Date: May 31, 2009 — American climbers Alex Honnold and Chris Weidner will represent the AAC at a three-week climbing festival in Ergaki National Park, in the western Sayan Mountains of southern Russia, in the Krasnoyarsk region. The festival, from July 5-29, will center on 4,506-meter Mt. Belukha, the highest peak of the Altai Mountains, and the Krayarnosk Pillars, the "Russian Yosemite." Events will include bouldering, multi-pitch, and mountaineering competitions, as well as the opportunity to climb new routes on crags and high peaks.

Click here to learn more about the festival.

AAC members are often invited to international festivals and exchanges. Many of these are specifically aimed at younger climbers, from 14 to 30. A listing of this year's exchanges is available at the UIAA website. Contact Dana Richardson to apply.

For more information visit: AmericanAlpineClub.org