About us

Who we are
The Academic Alpine Club of Zurich was founded in 1896 by a small group of students who climbed without guides. We continue to uphold that tradition today as an association of students, graduates and researchers from Zurich's institutes of higher education who pursue a wide range of alpine activities – from rock-climbing through trekking, alpine climbing, ski-touring and expeditions. We own and operate two huts that are open to the public, the Mischabel and Windgällen huts, which are located respectively above Saas Fee and in the Maderanertal, Canton Uri. In addition, there is a small hut (without a warden) at the Fondei, near Arosa, for the use of AACZ members only. AACZ members enjoy reciprocal rights at Swiss Alpine Club huts and those of many other alpine associations throughout the Alps. Club activities revolve around the regular meetings for climbing once a week in the evening, termly meetings at the Linde Oberstrass hostelry, the traditional "Weihnachtskneip" at the Fondei hut in December and a venison dinner in January. At many of these events, active members get the chance to mix with AACZ members of previous generations who continue to take an interest in the club and support it financially and with their expertise. The membership of the AACZ has been international from the very beginning.

What we aren't
If you come climbing with us, you do so on your own responsibility. It's therefore vital that you already have the appropriate level of alpine experience. The AACZ is not in a position to offer instruction, alpine training courses, or a programme of organized tours. If you are looking for organized training or tours, we suggest that you contact the Sportverband ASVZ, a private climbing guide or climbing school, or a local section of the Swiss Alpine Club.

Interested?
Students, PhD candidates, and post-docs at Zurich University or the ETH Zurich are all welcome to join us in all our activities, provided that they have the appropriate level of alpine experience. While you are getting to know us, you are welcome to take part in the wall climbing sessions, make use of our guidebook collection, and come with us on ski-tours or climbing weekends. We don't charge you a membership fee while you are getting to know us but some events, such as the club dinner in January, are for full members only. What's vital to us – and much more important than what grade you climb at – is that you take a safe and responsible attitude to your mountaineering and don't take on more than you can safely handle.

How to become a member
If you've climbed with us for a year or so and feel at home in the club, we would be delighted to welcome you as a full member. The first step is to contact our membership committee. If they don't know you personally, they will discuss your application with people who have climbed or ski-toured with you. This application process is designed to ensure that the traditions and reputation of the club – particularly with regard to safety in the mountains – are upheld. New members are elected at the termly meetings of the club.

We hope that you have found this brief introduction useful and we look forward to welcoming you to the AACZ.

Akademischer Alpenclub Zürich
Wolfgang Fischer, Aktivpräsident