
Brno, Czech Republic
Details:
Hosted by the Czech Mountaineering Association in collaboration with HO Lokomotiva Brno and HUDY climbing gym, this camp introduced participants to competition ice climbing and drytooling. It catered to both beginners and experienced climbers, focusing on various techniques and equipment familiarization.
October 11-13, 2024
Location:
Brno, Czech Republic
Details:
Hosted by the Czech Mountaineering Association in collaboration with HO Lokomotiva Brno and HUDY climbing gym, this camp introduced participants to competition ice climbing and drytooling. It catered to both beginners and experienced climbers, focusing on various techniques and equipment familiarization.
Dates:
September 8-18, 2024
Location:
Chamonix, France
Details:
Organized by the Romanian Alpine Club, this camp aimed to provide participants with comprehensive mountaineering experiences in the renowned Chamonix region.
These camps exemplify the UIAA's dedication to nurturing the next generation of climbers by offering diverse and enriching experiences.
September 8-18, 2024
Location:
Chamonix, France
Details:
Organized by the Romanian Alpine Club, this camp aimed to provide participants with comprehensive mountaineering experiences in the renowned Chamonix region.
These camps exemplify the UIAA's dedication to nurturing the next generation of climbers by offering diverse and enriching experiences.
Below is a summary of the five youth camps affiliated to the UIAA Youth Commission which were organised in 2024.
World Ice Climbing
“The past twelve months have laid the foundations for competition ice climbing to reach new levels. In the short-term the programme for the 2024-2025 season is an exciting one with World Cups on three continents including two in North America. In addition to delivering the World Tour, significant work is taking place to create a more sustainable future and help grow the sport.”
Words from Peter Muir, President of the UIAA
Rob Adie
UIAA Sports Events Coordinator
Part 4: Competition Sport - Ice Climbing
The year 2024 heralded some seismic changes in the running of UIAA ice climbing competitions. One of these, the creation of a standalone Operating Unit – World Ice Climbing – is covered in Chapter 2.
The 2023-2024 Ice Climbing World Tour concluded with the following events held across ten countries: three World Cups, one World Championships, one WorldYouth Championships, seven Continental Cups and five Continental Youth Cups.
151 senior athletes and 167 youth athletes (337 unique athletes) were registered for events by UIAA member associations from 24 different countries.
The new UIAA world champions were crowned in the biennial World Championships, which were held in Edmonton (Canada) in February 2024.
Emerging victorious were:
Woonseon Shin (KOR) in women’s lead
Younggeon Lee (KOR) in men’s lead
Aneta Louzecka (CZE) in women’s speed and
Mohammadreza Safdarian (IRN) in men’s speed
Emerging victorious were:
Woonseon Shin (KOR) in women’s lead
Younggeon Lee (KOR) in men’s lead
Aneta Louzecka (CZE) in women’s speed and
Mohammadreza Safdarian (IRN) in men’s speed
The World Tour winners, best performers after three World Cup rounds were also crowned in Edmonton.
The World Tour winners were:
Woonseon Shin (KOR) in women’s lead
Younggeon Lee (KOR) in men’s lead
Aneta Louzecka (CZE) in women’s speed and Mandakhbayar Chuluunbaatar (MGL) in men’s speed
The World Tour winners were:
Woonseon Shin (KOR) in women’s lead
Younggeon Lee (KOR) in men’s lead
Aneta Louzecka (CZE) in women’s speed and Mandakhbayar Chuluunbaatar (MGL) in men’s speed
Across streaming platforms and the UIAA social media channels, the 2023-24 World Tour achieved the following results: 3.1 million unique views of video content, a 6 million reach across all channels and 12 million viral Instagram reel views.
In the off-season period, the UIAA launched a special documentary series, On Thin Ice, which offered a behind the scenes reveal into the world of competition climbing and how the 2023-24 season unfolded. It presented a chance for views to learn more about the athletes, the venues and the complexities and appeal of the sport. Episodes were released on a monthly basis from August 2024 to February 2025.
The series is currently available on the UIAA YouTube channel with plans for further expansion. Please see the embedded video playlist below.
Competition ice climbing was also a subject tackled in the first ever episode of the UIAA podcast series Mountain Voices.
The series is currently available on the UIAA YouTube channel with plans for further expansion. Please see the embedded video playlist below.
Competition ice climbing was also a subject tackled in the first ever episode of the UIAA podcast series Mountain Voices.
In July, the second Ice Climbing summit was held in the French Alps allowing a range of stakeholders (athletes, member federations, officials, route setters, media personnel and event organizers) to discuss the future development of the sport.
The calendar for the 2024-2025 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour was defined in the summer of 2024 and is one of the biggest in a number of years. It includes five World Cup events on three continents, six Continental Cups and a World Youth Championships. The number of participating athletes and member federations is expected to increase.
In 2024, France was officially announced as the host country for the 2030 WinterOlympic Games. Competition will be hosted in the French Alps. With ice climbing having a strong heritage inFrance and with the national federation, FFCAM, supporting one of the most established teams in the competition arena, the event presents the opportunity for ice climbing to be discussed in the context of becoming an official part of the Winter Olympics programme. Further discussions will be held across 2025.
In addition to executing a World Tour on three continents, there are a number of challenges for the year ahead which will be led by the World Ice Climbing team in conjunction with the UIAA Office. These range from a review of the sport’s rules, regulations and disciplines; securing long-term sponsorship support; continuing to increase media coverage and the profile of the sport as well as creating greater pathways for young climbers from across the world to access the sport and eventually the competition environment.
The UIAA was deeply saddened by the tragic and sudden passing of Dario Andenmatten in October 2024.
Dario will be gratefully remembered as an enthusiastic leader, host at the Britannia Hut, as one of the longest serving organizers of UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup and World Championships events (the iconic competitions in Saas-Fee, Switzerland), and, above all, as a wonderful person, sportsman and friend.
Dario will be gratefully remembered as an enthusiastic leader, host at the Britannia Hut, as one of the longest serving organizers of UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup and World Championships events (the iconic competitions in Saas-Fee, Switzerland), and, above all, as a wonderful person, sportsman and friend.
International Skyrunning Federation
With a full-on world championship calendar in 2024, the year was key to a number of important ISF projects which included the new Licence, the Card, the development of the Course Certified Label, the Ranking and the Anti-Doping educational campaign.
Words from Peter Muir, President of the UIAA
Starting in 2024, the ISF licence is mandatory for athletes in official teams participating in all championships. The licence shares the ISF Card benefits which include access to the full ranking and profiles. Continuing the development of the CC Label (Course Certificate) introduced in 2023, in 2024 there were 180 races worldwide, counting 21,000 ranked athletes.
The season kicked off with the fast-growing SkySnow discipline - running on snow at altitude. The second SkySnow World Championships were held in Tarvisio, in the spectacular Julian Alps in north-eastern Italy, on March 8-9. Twenty-two countries participated with Sweden, Italy and Germany coming out on top. Teams from as far as Japan and Brazil took part, affirming this new skyrunning discipline at world-class level and, potentially, a next potential Olympic sport.
The Masters Skyrunning World Championships, dedicated to athletes over forty, took place in Vouzela, Portugal, on 13-14 April, featuring the SKY and SKYULTRA disciplines. Overall, 20 countries participated in this second edition, where host Portugal led the country ranking, followed by Brazil and Japan. The oldest competitor, from Japan, aged 65, completed the SKYULTRA - 55 kilometres long with 3,600 vertical metres of pure skyrunning.
The eighth edition of the Youth Skyrunning World Championships landed in Bar, Montenegro, on 28-30 June, where the wild mountains and technical terrain provided a severe challenge for the young runners. New stars emerged from Japan, Norway, UK and Germany. In particular, the 14-year-old twin girls from Japan who stole the show. The younger they are the faster they go! Twenty-eight countries fought for the 75 medals with Spain, Japan, United Kingdom, Norway, and Germany leading the medal count.
The eighth Skyrunning World Championships were held on 6-9 September in the mountains around Soria, one of the most remote and wild areas in Spain, providing an added incentive to battle for the world titles and 27 medals. A record 41 countries from five continents participated, with Spain, Italy and Japan topping the country ranking.
Concomitant with the World Championships, the annual IS General Assembly was held on September 5, in Soria, Spain. The AGA highlighted the new athletes' licence, the development of the ranking and the WADA Anti-Doping activities, including the campaign planned for 2025. The ISF today counts a total of 46 nations, between full members, associate members, and aspirant members.
Anti-Doping Committee President, Dr Nenad Dikic, hosted the first educational panel for young skyrunners at the Youth Championships in Montenegro. In and out of competition testing according to WADA protocols was carried out at both the Youth and World Championships. Starting in 2025, an anti-doping education project and a questionnaire for athletes obtaining the ISF Licence will be active.
The ISF continues its path on the road to IOC with work in progress for the further development and structure of ISF members and focus on the new SkySnow winter discipline together with UIAA, of which the ISF is a unit member.
What was the beginning of a dream in 1992, a federation since 2008, skyrunning today is an ever-growing global reality. Less cloud. More sky!
Marino Giacometti
President, International Skyrunning Federation
What was the beginning of a dream in 1992, a federation since 2008, skyrunning today is an ever-growing global reality. Less cloud. More sky!
Marino Giacometti
President, International Skyrunning Federation
Part 4: Competition Sport - International Skyrunning Federation Report
Part 5: Membership, Finance and People
Finance Report
Management Board
Membership
Office
Executive Committee
Commissions
Court
Finance Report
Income 2024
Expenses 2024
Part 5: Membership, Finance and People - Finance Report
Finance Report by
Lode Beckers, Nils Glatthard & Françoise Jaquet
UIAA Finance & Audit WG
Membership
The UIAA closed 2024 with
97 member associations:
Full members
Observer members
Different countries
Total individual members
Unit member
Associate members
1
1
1
1
1
1
Please note these figures reflect the four membership changes at the 2024 UIAA General Assembly. These memberships are active as of 1 January 2025.
New Full Members:
Andorra: Federació Andorrana de Muntanyisme
Georgia: United Federation of Georgian Mountaineers
Honduras: Federacion Hondureña de Deportes de Montaña y Escalada
New Associate Member:
Australia: Australian Climbing Instructors’
Association Incorporated
Part 5: Membership, Finance and People - Membership List
Executive Committee
UIAA Presidents
Count Charles Egmond d’Arcis
Edouard Wyss-Dunant
Albert Eggler
Jean Juge
Pierre Bossus
Carlo Sganzini
Pietro Segantini
Ian McNaught-Davis
Alan Blackshaw
Pierre Humblet (acting)
Mike Mortimer
Jordi Colomer (acting)
Frits Vrijlandt
Peter Muir
1932–1964
1965–1968
1968–1972
1973–1976
1976–1984
1985–1989
1990–1995
1995–2004
2004–2005
2005-2006
2007–2011
2011-2012
2012–2020
2020-
Peter Muir
President
Canada
Alpine Club of Canada
Martin Lascano
Vice President
Federaciòn Argentina de Ski y Andinismo
Simon Alden
Member
ClimbMT
Amit Chowdhury
General Secretary
Indian Mountaineering Foundation
Saray Khumalo
Member
Mountain Club of South Africa
Yolanda de Both
Treasurer
Royal Dutch Climbing and Mountaineering Association
Yongfeng Wang
Member
Chinese Mountaineering Association
Part 5: Membership, Finance and People - Executive Committee
This list is correct as of the 2024 UIAA General Assembly. Lode Beckers (CMBEL, Belgium) and Françoise Jaquet (SAC, Switzerland) both served the Executive Committee throughout 2024 and until the GA. The UIAA thanks both Lode and Françoise for their dedication and commitment to the EC throughout their four-year tenures.
Management Board
Paul Cartensen
Africa
South Africa
Mountain Club of South Africa
Joachim Driessen
Netherlands
Royal Dutch Climbing and Mountaineering Club
Jean Miczka
Europe
France
Fédération Française des clubs alpins de Montagne
Nima Nuru Sherpa
Nepal
Nepal Mountaineering Association
Young Hoon Oh
Asia
Korea
Korean Alpine Federation
Andrew Syme
United Kingdom
British Mountaineering Council
Willy Montenegro
Central & South America
Chile
Federación De Andinismo De Chile
Stein Tronstad
Norway
Norwegian Climbing Federation
Phil Powers
North America
United States
American Alpine Club
Eimir McSwiggan
Ireland
Mountaineering Ireland
Stuart Gray
Oceania
New Zealand
New Zealand Alpine Club
Continental Representatives
Representative Members
Davide Avagnina
Italy
Italian Alpine Club
Josef Klenner
Germany
German Alpine Club
Juan Jesús Ibáñez Martín
Spain
Federación Española de Deportes de Montaña y Escalada
Silvio Calvi
Italy
International Skyrunning Federation
Largest Federation Repesentatives
Unit Member Representation
Part 5: Membership, Finance and People - Management Board
This list is correct as of the 2024 UIAA General Assembly.
Anne Arran (BMC, UK), Kul Bahadur Gurung (NMA, Nepal) and Steve Long (BMC, UK) all served the Management Board throughout 2024 and until the GA. The UIAA thanks them for their commitment and dedicated to the MB.
Office
Nils Glatthard
CEO - nils.glatthard@theuiaa.org
Started at the UIAA in 2017
Leaving the UIAA in 2025
Robert Adie
SPORT EVENTS COORDINATOR rob.adie@theuiaa.org
Started at the UIAA in 2017
Carol Kahoun-Kauer
PROJECT MANAGER carol.kahoun@theuiaa.org
Started at the UIAA in 2016
Peter Bourne
COMMUNICATION MANAGER peter.bourne@theuiaa.org
Started at the UIAA in 2015
Philippe Quintart
MOUNTAIN SAFETY PROJECT MANAGER philippe.quintart@theuiaa.org
Started at the UIAA in 2024
Tom Tushaw
SOCIAL MEDIA tomtushaw@theuiaa.org
Started at the UIAA in 2021
Stephanie Stettbacher
OFFICE COORDINATOR & SAFETY LABEL ADMINISTRATOR office@theuiaa.org
Started at the UIAA in 2013
André von Rotz
CEO - andre.vonrotz@theuiaa.org
Starting at the UIAA in 2025
The UIAA Office is located in Bern. The staff working in Switzerland are responsible for running the daily operations of the UIAA. It is the staff’s duty and commitment to serve UIAA members and to support, coordinate, plan and implement the activities and decisions of the Executive Board, the Management Committee and UIAA Commissions. On an operational level, the UIAA continues to benefit from a close collaboration with the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC). Detailed profiles of the Office staff are available on the updated UIAA Website.
As of 1 February 2025, André von Rotz will succeed Nils Glatthard as UIAA Chief Executive Officer. Further details are provided in the President's Report.
Part 5: Membership, Finance and People - Office
Part 5: Membership, Finance and People - Commission Lists
Commission lists are correct as of the 2024 UIAA General Assembly.
Honorary Members
Count Charles Egmond d’Arcis
Edouard Wyss-Dunant
Hans Von Bomhard
Ugo di Vallepiana
Guido Tonella
Franz Hiess
Fritz Wiessner
Jaromir Wolf
Sir Edmond Hillary
Walter Bonatti
Dr. Pietro Segantini
Robbert Leopold
Dr. Carlo Sganzini
Georges Moissidis
William Lowell Putnam
Dr. Fritz März
Nassos Tzartzanos
Jordi Pons Sanjines
Pit Schubert
Kazuo Saito
Ang Tshering Sherpa
Claude Eckhardt
Tamotsu Nakamura
Reinhold Messner
Injeong Lee
Doug Scott
Frits Vrijlandt
1964
1968
1969
1975
1980
1983
1987
1990
1992
1995
2000
2001
2002
2003
2003
2007
2008
2010
2012
2013
2014
2016
2019
2020
2023
Part 5: Membership, Finance and People - Honorary Members
Court report
The UIAA Court is this internal and independent judicial body of the UIAA (AoA23). When requested, its task is to solve any possible disputes between the UIAA, UIAA members and UIAA bodies, and between UIAA member organisations. This is a first instance internal arbitration court where possible disputes must be brought before any appeal to an external one, in this instance the Court of Arbitration for Sport at Lausanne (AoA 23 3) and 24)).
This is not the sole mission assigned to the UIAA Court. It is also the independent judicial body founded to decide upon the alleged violations of the UIAA Code of Ethics (Article 4). Additionally, the UIAA Court is also the Ethics Panel in charge of conflicts of interests, should the Executive Committee be unable to reach a decision. As of the 2024 General Assembly in Malta the UIAA Court became the Appeals Body for the Disciplinary Committee in the new World Ice Climbing structure, except in doping matters.
The UIAA Court continues to look to recruit the expertise of a female arbitrator. Any federations who have experienced female arbitrators, lawyers or managers, are invited to propose a candidate to the UIAA Court.
Part 5: Membership, Finance and People - Court
Report by
PIERRE HUMBLET
President, UIAA Court
Pierre Humblet, President, UIAA Court
Mohammadali Abdollahi
Denis Poncelin
Franz Stämpfli-Glatthard
Marco Del Zotto
CMBEL, Belgium
IMSCF, Iran
FFCAM, France
SAC, Switzerland
Pierre Humblet
President UIAA Court
Belguim
CMBEL
Court members:
2025 Continental Report: Africa
Report by
PAUL CARSTENSEN
UIAA Management Board,
Continental Representative for Africa
Mountain Club of South Africa, MCSA
The continent of Africa comprises a number of mountain clubs and national federations: The Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA), the Mountain Clubs of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Kilimanjaro (in Tanzania), Morocco and the Climbing Club of Zambia. Only the MCSA and Morocco, through the Federation Royale Marocaine de Ski et Sports de Montagne are members of the UIAA. However, Namibia is a direct member of the MCSA. The UIAA, at a continental level, is working towards increasing membership. Further context below.
2024 Achievements
Confederation of African Mountain Clubs (CAMAC)
The CAMC has received renewed energy due to an indirect interest in the UIAA. Various entities and climbing groups in Africa have recently expressed an interest in joining the UIAA and during this engagement (which is ongoing), Saray Khumalo (an MCSA member who now sits on the UIAA Executive Committee), Philippe Quintart (UIAA Office/Mountain Safety Project Manager) and Paul Carstensen (as UIAA MB representative for Africa), have suggested that these entities also look at joining the CAMC.
This proposal was met with a great deal of enthusiasm. Thus, the CAMC and UIAA have now started direct engagements with Fédération Congolaise d’Escalade Sportive (FCES), Climb Angola and Egypt Climbing Association. The current members of the CAMC are Mountain Club of Kenya; Mountain Club of Kilimanjaro; Mountain Club of Malawi; Mountain Club of South Africa; Mountain Club of Uganda; Mountain Club of Zimbabwe; Zambia Climbing Federation. It is hoped that shortly more federations will join the CAMC and the UIAA to widen the scope of representation and influence of both entities.
The MCSA continues to grow in membership and now has 15 Sections throughout the Republic ofSouth Africa (and includes the Mountain Club of Namibia) ensuring that most parts of the country are represented.
Part 6: 2025 Continental Report: Africa
The MCSA annual dinner, was hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Section and took place during the National Camp, was held at the Underberg Country Club. This was well attended with many sections well represented. Speeches were given by the National President (Paul Carstensen), National Deputy President and KZN section President (Carl Dreyer), and July Camp stalwart Graham Smith. Rikki Abbot-Wedderburn was recognised and celebrated in all the speeches for her many years as July Camp convenor. A fitting farewell to a July Camp Legend.
The MCSA’s National Camp was combined with the 2024 MCSA KZN July Camp, which is over 101 years old. The same venue and same organisation of hikes were used for both events. Activity leaders turned out in fine form and provided a rich selection of hikes which were held over the nine days of the camp. The MCSA Free State Section celebrated its 70th Anniversary during November 2024 where participants were hosted and dined in a weekend of celebrations at camp on the edge of Lesotho and the Maluti Mountains.
The MCSA’s National Camp was combined with the 2024 MCSA KZN July Camp, which is over 101 years old. The same venue and same organisation of hikes were used for both events. Activity leaders turned out in fine form and provided a rich selection of hikes which were held over the nine days of the camp. The MCSA Free State Section celebrated its 70th Anniversary during November 2024 where participants were hosted and dined in a weekend of celebrations at camp on the edge of Lesotho and the Maluti Mountains.
Convenor: Hanlie Gouws.
While firmly focussed on the continued building of an inclusive community of mountaineers and mountain lovers, we spend some effort on compliance, safety and streamlining of processes. Thanks to an admin grant from the South African Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, and financial support from City Rock and individual donors, and many volunteers which allowed additional activities and expanded programmes.
In the last year, the Eastern Cape section joined the programme, which brings the total number of sections taking part in the programme to ten: Cape Town, Hottentots Holland, Johannesburg, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Magaliesberg, Paarl/Wellington, Stellenbosch, Eastern Cape andWorcester
While firmly focussed on the continued building of an inclusive community of mountaineers and mountain lovers, we spend some effort on compliance, safety and streamlining of processes. Thanks to an admin grant from the South African Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, and financial support from City Rock and individual donors, and many volunteers which allowed additional activities and expanded programmes.
In the last year, the Eastern Cape section joined the programme, which brings the total number of sections taking part in the programme to ten: Cape Town, Hottentots Holland, Johannesburg, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Magaliesberg, Paarl/Wellington, Stellenbosch, Eastern Cape andWorcester
Johan Pauw agreed to drive the MCSA Climate Change Taskforce and is also the corresponding member on the UIAA Climate Change Taskforce. MCSA National Secretary Jenny Paterson submitted a case study on the glaciers of Mt Kilimanjaro for the Sustainability Charter and Climate Action Plans-International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (2025).
The MCSA was also a participant and part sponsor of the Southern African Mountain Conference in March 2025.
The MCSA was also a participant and part sponsor of the Southern African Mountain Conference in March 2025.
Priorities are to revitalise expedition mountaineering. The Johannesburg Section of the MCSA is developing the MCSA Expedition Team Proposal, which while currently specific for the MCSA Johannesburg Section, is hope to provide the scope for other MCSA Sections in due course.
Proposal objectives are to:
1.Identify if there is a need for reform with the MCSA Expedition Policy.
2. Adopt a proactive approach to encourage expedition climbing.
3. Encourage the development of climbing partnerships and teams that become positive representatives for the MCSA and highlight the achievements of the MCSA.
4. Foster and development of skills within younger members of the MCSA and the transfer of knowledge from more experienced members to younger generations.
2025 will also see the 2nd edition of the Angola Climbing Festival. This is becoming a landmark event in the development of rock climbing in the country, attracting many participants from nearly 20 countries, and marking a major step toward establishing Angola as a top global climbing destination. Held over nine days in the stunning Serra da Leba cliffs, this international gathering showcased Angola’s potential for adventure tourism while bringing together climbers, local communities, and sponsors for a unique cultural exchange.
More informationProposal objectives are to:
1.Identify if there is a need for reform with the MCSA Expedition Policy.
2. Adopt a proactive approach to encourage expedition climbing.
3. Encourage the development of climbing partnerships and teams that become positive representatives for the MCSA and highlight the achievements of the MCSA.
4. Foster and development of skills within younger members of the MCSA and the transfer of knowledge from more experienced members to younger generations.
2025 will also see the 2nd edition of the Angola Climbing Festival. This is becoming a landmark event in the development of rock climbing in the country, attracting many participants from nearly 20 countries, and marking a major step toward establishing Angola as a top global climbing destination. Held over nine days in the stunning Serra da Leba cliffs, this international gathering showcased Angola’s potential for adventure tourism while bringing together climbers, local communities, and sponsors for a unique cultural exchange.
2025 Continental Report: Asia
Young Hoon Oh, author of this report, is one of the guests on an episode of the UIAA Mountain Voices podcast dedicated to the subject of Everest.
Report by
YOUNG HOON OH
Management Board, Continental Representative for Asia Korean Alpine Federation, KAF
The continental body, the Union of Asian Alpine Associations (UAAA), founded in 1994, is the leading mountaineering and climbing organisation in Asia. It represents climbers and mountaineers on one of the largest continents in terms of population and density of high mountains.
The UAAA itself has 18 members and organised its own General Assembly in Japan in July, 2024. This was held as part of theInternational Mountain Peace Festival in Nagaoka.
Asia in focus:
The continental report for Asia focuses on the subject of the empowerment of women through climbing and mountaineering.
The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) organised the 2024 version of Climbathon, an annual expedition comprised of selected female mountaineers attempting to climb multiple peaks inIndian Himalaya. Twenty-five skilled women were selected among ninety-three applicants across India and from diverse backgrounds, embarked a 14-day journey led Radha Devi, Tusi Anit Saha, and Shanti Rai, highly experienced women mountaineers, attempting several peaks of elevations at 5-6,000 meters high. While the climbing endeavors concluded successfully, upon returning the expedition participants noted with great concern the drastic and ever-more accelerating effects of climate change to the alpine environments: noticeably decreased glacial mass, wider crevasses, sharper and more brittle rocks, and more unstable terrains compared to the observations made during Climbathon in 2019. They encouraged climbers, expedition organisers, and support teams to prioritise environmental stewardship as well as safety in the changing conditions.
Moreover, in the early of October, the Chinese Taipei Mountaineering Association (CTMA) organised a special rock climbing event to celebrate the visit of Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala, an internationally renowned women’s rights activist, the Gender Equality Ambassador of IOC, and the first Sri Lankan who summitted Mt. Everest. The event took place in Longdong, a popular rock climbing destination of sea cliff to the northeast of Taiwanafter Kuru-Utumpala’s lecture on women’s empowerment through sports and mountaineering.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) commended and promised to continue to support the activities of Ascent Athletics, a USA-based NGO dedicated to empowering Pakistani as well as Afghanistani women by educating rock-climbing and mountaineering. In early November, The Ascent Athletics organised a rock-climbing event at Jasmine Corner, a scenic crag at the northern hill of Islamabad. Led by master trainer Emily Cavanagh and supported by experienced instructors Fareena and Kaneez Fatima, who hail from remote areas of Baltistan, a large number of young women took on a variety of climbing challenges. These activities helped them build confidence and push their limits, inspiring a new wave of female climbers in Pakistan.
Part 6: 2025 Continental Report: Asia
2025 Continental Report:
Central & South America
The year 2024 was a demanding and complex year for the Central and South America region, given that a significant number of federations focused their efforts on Pan American activities and the Paris Olympic Games, which placed enormous pressure on the administrative and financial apparatus of most Latin American Sports Federations that host more than one mountain sport.
During 2024, work continued on recruiting new countries from the region to join in the UIAA community. Official applications were received from the Dominican Republic and Colombia, which will be reviewed at the 2025 General Assembly in Kosovo. The applications from Bolivia and El Salvador are still pending, as they have experienced some delays in the process due to workload and internal organization. Federacion Hondureña de Deportes de Montaña y Escalada, Honduras, became a full UIAA member association at the 2024 General Assembly. Overall the signs are very positive about the UIAA increasing its representation in the region.
Headline activities in Central and South America in 2024
In 2024, as detailed in previous Annual Reports, the continent faced various complexities; however, it managed to carry out a series of top-level mountain activities that restored the region's status as a pioneer in committed and expeditionary mountaineering.
In the social and environmental sphere, there was the consolidation of Chile's 2023 environmental initiatives, such as Cochamó National Park, which is already fully operational, and the full implementation of El Yes Laguna Negra Park. The full implementation of these parks has opened a significant number of new mountain routes throughout the mountain range of the Santiago Metropolitan Region.
The development of other UIAA-affiliated mountain disciplines, such as SkyRunning, has made great progress. and the process of continental competitions has been consolidated, opening up a great future for athletes in the Region and increasing federation development at the continental level.
In addition to the above, there was also the expansion of the Santiago Glaciers Park, which brings the park's total to 75, 115 hectares in the High Cordillera of Santiago, Chile. The Chilean Mountaineering Federation (FEACH) has been working alongside social organizations on the protocol for the use of the park's high-mountain and trekking trails.
As has been the case since 2022, the region has made progress in the training and review of processes. In 2024, the work between FEACH and UIAA/FEDME (Full member, Spain) was formalised, and the rest of the countries continued the process of training Rescuers and Instructors.
Part 6: 2025 Continental Report: Central & South America
C & S America member highlights:
During 2024, a series of mountain and training activities took place in Argentina, including:
UIAA Management Committee Meeting:
Held in April 2024 in Bariloche (see Section 2 of this report)
First International Course on Mountaineering, Medicine, Techniques, and Mountain Safety:
Held in Bariloche in April 2024 (see Section 2 of this report)
High Summit Process:
Among the most important summits and expeditions carried out in Argentina, a series of attempts and repetitions were made in the central Andes, the most important of which were:
- Quehuar Volcano Expedition (6, 150m)
- Tuzgle Volcano (5,530m)
- Cerro Clavadillo (5,500m)
- Nevado Incahuasi (6,621m)
Activities Planned for 2025:
Third edition of recognition FASA: For the third time, the award is being given to the best mountain activities, including bouldering, sport rock climbing, high-altitude mountaineering, literature, alpine climbing, and more. More information here.
During 2024, FEDPE continued developing its mountain training programme and Himalayan expeditions, including the following:
Daughters of the Mountain Expedition - Himalaya:
This project consisted of leading Peru's first female expedition to Manaslu, where they managed to reach Camp 4, after being forced to abandon the expedition due to a major storm that hit the area.
Planned Activities for 2025:
- Maintain the sports training programme
- Increase the number of mountain and rescue specialists
- Initiate the UIAA Training Standard Certification process
FEDANE has maintained an interesting cooperation program with the Chilean Mountaineering Federation (FEACH) has allowed clubs from both countries to undertake joint ascents, alternating between Ecuador and Chile. This collaborative effort has led to summits on Chimborazo, Cero el Plomo, Cotopaxi, Juncal, and more.
Federación Argentina de Ski y Andinismo (FASA)
Federación Deportiva Peruana de Escalada (FEDPE)
Federacion Ecuatoriana de Andinismo y Escalada (FEDANE)
EACH has focused its efforts on sports development and the training of mountain instructors, for which it has carried out the following projects:
FEACH Instructor Recertification:
During 2024, in conjunction with the Spanish Federation of Mountaineering (FEDME), the recertification process that began in 2022 was carried out, allowing for the updating and recertification of 55 mountain guides/instructors, from Level 1 to Level 3, thus achieving the inclusion of Winter High Mountain instructors for the first time. This process benefited from the invaluable cooperation of the Chilean Army Mountain School, which provided the facilities at the Portillo Barracks, located at over 3,000 meters above sea level in the middle of the Andes Mountains.
Chilean Ice Climbing Championship Project:
In 2024, the first attempt at an Ice Climbing Championship was held in the Juncal sector of the Andes Mountains. This event brought together nearly 30 ice climbing specialists, who demonstrated their skills and paved the way for a larger event in the coming years.
Himalayan Summits:
During 2024, a series of forays to Himalayan summits took place, including the summit of Ama Dablam by Nicolás Horta, who became the youngest Chilean to summit that summit solo. This expedition joins Loreto Biazevic's expeditions to Everest and Janice Rot and Nicolás Horta's projects on Lhotse.
Tragically, FEACH mourns the loss of Carlos Gatica, UIAA N2 Mountain Guide Instructor, who died in a climbing accident in the Cero Manquehue area in June.
Accreditation of University Mountain Professionals:
FEACH has deepened its work with DUOC, and during 2024, more than 80 students were accredited on its mid-mountain courses. The process of creating a High Mountain Diploma for the most advanced students who wish to pursue professional guiding began. This project should be underway during the last quarter of 2025
Federacion de Andinismo de Chile (FEACH)
As in previous years, the FAG has maintained its programme to promote mountaineering and mountain challenges, successfully organising a series of high-impact sporting activities, among which the following stand out:
- Maya Award: Awarded to mountaineers who reach the summit of the 13 highest volcanoes in the country.
- Walter Peter Award: Awarded to mountaineers who complete a circuit of the 25 highest volcanoes in Guatemala.
- Quetzal Award: The highest mountaineering award in Guatemala, awarded to mountaineers who reach the summit of the 47 highest volcanoes in the country.
Federación Nacional de Andinismo de Guatemala (FAG)
Challenges for 2025
Outstanding Member Association 2024
The region's challenges for 2024 focus on achieving sports development that allows for the growth of the athlete base, as well as the consolidation of federated entities in those countries that are not yet part of the UIAA process. These processes must have the support of countries with the greatest mountain development and be promoted by the UIAA.
Given the great work and collaboration with federations in the Region, this year the Guatemalan Mountaineering Federation is elevated as the 2024 Outstanding Member.
Report by
Willy Montenegro Garcia
UIAA Management Board, Continental Representative for Central & South America
FEACH, Chile
2025 Continental Report: EUMA
Report by
JOSEF KLENNER
President, EUMA (German Alpine Club, DAV)
In 2024, EUMA's headquarters moved from Brussels to Munich. Registration took place in August and recognition as a non-profit organization by the tax office took place at the end of October. EUMA is now fully established and operational in Germany.
In June, the EUMA Office team expanded with the hiring of a communication manager on a part-time basis.
General Assembly in Paklenica
At the general meeting in Paklenica, Mountaineering Ireland and Kosovo Mountaineering and Sport Climbing were accepted as full members. Czech Tourist Club was admitted as an associated member of EUMA. This means that EUMA represents 30 countries (full members) and six associated members with about 3.3 million individual members.
Ingrid Hayek and Bojan Rotovnik resigned from their offices as Vice Presidents after seven years. The Assembly elected Tatjana Ivanovic, President of the Mountaineering Association of Montenegro and Antonio Montani, President of Club Alpino Italiano, as new Vice Presidents of EUMA.
In Europe, initiatives to improve the Trails Network were discussed amd will be presented by various organizations and companies, focusing on maintenance, marking, management and digitalization. After extensive discussion, the members unanimously voted against EUMA participating in the founding of the new organisation European Trails.
The general assembly then unanimously adopted a policy paper on climate change.
Expert Groups
The three expert groups Hut, Paths and Climbing Areas met during the General Assembly for their founding meetings to agree on the working methods and topics for the starting phase.
Projects
In 2024, another ERASMUS project on best practices for huts was completed in cooperation with FFCAM Nice Mercantour.
EUMA held, as a co-partner with European Rambler Association, the third European Trails Conference in Paris in November. The fourth conference will be held in the north of Italy in 2025.
Part 6: 2025 Continental Report: EUMA
2025 Continental Report: Europe
Europe is the largest continental body in terms of UIAA membership with 58 members from 40 countries represented in this geographical area. It has some of the world's most diverse and iconic mountains and long rock faces with around three million federation members represented. Approximately two and a half million come from alpine or mountainous countries in Western Europe with a long history in climbing and mountaineering: notably in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.
Part 6: 2025 Continental Report: Europe
European member highlights:
Anniversaries
Notable anniversaries celebrated in 2024 including the following: the Basque Mountaineering Federation, a UIAA associate member, marked its centenary; the Croatian Mountaineering Association, a UIAA full member, heralded its 150th year; the same landmark was reached by FFCAM (Fédération française des clubs alpins et de montagne (FFCAM), a full and founder member of the UIAA. All three impressive feats were recognised at the 2024 UIAA General Assembly.
Climate Change case studies
Two of the first major case studies published by the UIAA as part of its climate action plans focused on European member associations.
The German Alpine Club (DAV), the largest national climbing federation worldwide, shared an overview of its Climate Initiative which can be viewed here. The federation's stance has been incredibly proactive and thorough, a massive commitment at federal level to offer close support and resources for its 356 clubs and some 1.5 million members.
In recent years, the DAV has witnessed first-hand the impact of climate change on its own infrastructures. This includes issues with access and a lack of water at its New Prague Hut (Neue Prager Hütte) in Austria and mudslides on the access road to the Taschachlaus refuge. A dedicated report looked into how the DAV has implemented and measuring its Climate Strategy, one which can serve as a model for many other organisations.
Another article looked at the cost of climate change from the perspective of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC). For the first time, the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC has estimated the costs of adapting its huts owing to the impact climate change: the answer is five to seven million Swiss francs (5.3m-7.5m euros/5.8m-8.1m USD* have to be invested annually until 2040. This requires a new financing model for the federation in the medium term. The Trifthütte (Trift Hut), located at 2520m, was badly damaged by an avalanche in 2021. It has been closed since then. The decline in glaciation above the hut allows for avalanches of greater magnitude, which is why the location is no longer safe.
Next year, the Trifthütte will be rebuilt at a more suitable location. The same goes for the Mutthornhütte (Mutthorn Hut), 2901m. It has also been closed since 2021 because of the threat of rockfalls. The cause is global warming, which is causing thawing permafrost and a shrinking glacier. The situation is especially difficult in the Valais, Bernese Oberland and Graubünden (Grisons) regions.
Finally, the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) announced its membership of Sports for Nature (S4N) - the first mountaineering organisation to do so. S4N enables and encourages sporting bodies to champion nature and contribute to its protection and restoration, an initiative that aligns completely with the BMC's values, including our ongoing access and conservation work, aims for net-zero emissions by 2040 and new Climate & Sustainability Action Plan.
Report by
JEAN MICZKA
UIAA Management Board,
Continental Representative for Europe
FFCAM, France
2025 Continental Report:
North America
The year 2024 was a landmark moment for The Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) who unveiled a refreshed visual and verbal identity. More than just a new look, this transformation symbolizes the many ways that the ACC has evolved and adapted across all its operations to remain relevant and better serve its members. The ACC's renewed brand allows the federation to share its mission more clearly: to bring its members together for life-changing experiences in the mountains and to celebrate and protect the alpine environment we hold dear.
Membership continues to grow across the country and is at an all-time high in many chapters. The ACC's dedicated volunteers have made significant contributions in furthering the aims and goals of the club in local chapters and at the national level. The club recognized and honoured 17 members with volunteer awards in 2024.
The ACC continued to support its members with nearly $18,000 in financial grants awarded to aspiring adventurers. This includes close to $6,000 to support environmental research projects. The ACC also published the 7th volume of its annual State of the Mountains Report intended to raise awareness about Canada's mountain places, people, and biodiversity, and the current challenges facing them.
The ACC's network of backcountry huts and front country facilities remain a key aspect of its mandate to make the mountains accessible. The ACC completed the construction of a new hut at Castle Mountain that will open to guests in summer 2025. Many renewable energy projects were designed and/or installed at ACC huts, including Shadow Lake Lodge, Cameron Lake, and Bow hut. The ACC also made further renovations at the Canmore Alpine Hostel with major upgrades to the lounge and office.
The club ran 11 skills courses and a very successful General Mountaineering Camp in the Mt. Remillard area. We introduced an independent (unguided) week that was very popular, while continuing with the final Artists week.
None of this would be possible without the incredible generosity of ACC donors, the dedication of ACC volunteers across the country, and the steadfast leadership of the ACC board and team in Canmore. Their support fuels the federation's work, and the ACC is profoundly grateful for the time, energy, and resources they contribute to a shared vision.
The Alpine Club of Canada in 2024
The ACC looks forward to many exciting projects ahead. With a strong operational and financial foundation, the ACC is well-positioned to enhance member support, expand programs and facilities, and ensure that every member feels truly welcomed and heard.
The ACC is upgrading its IT systems to offer an improved user experience and better support its sections with their administrative tasks. The ACC continues to invest in its hut network and will be adding a new hut in Mt Robson Provincial Park, a project that has been over 20 years in the making. The ACC has increased and diversified its offering of camps and courses to better meet member needs.
Importantly, the ACC is conducting a club-wide consultation to help develop its next strategic plan. The ACC wants to hear from its members to capture what is important for them going forward. Thanks to its members, the ACC is not just growing but thriving. Because at The Alpine Club of Canada, you don't just join, you belong.
2025, the year ahead
Part 6: 2025 Continental Report: North America
In January the U.S. signed into law the historic EXPLORE Act (Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act), the largest recreation bill package in U.S. history. The package contained many recreation oriented bills. Notably, it included the PARC Act (Protecting America's Rock Climbing Act) which codified the appropriate use, maintenance, and placement of fixed anchors for climbing in designated Wilderness areas within the United States.
The AAC sent its most recent volumes of the American Alpine Journal (AAJ) and Accidents in North American Climbing (ANAC) to the printers and expects them to be in the mail in late summer 2025. The AAJ has been in print since 1929, and the ANAC since 1948.
American Alpine Club (AAC)
Report by
PHIL POWERS
UIAA Management Board, Continental Representative for North America
American Alpine Club (ACC)
2025 Continental Report: Oceania
The year was another one of growth in the numbers of people in climbing and hiking in Oceania. Issues of crowding in the most popular areas received considerable local media attention but there are large areas of remote and wild country in both Australia and New Zealand that are seldom visited. Interesting rock-climbing opportunities also exist in South Pacific nations such as New Caledonia and Fiji and commercial operators are emerging in these countries.
Part 6: 2025 Continental Report: Oceania
General Trends
Several exciting climbing and mountaineering trends are apparent. These include ascents of difficult faces in remote areas which may require several days of difficult travel just to reach the bottom of the climb; ski descents of the high peaks on routes that remain challenges to climb let alone ski; new technologies in pack rafting and wing flying to access peaks in remote country and fast, lightweight trans-alpine journeys which previously would have been seen as not possible.
Climate Change and Glaciers
The loss of glaciers in New Zealand is stark, with scientists estimating an incredible 30% loss of glacier cover since 2000, just 25 years ago. This is changing route choices to mitigate the level of risk from rockfall and to work around new glacial lakes that have appeared, as well as moving the alpine climbing season by several months and encouraging more focus on the solid rock faces in areas like the Darran Mountains where glacial recession is less of an impediment.
Focus: Australia
In Australia, the access issues reported last year at several significant rock climbing areas were amplified in 2024 as park authorities moved to place severe limitations on climbing at the popular and well known Grampians National Park (Gariwerd) and proposed a management plan for Dyuritte Mt Arapiles which would effectively close half of the climbing area. Thousands of routes have been, or proposed, to be placed off limits by the state park authority with severe penalties for breaking the regulations. The reason for this is concern at climbing's impact on cultural values and claimed damage to traditional sites including ancient rock art. The local communities which are heavily economically dependent on climbing and are supportive of careful protection of cultural sites say they haven't had proper engagement in the review process. The climbing community has also felt ignored through the process and is divided between those working quietly but assiduously to engage with the relevant Aboriginal groups and Parks Victoria and another group who have pushed to take more direct action and who have attracted considerable media attention. The issue is linked with a much larger and divisive national debate in Australia about traditional aboriginal owner's land and justice issues. As such, it has been taken up by some politicians and used as a case study and has attracted considerable national media attention. There is no easy or quick resolution to an issue which goes to the heart of Australia's history of colonial settlement.
Report by
STUART GRAY
Oceania Representative on the UIAA Management Board
New Zealand Alpine Club
Focus: New Zealand
For New Zealand, there are also a variety of local access issues, but typically more to do with access over private farmland to crags or remote alpine areas. The management plans for many National Parks and other Conservation areas which are used by climbers, mountaineers and hikers are overdue for revision and updating to reflect 2025 priorities. Conservation land makes up 30% of New Zealand's land area and there is a specific requirement to give effect to New Zealand's founding Treaty signed in 1840 between Mäori and the Crown. Like Australia this also goes to a larger national debate, in New Zealand's case about the meaning of the Treaty clauses for land ownership and management. What is clear and widely accepted is the close involvement of Māori tribes in oversight and management of conservation land. The New Zealand Alpine Club continues to work on the interesting "Alpine Human Waste Project" which approaches the issue of human waste on the highest peak Aoraki Mount Cook from a Māori knowledge perspective, with the goal of developing a new protocol that brings together both Mäori and mountaineer perspectives.
The NZAC Tupiki Trust was established to encourage climbing in New Zealand and uses funds primarily from the estate of former UIAA delegate John Nankervis. After several years it's impact is now becoming clear with major financial support for such projects as hut rebuilds, emergency centre upgrades, youth climbing walls, book publication and securing crag property.
Australia joins the UIAA
We were delighted when the first Australian organisation recently joined UIAA. The Australian Climbing Instructors Association ACIA were welcomed as Associate Members by the 2024 General Assembly in Malta. Australia is an island continent that offers outstanding climbing and hiking. There is even good skiing in winter which often surprises those not so familiar with the scale and diversity of Australia's landscapes. The New Zealand Alpine Club has for many years had an active Australian Section and has welcomed ACIA as a UIAA member.
Climbing and mountaineering in Oceania is in good health and growing but also changing as it looks to the future.
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2025 Continental Report:
Oceania
Part 5: 2025 Continental Report: Oceania
COMING SOON
Front cover
Mount Sinai , Shutterstock
President's Report
UIAA/Amelie Stettbacher
Strategic Priorities
Karakorum , Arne Fuglvog
General Assembly
UIAA/Amelie Stettbacher/Peter Bourne/Simon Alden
Bariloche Course
UIAA/BQP Films – FASA/Laureana Fuentes/Peter Bourne
Sustainability Charter
Mont Blanc, Shutterstock
Rock Anchors & Bolts
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Summit Series
Aconcagua, Shutterstock
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UIAA Declaration
Uli Biaho, Arne Fuglvog
Legal Database
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World Ice Climbing
Louna Ladevant, UIAA/Julia Roger-Veyer
Accident Reporting Systems
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Anti-Doping
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Legal Affairs
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Mountain Protection
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Training
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Youth
Christian Biard
World Ice Climbing
Julia Roger-Veyer / Rhea Kang / Kaspar Kellerhals /
Slobodan Mišković / Nils Paillard
ISF
- All the way from Brazil, one of skyrunning’s fastest growing countries, 16-year-old Elis Juliana Simão João competing in the VERTICAL at the 2024 Youth Skyrunning World Championships. ©ISF
- Italy’s Benedetta Broggi on her way to a bronze medal in the VERTICAL at the 2024 Skyrunning World Championships. ©iancorless.com
- Anna Strakova, 50, from the Czechia, took a gold in the Masters Skyrunning World Championships in Portugal. ©DamianoBenedettoPhoto
- Start of the SKYULTRA at the 2024 Skyrunning World Championships in Soria, Spain. ©iancorless.com
- Italian Marcello Ugazio on the lung-busting ascent of the Monte Lussari Vertical, 2024 SkySnow World Championships. ©Damiano Benedetto Photo
- Sweden took both the gold and the silver in the SKY at the 2024 Skyrunning World Championships, thanks to Louise Jernberg and Barbro Fjällstedt respectively. ©iancorless.com
- Yuya Okada from Japan takes the gold in the O45 category, 2024 Masters Skyrunning Championships in Vouzela, Portugal ©Damiano Benedetto Photo
- Hungarian Erzsébet Prokopp racing in the SKY, 2024 Masters Skyrunning Championships. ©Damiano Benedetto Photo
- Spain’s Alain Santamaría took three gold medals for the VERTICAL, SKY and combined titles. ©iancorless.com
Membership
Denali Range, Shutterstock
Africa
Todgha Gorge, Shutterstock
Asia
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Central & South America
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Photo credits
Editorial: Peter Bourne
Conception: Peter Bourne, Nils Glatthard
Design: Abi van Twisk / KIN Studio
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