American Alpine Club
The American Alpine Club, or AAC, was founded in 1902 by Charles Ernest Fay, and is the leading national organization in the United States devoted to mountaineering, climbing, and the multitude of issues facing climbers. With an emphasis on adventure, scientific research and education, the Club is dedicated to:
- the promotion and dissemination of knowledge about the mountains and mountaineering through its meetings, publications and libraries;
- the cultivation of mountain craft, and the promotion of good fellowship among climbers;
- the study of the high mountains of the world, the gathering of facts and the observation of phenomena pertaining to them;
- the production of a series of illustrated publications to present a complete description of the alpine mountains of the world;
- the scientific exploration of high mountain elevations and of the regions lying within or about the Arctic and Antarctic circles;
- the conservation and preservation of the mountain environment; and
- the representation of the interests and concerns of the American climbing community
The AAC is a not-for-profit organization supported by gifts and grants from individuals, corporations and foundations, income from restricted endowments, membership dues, and the sale of publications. Charles Ernest Fay served as the first president (1902-08).
The AAC sponsors the David A. Sowles Memorial Award for mountaineers who at personal risk or sacrifice of personal objective go to the aid of a fellow climber in distress.
While the AAC holds annual and regional meetings, the AAC does not guide or lead trips compared to the Alpine Club of Canada and other clubs such as the California Mountaineering Group, the Sierra Club, the Colorado Mountain Club, the Appalachian Mountain Club, etc. In this respect it is somewhat closer to the US National Ski Patrol in advisory function.
