The new Explore exhibit chronicles early summit attempts, false summit claims, and the early mountaineers’ primitive equipment, personalities, and experiences on Denali. This is the story of North America’s first alpine style ascent, as well as an audacious siege-style bid that finally led climbers to Denali’s summit.

Visit Explore to experience the online exhibit.

“When conservation and recreation are on equal ground with development, we can protect our public lands for our mutual benefit today, and for the next generation of climbers.” -AAC Executive Director, Phil Powers

Read Phil’s article “Protecting the Places We Climb” to find out why we think Interior Secretary Sally Jewell is the right pick for the job.

Director’s Order #41 marks the first time a land management agency has given national direction that climbing is a legitimate activity in Wilderness, and that fixed anchors necessary for climbing are also allowed. The order permits for the authorization of new bolts by zone, not just case-by-case permits for individual routes/bolts. Also under the order, interim fixed anchor permits may be granted prior to the establishment of dedicated climbing management plans.

For several decades, the AAC has been involved in the negotiations for this language in collaboration with the Access Fund. This latest action by NPS comes on the heels of the AAC’s April joint advocacy trip with the Access Fund to Washington, D.C. In early April, the AAC and AF policy team spent two days with top NPS officials negotiating the final language of DO#41.

We hope the precedent set by the National Park Service will also be adopted by other agencies including the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service.

Read the Order »

At our 2013 Annual Benefit Dinner, celebrating the 50 Years of Americans on Everest, we collaborated with National Geographic ADVENTURE magazine to talk to the people who know Everest best. See what they had to say about the state of Everest in the film “50 Years on Everest- Climbers’ Candid Thoughts on the State of the World’s Tallest Peak.”

Can’t get enough Everest?

• Read Phil Powers’ thoughts on Everest: Then and Now
• Check out our write-up and photos from this year’s 2013 Annual Benefit Dinner
• Experience our online exhibit, Everest 1963: The American Odyssey
• View Everest photos from the personal collections of Jim Lester, Ed Webster, and others
• 15 climbers and guides reflect on Everest, portraits by Cory Richards