Welcome to the

Alpine Club


    
    

The Alpine Club, the world’s first mountaineering club, was founded in 1857.  For over 150 years, members have been at the leading edge of worldwide mountaineering development and exploration. 

With membership, experienced and aspiring alpinists benefit from a varied meets programme, regional lectures with notable guest speakers, reduced rates at many alpine huts, opportunity to apply for grants to support expeditions, significant discounts at many UK retailers, extensive networking contacts, access to the AC Library and maps - and more! 

Becoming a Member
 

Uncategorised

Publications

The Alpine Club publishes an annual journal, a selection of climbing guides to the key alpine areas, a range of Christmas cards and a Newsletter. Click on the images below to view further details of each along with ordering and pricing information. Many of these items can be purchased through Cordee.

Alpine Journal

The Alpine Journal is a substantial annual record of mountaineering achievement which has been published continuously since 1859. It is issued free to members. Those from 1969 onwards are fully digitised and can be viewed and searched by Volume or Area.

Back copies are also available for the following years

Find out more at the Alpine Journal website

1859 - 1891 1892 - 1926 1927 - 1952 1953 - 1968
 

GuideBooks

The AC publishes the most comprehensive English Guidebooks covering the most popular regions of the Alps. Included here are updates for each guide.

Members can buy our guidebooks from the Alpine Club Shop

Newsletter

The Newsletter includes news items, articles, details of all club events, and anything that may be of interest to our members.

The AC also produces a regular Bulletin which is e-mailed to members.

We also have a comprehensive set of Newsletter Back issues available for download

The Artists of the Alpine Club

Since its foundation in 1857 there have always been members of the Alpine Club who have carried sketch-books into the mountains, keeping a record of their endeavours and peaks they had climbed. Descriptions of these artists form the principle part of of this Biographical Dictionary from Peter Mallalieu, together with many illustrations of their work. The book costs £20 +p&p. If you would like to purchase, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (+44) 020 7613 0755.

Everest by 'Those Who Were There' Exhibition Catalogue

Produced in 2021 to accompany the Everest by ‘Those Who Were There’ 1921, 1922, 1924 exhibition, this catalogue provides a detailed examination of the three 1920s Everest expeditions.

Written by the Alpine Club’s Honorary Librarian, Barbara Grigor-Taylor and with a foreword by mountaineering author Peter Gillman, the catalogue utilises the climbers' diaries and letters, as well as their artwork and artefacts, all drawn from the Alpine Club Collections, to tell the remarkable stories of these early Everest pioneers.

With a depth of material never before assembled, the catalogue is now freely available to read at this link.

Content Warning: Please be aware that this catalogue cites from archival material and publications which use historic terminology and may refer to people in ways that are outdated and offensive. This material is included as a source for historic research and does not reflect the position of the Alpine Club or Alpine Club Library.

 

A selection of the club's historic photographs can be viewed in the
Photo Album.

Photo Library

Since the formation of the Alpine Club in 1857 a large collection of photographic images have been acquired creating a unique library dedicated to mountaineering.

A large part of the collection, comprising all photographic formats, has been donated to the club by the original photographers, many of whom were or are members. Donators include William Donkin, Vittorio Sella, Sydney Spencer and Edward Whymper who were all members, as well as the Abraham Brothers. The collection also includes pictures taken on all British expeditions to Everest from 1921.

Contents

Within the collection we have images taken in all of the major mountain ranges of the world, including the Alps, Himalaya, Andes, Caucasus, Rockies and Japan.

This unique heritage collection is dedicated to mountaineering and due to the span of years covered, it is almost certainly the best. We are proud to say images have been supplied to numerous authors, as well as researchers, students, television and film.

To obtain use of any images from the collection please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your requirements.

Latest Articles

  • John Wilkinson +

    We are saddened to announce the death on 14 May of John Wilkinson. John lived in Todmorden and had been Read More
  • Report: 17 May 2024 +

    La Chamoniarde mountain conditions report for 17 May 2024. Here's some news on the eve of the weekend, with the Read More
  • Steve Swenson Receives AAC President's Award +

    Steve Swenson Receives AAC President's Award Alpine Club member Steve Swenson has been announced as the recipient of the 2024 Read More
  • Report: 3 May 2024 +

    La Chamoniarde mountain conditions report for 3 May 2024. "La chance sourit aux audacieux." Well we have had two storms Read More
  • 1

Upcoming Events

  • 24 May
    UK Alpine Introductory Meet 2024 24 May 2024 08:00 am to 05:00 pm

    Details:
    Meeting on the Friday evening at the hut, this is a skills transfer meet, based at

  • 28 May
    Mick Conefrey: The Mystery of Mallory 28 May 2024 07:30 pm to 09:30 pm

      Is there anything new to say about George Mallory? He's probably the most famous climber in Everest’s

  • 31 May
    AC Younger Members Meet 31 May 2024 07:30 pm to 09:30 pm

    The purpose of the meet is to provide young members with the opportunity to meet- and climb with - other

  • 01 Jun
    North Wales Meet 2024 01 Jun 2024 All Day


    Similar to recent years, this will be a joint meet between the Alpine Club and Climbers Club.   Accommodation will

  • 01 Jun
    AC Cordillera Real Meet 2024 01 Jun 2024 All Day


    Based in La Paz, Bolivia, this Greater Ranges Meet is for Full Members with recent and appropriate

  • 24 May - 30 Jun
  • 07 Jun - 25 Jun

 


 

Expeditions

Use the boxes below to explore the expeditions section

Questions

Any questions relating to expeditions ? send us an email.

Funding

The AC and the MEF can provide funding for certain expeditions, the AC also has a climbing grant for AC teams

Reports

The AC holds a vast library of material relating to expeditions both online and on paper

Expeditions

Expeditions are at the core of the Alpine Club's purpose and culture. Use the boxes on the left to navigate the expedition section.


Questions

Any questions relating to expeditions? Send us an email.


Funding

The AC and the MEF can provide funding for certain expeditions, the AC also has a climbing grant for AC teams


Reports

The AC holds a vast library of material relating to expeditions both online and on paper.