Campaign for Climbers

Letter From The Chair

I became interested in climbing while I was growing up in South Carolina in

the 1950s and 1960s. My biggest challenge was that I really didn’t know anyone else

who shared my interest. But in 1972, I moved to Seattle and immediately met people

like Steve Swenson and Todd Bibler, and I found myself embedded in a climbing

community. This community has played a key role in my climbing and my life in general.

In fact, my business career was based on bonds developed through climbing. I spent 30

years working with friends, but I spent most of my time on my business with only the

occasional time off for climbing. Now that I have closed that career, I spend more time

climbing with an expanding community, and I feel compelled to give time and money to

enrich this community and help others.

We all have different personal reasons for our interest in climbing, but most of us have

gained much from our climbing community. The American Alpine Club is dedicated to

the mission of building and broadening the climbing community. We see a community

that is demographically much broader than what many of us experienced. We believe

that such a community will enhance our

lives, make stronger individuals, improve

our country, and protect our natural

climbing areas.

Please join me in supporting The Campaign

for Climbers so that we can continue to

build this rich community and preserve our

history.

Best regards,

Doug Walker

Campaign Chair

Yvon Chouinard Honorary Chair

Douglas Walker Campaign Chair

Glenn PorzakFront Range Chair

Mark RicheyNortheast Chair

Steve SwensonNorthwest Chair

Jack TackleTetons Chair

  Cover: Galen Rowell - Peter Croft at Dawn on Grand Traverse of Evolution Peaks, High Sierra, CA, USA   This page: Jeff Widen - Doug Walker on Belay

Established in 1902 by the nation’s leading climbers and conservationists, including Charles E. Fay and John Muir.

The AAC evolved from a social club for elite adventurer located on the

East Coast to a more than 8,000-Member strong, regionally-focused

organization. We advocate for American climbers domestically and

around the world; provide grants and volunteer opportunities to

protect and conserve the places we climb; host local and national climbing festivals and events; publish

two of the world’s most sought-after climbing annuals; care for the world’s leading climbing library and

country’s leading mountaineering museum; manage an ever growing lodging network for climbers;

and, annually give $80,000+ toward climbing, conservation, and research grants to inspire and support

adventurers who travel the world.

The AAC actively participates in domestic and international dialog about environmental policy, high

altitude safety and medicine, innovation in alpine tools, clothing and survival technologies, sponsors

expeditions, and investigates controversies in the world of exploration.

The AAC has become the organization for all climbers - alpinists, boulderers and every elevation in between.

Meeting tomorrow’s challenges, the AAC is changing what we do. But our foundation will never change

– we will always hold fast to our values of Fortitude, Partnership, Creativity and Independence, and

Stewardship. We will continue to be that place of support and inspiration for the young and the old, for

those who climb all the time, and those who get out just as much as they can. We will always be inspired

by the achievements of Club Members who explored the unexplored and pushed the boundaries of what

was possible - the men and women who built the tradition of excellence that inspires climbers today and

is at the core of what the AAC is all about.

  Robert Hyman - Jim Donini and Jack Tackle   Andrew Kaufman Collection, Courtesy of the AAC Library - 1958 Hidden Peak Expedition

As the nation’s oldest and most prominent climbing organization, we are compelled to regularly

evaluate our position, our plan and our relevancy. We recently stepped forward and asked our

Members and fellow climbers:

If you could build The American Alpine Club from the ground up today, what would America’s national climbing organization look like?

We listened, we investigated and we went to work. With the path and goals set by our five-year

Strategic Plan, we are putting into action the new ideas and improvements most important to the

climbing community, including:

� Delivering a member benefit program with extraordinary value;

� Restructuring our programs to serve more locally;

� Regaining leadership position as a comprehensive climbing information resource;

� Employing grants to inspire climbers and conserve the places we climb;

� Providing important infrastructure at climbing destinations; and,

� Protecting and preserving our climbing legacy, history, and literature.

This broad, proactive initiative is being implemented by our extensive network of volunteers,

Club officials, Board members and our Membership at large.

Sufficient financial resources are required to ensure effective change and secure our future. The

comprehensive Campaign for Climbers goal in $5.7 million; funding the following key projects and

programs critical to our future.

  Andrew Burr - Christine Balaz and Zac Robinson exploring the boulders of Wadi Rum, Jordan

Members and non-Members alike have asked to experience the AAC on a more local level.

Climbing is a community endeavor at its heart. Our

climbing partners, nearby crags and favorite rock gyms

are local, and they are what make each community

unique. The AAC will deliver events, conservation

action, and advocacy through empowered local

chapters. The AAC’s national office is now a resource

for advice, expertise, and financial support. We are also

simultaneously improving the Membership benefit to

attract and build interest in the AAC at the local level.

Campaign funding for Members will be dedicated to

the following initiatives:

� Build a regional IT infrastructure including section

websites and local partner-finders.

� Enhance rescue services and insurance for

Members

� Provide staff support, events and programs

regionally

� Modernize the AAC website and user tools

Investment: $500,000

MembersStrategic Improvements that build our capacity to deliver better benefits and a more local feel

  Andrew Burr - Brittany Griffith   Menno Boermans – Heli in front of Matterhorn

PlacesCampgrounds, Huts and Lodging

Climbers from around the world told us they value a great place to meet, congregate, and learn from one another.

To further inspire, support, and care for the climbing community, it is essential

to continue the construction and maintenance of our campgrounds, huts and lodging

programs. This major Membership benefit can be cared for at the local level.

Examples of new lodging projects (some are underway):

� The Gunks Campground, New York

� Front Range Hostel, Colorado

� New River Gorge Campground, West Virginia

� Hueco Rock Ranch, Texas

Proposed program improvements:

� Provide Critical Improvements at the Grand Teton Climbers Ranch

� Implement a Modern Reservation System for all AAC Assets

� Provide a Maintenance Endowment for all Club lodging properties

Investment: $1,500,000

  Andrew Burr Burr - Sonnie Trotter, Iconoclast, 5.13a, Saddle Rocks, Joshua Tree, CA, USA   Robert Hyman - Grand Teton Climbers Ranch   Andrew Burr

LegacySustaining and Modernizing Legacy Assets The Henry S. Hall, Jr. American Alpine Club Library

Our legacy, our dreams, knowledge and accomplishments, are also our future.

The AAC is committed to preserving climbing’s history

in our archives, world-renowned climbing library and

online. We have the opportunity to safeguard these assets

well into the future through a combination of capital

improvements and endowments.

Current and proposed projects:

� Digitization of maps, climbing topos, and photos

� Cataloging our Rare Collections

� Increasing the Library Endowment to sustain this

important institution into the future

Investment: $1,200,000

  Andrew Burr - Jasmin Caton on Split Beaver, Squamish, BC, Canada   Beth Heller   Courtesy of The American Alpine Club Library -

The remarkable places we climb define the very heart of the AAC, and protecting these natural treasures is something we have done since 1902.

Early AAC leaders like John Muir, modern ones like Yvon Chouinard,

and local climbing communities across the nation have stepped

forward to protect iconic climbing areas. The AAC’s leadership in

protecting access and continuing preservation is a substantive,

physical way to ensure the future of climbing locally and globally.

Campaign funding will support the AAC’s Cornerstone

Conservation Grant Grants, a key conservation initiative. These

grants fund essential infrastructure at climbing areas. Individuals

or communities that see a need for local infrastructure can propose

projects that will improve, conserve, and protect their climbing

resources for years to come.

This annual $25,000 grant supports projects such as:

� Fixed anchor improvement

� New trails

� Human waste management solutions

� Parking

� Signage

Investment: $300,000

ConservationBuilding Our Capacity to Protect the Places We Climb

  Andrew Burr - Peter Vintoniv in the Lone Peak Wilderness, Utah, USA   Ellen Lapham

The AAC has long advanced the art, developed leaders, and solidified our legacy through support to climbers.

The AAC has a heralded history of awarding climbing and

conservation grants. They serve as jump-starts for aspiring

climbers en route to new projects and careers. As a result, many

of our grant recipients continue to protect, participate in, and

preserve the climbing way of life. Through a combination of

endowed and annually-funded grants, we will ensure that the

Club continues this important tradition.

American Alpine Club Grants:Mountain Fellowship Grant

Lyman Spitzer Cutting Edge Award

Zach Martin Breaking Barriers Grant

Lara-Karena Bitenieks Kellogg Memorial Conservation Grant

Scott Fischer Memorial Conservation Fund

Nikwax Alpine Bellwether Grant

Research Grants

Copp-Dash Inspire Award

McNeill-Nott Award

Rowell Award for the Art of Adventure

John L. Horn International Sport Climbing Grant

Investment: $450,000 to grow the program.

GrantsInspiring and Supporting Climbers

  Andrew Burr - Erik Kelly on Dairyland, WI5, Painted Rocks National Lake Shore, Michigan, USA

Funding AllocationsCategory Project Amount

Members EnhanceRescueServiceandInsurance $150,000 RegionalCoordinators $250,000 AnnualChapterGathering&RegionalEvents $50,000 ModernizeMainWebsite $50,000

Places NewLodgingProjects $1,000,000 GrandTetonClimbersRanchImprovements $100,000 GTCRMaintenanceEndowment $350,000 ModernReservationSystem $50,000

Legacy DigitizeAACLibrarymaps,topos,photos $100,000 CatalogRareCollections $100,000 LibraryEndowment $1,000,000

Conservation CornerstoneGrants $300,000

Grants $450,000 MountainFellowshipGrant LymanSpitzerCuttingEdgeAward ZachMartinBreakingBarriersGrant Lara-KarenaBitenieksKelloggMemorialConservationGrant ScottFischerMemorialConservationFund NikwaxAlpineBellwetherGrant ResearchGrants Copp-DashInspireAward McNeill-NottAward RowellAwardfortheArtofAdventure JohnL.HornInternationalSportClimbingGrant

Continuing Programs $1,420,000 AACLibrary GrandTetonClimbersRanch AmericanAlpineJournal AccidentsinNorthAmericanMountaineering ConservationSupport ClimbingGrants IndustryPartners

Campaign Expenses $330,000

CAmPAigngoAl $5,700,000

Giving Opportunities

Gifts of $5,000 and greater will

be acknowledged on the American Alpine

Club website throughout the campaign.

Gifts of $25,000 or greater will

be acknowledged in the 2013 and 2014

editions of the American Alpine Journal.

Gifts of $100,000 and greater will

be acknowledged on a permanent plaque

at The Henry S. Hall American Alpine Club

Library, and the various AAC locations

made possible by the Campaign for

Climbers; possibly including:

� Front Range Hostel

� New River Gorge Campground

� Hueco Rock Ranch

  Andrew Burr - Peter Vintoniv, City Slave, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, USA

American Alpine ClubBoard of Directors

Charlie Sassara, President • Mark Kroese, Vice President

Doug Walker, Secretary • Paul Gagner, Treasurer

Brad Brooks • Doug Colwell • Matt Culberson • Karen Daubert

Ken Ehrhart • Clark Gerhardt • John Heilprin • Mary Hsue

Jim Logan • George Lowe III • David Riggs • Rebecca Schild

Cody Smith • Travis Spitzer