Independent Ski Mountaineering
We are a small friendly club of like-minded and experienced individuals interested in independent ski mountaineering and with the ambition, skills and experience to explore wilder/remote ranges.
The Alpine Ski Club is the first ski mountaineering club in the UK, founded by Arnold Lunn in 1908, with a history of illustrious former members and pioneers in the field. Our patron is the renowned ski mountaineer, Stephen Venables.
There is a wealth of experience within the club membership, many of whom have ski toured and climbed in all parts of the world.
SOCIAL EVENTS
The club runs a number of social events throughout the year, providing a venue for members to meet, exchange information and to plan your next expedition. Lecture meetings are often held in the Autumn and Spring, usually in London, and nowadays also online.
The Annual Dinner is the highlight of the social calendar of the Club. It is held in October or November alternately in London or in a mountain venue in the UK. The out-of-town dinners are typically part of a week-end meet, where members can explore the mountain atmoshere and
MEETS
The club organises an annual Alpine meet open to all members and their guests; this is complemented by UK based meets in the summer/autumn .. new members are encouraged to join in with the activities to meet other club members.
The more active club members put together excursions and expeditions to explore lesser known mountain ranges. Enterprising guideless ski expeditions in recent years have included Mustag Ata, Zanskar, Kashmir, Gangotri, Iran, Turkey, Georgia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Antarctica and remote areas of Canada.
GRANTS and SUBSIDIES
Grants are available both for training in ski mountaineering and in supporting expeditions of an exploratory nature.
Club members are encouraged to apply for these ASC grants for their ski touring activities.
Club members who organiser ASC Club tours and meets are also entitled to an honorarium to cover expenses.
Meet the Club Patron
The accomplished mountaineer Stephen Venables, our guest of honour at a recent dinner in the Pen-y-Gwryd, became the Patron of The Alpine Ski Club in 2017.
Stephen continues to ski actively, especially during his explorations of Antarctica and South Georgia. We believe he can offer inspiration, especially to younger members, encouraging them to travel further afield.
Stephen, a mountaineer, writer, broadcaster and public speaker, was the first Briton to climb Everest without supplementary oxygen. He reached the summit alone, after climbing with a small American-Canadian team, by a new route up the gigantic Kangshung Face.
Everest was a thrilling highlight in a career which has taken Stephen right through the Himalaya, from Afghanistan to Tibet, making first ascents of many previously unknown mountains. His adventures have also included expeditions to the Rockies, the Andes, the Antarctic island South Georgia, East Africa, South Africa and of course the European Alps, where he has climbed and skied for over forty years. Recent adventures to Antarctica and South Georgia have relied on skis for access to remote and unclimbed mountains so we’re delighted that Stephen has agreed to be our Patron. He will attend our Annual Dinners whenever he can. He is an award winning author and accomplished speaker. Whether with informal tales of his latest exploits or new perspective on mountains and mountaineering, he will be a welcome and enthralling guest.
Photo: Rodrigo Jordan
Benefits of Membership
- Be part of a group of like-minded, active, independent ski mountaineers and follow in the tradition of illustrious ski explorers.
- Get discounted member’s rates at the club’s illustrated talks.
- Receive your own printed booklet of the ASC Review, covering the activities of members throughout the year and reports from those who received an ASC grant.
- Your activities on official Alpine Ski Club events are covered by the club’s public liability insurance provided through Mountaineering Scotland.
Please note this is limited to UK addresses only. - The club’s affiliation to Mountaineering Scotland also brings many other benefits, including discounts, access to huts, etc.
- Annual membership for all this is £35 per year.
Note: If you belong to another club which is affiliated to Mountaineering Scotland (affiliation fee is already paid) or you are an overseas member, you will receive a discount of £17 on the annual subscription fee.
How to Join
Membership of The Alpine Ski Club shall be open to all those who have an interest in ski-mountaineering and wish to promote the objects of the club.
ASPIRANTS
If you are new to ski mountaineering or touring, join us as an Aspirant. All you need is a keen interest to pursue the sport and become a safe, experienced and independent ski mountaineer. It is recommended you are a competent skier and have participated in a few day tours.
On joining, Aspirants are teamed up with a mentor who will help you get the most out of the Club and encourage your progress towards the Ordinary membership level. Normally, Aspirants are given 5 years to complete these requirements.
The final stage for Aspirants is to ask a member of the Club who has toured with you, or a guide or experienced ski moutaineer known to the Club, to propose you for Ordinary membership, as a safe and independent ski tourer. Aspirants can build up their ski touring record using the Aspirant Experience Update form.
ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP
Ordinary membership is the standard level within the club, for independent ski mountaineers. At this level you will be a safe and competent team member of any excursion the club may run, anywhere in the world. You will have demonstated your skills and awareness during previous ski touring activities.
New Ordinary members are also assigned a mentor for a short while to help you get the most out of the Club and encourage you to participate in Club activities.
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Candidates for Ordinary Membership must be able to demonstrate they are experienced and capable ski mountaineers, who have completed at least 20 days of ski mountaineering over a minimum of four seasons, including tours among glaciers and significant mountains. Their ski moutaineering record should include several unguided tours.
They must be supported by a Proposer, known to them personally, who shall attest that the candidate is a safe participant and active contributor in the risk assessement and decision-making for unguided tours.
PAYMENT
Payment for membership of the club is by annual subscription payable on 1 October: by direct debit with a UK bank. Please contact the treasurer if you need to request alternative payment methods.
If you have any difficulties with the online membership, please contact the Membership Secretary.
Last updated on 29th August 2026