The ACI delegation is now scheduled to join AAC hosts at the Grand Teton Climbers Ranch September 1 - 12, 2010. The AAC delegation will visit Iran in the spring of 2011. While the focus of the exchanges will be climbing, the delegations will also engage in discussion of alpine conservation issues and programs.

The Iranian delegation will be made up of ACI members who represent a broad spectrum of age, gender, climbing interests and skills. The AAC intends to match the Iranian participants with compatible AAC host climbers. AAC host climbers should be familiar with the Teton Range and will only be responsible for their travel expenses to the Climbers' Ranch; the Club will cover any incidentals during the week. Please contact Jim Donini at donini@ouraynet.com for information on Teton hosting plans.

The American Alpine Club is pleased to announce the AAC members selected as delegates to visit and climb in Iran in the spring of 2011 as part of the AAC’s exchange with the Alpine Club of Iran. Over 125 AAC candidates applied, and selecting just ten delegates proved a serious challenge for the selection committee, comprised of Delegation Leader Jim Donini, AAC Community Committee Chair Dave Riggs, and AAC Executive Director Phil Powers. The Committee also selected 10 alternate delegates given uncertainties with the visa process and other contingencies. The Committee thanks all who applied and wishes it could have selected more delegates. Read more about the process and view delegate bios here.

The AAC delegation will travel as a group from the US to Tehran in Spring 2011. Final details of dates and itinerary will be announced soon. It is expected that the duration of the stay in Iran will be fifteen days. The proposed itinerary includes tours of Tehran, acclimatization hiking in the Damavand region, an ascent of Mt. Damavand (5671 meters) and extensive rock climbing in venues close to Esfahan and Shiraz. It is expected that there will be opportunities to score first ascents at these venues.

The Alpine Club of Iran is a non-governmental organization founded in 2000. It has approximately 1600 members with an equal representation of females and males. The ACI is affliated with many local and regional climbing clubs in cities across Iran.

For more information contact David Thoenen, AAC /ACI Exchange Project Lead, at dthoenen@nc.rr.com, or 919-280-8258.