American Alpine Club Engages the Veteran Community

The American Alpine Club (AAC), America’s oldest and largest climbing advocacy non-profit, is proudly expanding the organization’s efforts to engage active-duty military and veterans through new membership options and proactive outreach.

The effort—led in large part by active-duty military members of the American Alpine Club—seeks to engage the veteran community by offering discounted club membership, hosting veteran-focused climbing events and promoting wellness and camaraderie through the pursuit of climbing.

In spring 2018, the American Alpine Club launched a new grassroots public lands advocacy initiative known as Hill to Crag with the intention to take elected officials and their staff rock-climbing.

This week, in the spirit of #climblikeagirl, we’re highlighting inspiring climbs by women from all over the world, featured in the @americanalpinejournal. Last summer, Sílvia Vidal from Catalonia spent 53 days almost entirely alone in Alaska’s Arrigetch Peaks, soloing a new route on the west face of Xanadu. Vidal’s record of solo big-wall ascents in remote mountains of the world is unsurpassed. She wrote in AAJ 2018: “Alone in a wild place for weeks, with no communication and many uncertainties—only your doubts, fears, joy and happiness—the route is never the most difficult part. The challenge lies in the rest.” Learn more about #climblikeagirl at the link in our bio. #aacgram

A post shared by American Alpine Club (@americanalpine) on Sep 25, 2018 at 7:29am PDT

The event quickly expanded in scope once AAC’s Salt Lake Chapter Chair Byron Harvison became involved. Harvison, a life-long climber and active-duty US Army Major, saw the events as an opportunity to share his and other veterans’ experiences with rock climbing and public land with lawmakers.

“After returning home from an intense deployment in Afghanistan, I found climbing not only to be a retreat back to what I loved, but a good place to settle my thoughts,” says Army Major Harvison, “In my role in the Armed Forces, I’ve seen many people deal with substance abuse and depression post deployment. Climbing facilitates positive community engagement, healthy lifestyle, and connection to wild landscapes.”

Together with Major Harvison, the American Alpine Club has organized four “Hill to Crag” events in 2018 and is rolling out a new AAC Veteran Chapter, which Harvison will Chair.

The AAC also plans to extend a special membership discount to active-duty military and veterans starting in early 2019.

Phil Powers, American Alpine Club CEO, added, “The American Alpine Club has been closely linked with our nation’s armed forces for a long time.

“The advocacy that created the 10th Mountain Division during WWII—and the training that followed—came largely from AAC leadership.

“The creation of a Veterans Chapter and Major Harvison’s work connecting legislators and veterans through Hill to the Crag events are logical outgrowths of this history.”

2018 Hill to Crag Event Schedule: Nov. 16 at Chimney Rock State Park, North Carolina / Oct. 19 at Vedauwoo Recreation Area, Wyoming.