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
 

 

“The Treasures” of the Alpine Club will be on display in the Alpine Museum in Chamonix from 29th June 2015 to 17th April 2016.

The exhibition is part of the Celebration of the Golden Age of Alpinism. The year 1865 marked the climax of the Golden Age of Alpinism, immortalised by an impressive number of first ascents on magnificent summits, and new routes across the Alps in France, Switzerland, Italy and Austria.

Chamonix - Montblanc Alpine Museum: From 29th June 2015 to 17th April 2016 paintings from JOHN RUSKIN: 1819-1900 - AC Member 1869; SIR ROBERT P. COLLIER: 1817-1886 - AC Member 1861; EDWARD T. COMPTON: 1849-1921 - AC Member 1880 can be viewed.

From the start, it had always been possible to be elected as a member of the Alpine Club in recognition of artistic, literary or scientific contributions to the mountain environment. In the early 1860's, the practice began of having a small collection of Alpine pictures and sketches on view at the Alpine Club summer and winter dinners. These exhibitions gradually increased in magnitude! Many of the Alpine Club artists showed work at the Royal Academy and some of them were quite prominent academicians.