Caroline George: For over 80 years climbers from all over the world have shared stories of bold new lines and epic adventure through the American Alpine Journal. Each volume inspires new climbs and reignites old dreams. Many of my own dreams have been inspired by its pages (and thanks to the AAC's generous grants program, I am hoping to make one of these Himalayan dreams come true this year). Getting the Journal every year, and having online access to every volume since 1929, are key reasons I'm an AAC member.

Pete Takeda: Housing over 60,000 volumes, including classics that inspire the climbs of our dreams, guidebooks, maps, and DVDs, the world's largest climbing library is always handy. What's great is that AAC members can search the online catalog and receive free outbound shipping. The savings, compared to buying maps and guidebooks, easily offsets the price of membership.

Yvon Chouinard: For over a century, the AAC has helped protect our playgrounds around the world. Today AAC initiatives can be found across the country's most iconic vertical landscapes. The AAC is also active internationally, from rebuilding popular climbing approaches in Patagonia--through the support of the company I founded by the same name--to establishing community-based conservation programs in the Himalaya. Cast your vote to protect the places we climb by becoming a member today.

Kate Rutherford: Last October I was lucky enough to take part in the country's first-ever International Climbers' Meet. It was a blast. The AAC hosted 82 climbers from 23 different countries at Indian Creek. The unique style of climbing found only on Utah's Wingate sandstone was an excellent challenge for the world's climbers. I left inspired by the event and impressed with the AAC's ability to build community among climbers.

Peter Metcalf: Back in the 1970s I lived parts of many summers at the AAC's Grand Teton Climbers' Ranch. A night at the Ranch cost about the same as a carabiner, and amazingly it is still that cheap today. And now I'm thrilled to see the AAC building a much-needed campground for climbers in the Gunks. Through the years I have traveled and climbed all over, and having had an AAC membership to get hut discounts around the country, in the Canadian wilderness, across the Alps and in New Zealand would have been a godsend.

Mike Libecki: The first thing that comes to mind when I think of the AAC is that they are like guardian angels when it comes to my lifestyle: my passion for climbing all over the world - my obsession, if you will, for seeking the Earth's most beautiful climbs. I can truly say the AAC has been a major part of the success I have had standing on many virgin summits around the world. Being a member of the American Alpine Club is a must for the vertically obsessed.