Climbing, or alpine, clubs form to promote and preserve the climbing way of life, including

rock climbing Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up, across, or down natural rock formations. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a usually pre-defined route without falling. Rock climbing is a physically and ...

, ice climbing,

alpinism Mountaineering or alpinism, is a set of outdoor activities that involves ascending tall mountains. Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing, and traversing via ferratas. Indoor climbing, sport climbing, ...

ski mountaineering Ski mountaineering (abbreviated to skimo) is a skiing discipline that involves climbing mountains either on skis or carrying them, depending on the steepness of the ascent, and then descending on skis. There are two major categories of equipmen ...

. Clubs frequently act as advocates to protect climbing areas, advocate for climbers around the world, preserve climbing’s history and chronicle climbing achievement.The purpose of the American Alpine Club
/ref> Climbing clubs usually schedule climbing meets & events allowing members an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals, learn new skills and partake in

lead climbing Lead climbing is a climbing style, predominantly used in rock climbing. In a roped party one climber has to take the lead while the other climbers follow. The ''lead climber'' wears a harness attached to a climbing rope, which in turn is connecte ...

which by definition requires two or more individuals.

Organization

Climbing clubs are often affiliated to a national governing or representative body for purposes of public liability insurance. In the UK this is most often the

British Mountaineering Council The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) is the national representative body for England and Wales that exists to protect the freedoms and promote the interests of climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers, including ski-mountaineers. The BMC ...

. In Ireland this is most often

Mountaineering Ireland Mountaineering Ireland is the representative association for hikers and mountaineers on the island of Ireland. It is recognized by both Sport Ireland, the Irish authority for sport, and Sport Northern Ireland, the corresponding authority of the ...

Club facilities

Clubs ''may'' typically provide: * Scheduled meets & training * Mountain huts & reciprocal arrangements with other hut owners * Books, newsletters & other publications * Social events * Limited public/civil liability insurance * Rescue insurance * Discount schemes with climbing shops * Libraries & photo collections * Climbing grants * Conservation, stewardship & advocacy

Notable climbing clubs

Climbers' Club The Climbers' Club is the senior rock-climbing club in England and Wales (outside the Lake District). The club was founded in 1898. The CC one of the largest publishers of climbing guidebooks in many of the main climbing areas of England and Wal ...

* California Mountaineering Group
American Alpine ClubSwiss Alpine Club (Club Alpin Suisse)French Climbing Club (Club Alpin Francais)
*

German Alpine Club The German Alpine Club (german: links=no, Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV for short) is the world's largest climbing association and the eighth-largest sporting association in Germany. It is a member of the German Olympic Sports Confederation and the ...

(Netherlands climbing and mountaineering society) Nederlandse Klim en Bergsport Vereniging (NKBV)

References

{{Climbing navbox Climbing organizations Sports clubs