International Mountain Day - Index Fundraiser - 12/11/09

Most people have no idea what International Mountain Day is. We didn't know either. That is, until we got an email from the UIAA, reminding us about this important day.

How could we not know about this?

How could we not know that there is an entire holiday dedicated to the world's mountains, and by extension, to the world's mountaineers?

International Mountain Day is an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build partnerships that will bring positive change to the world's mountains and highlands.

It was the UN General Assembly who designated December 11, from 2003 onwards, as 'International Mountain Day'. This decision results from the success of the UN International Year of Mountains in 2002, which increased global awareness of the importance of mountains, stimulated the establishment of national committees in 78 countries and strengthened alliances through promoting the creation of the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions.

A climber aids up City Park (A1 or 5.13d) in Index
Photo by Alasdair Turner

How better to celebrate International Mountain Day than by putting on a climbing oriented event and party. And what better thing to support with the money generated by the event than the Washington Climber's Coalition and the fund to buy Index to make it a permanent climber's park?

The details are still scarce, but the American Alpine Institute will be running rock rescue clinics at the YMCA in Bellingham all day on December 11th. The two-hour clinics -- with a market value of of over eighty dollars each -- will be run on a donation basis with all proceeds going to the Index fund.

In the evening, we will have a slideshow/auction/raffle/party at New York Pizza and Bar in Bellingham. All proceeds from the raffle and auction will go to the Index fund. In addition to that, 10% of all the food and alcohol receipts from the night will also be donated!

The details of this event are still coming together. We're hoping to bring you a lot more information on our International Mountain Day Festival and fundraiser in the very near future. So stay tuned!

--Jason D. Martin