AAC Publications
Part of the AAC's mission is to provide climbers with resources that enhance climbing knowledge and inspiration, and our world-renowned annual books, the American Alpine Journal and Accidents in North American Climbing, are a critical piece of delivering on that mission. But our commitment to knowledge and inspiration for climbers ranges wider than that, and that's why we deliver resources like the Cutting Edge Podcast, and the Accidents and Journal database, so that you can hear new voices weigh in on the significance of recent climbs, or explore decades of data on particular accidents.
But besides chronicling the year's most significant climbs or analyzing climbing accidents, the AAC just knows climbers, and we know the stories that climbers love to read and hear. That's why we also publish the quarterly Guidebook, a collection of stories about the AAC's members, our work, and the hottest topics in climbing, as well as the AAC Podcast, where we dive into these topics even further.
Explore our publications below!
Introducing—American Climbing Journal
Introducing the American Climbing Journal. The inaugural journal of record for significant rock climbs. Stories like Adam Ondra flashing Lexicon, E11 or 5.14a R/X. Katie Lamb sending The Dark Side, V16. Connor Herson’s crazy pogo on the first proposed 5.15a trad line—ever.
Building off the world-renowned reputation of the American Alpine Journal, which has documented the cutting-edge of alpine climbing for 97 years, this new book tells the stories of groundbreaking ascents—in the disciplines of bouldering, sport climbing, single-pitch trad, and performance big-wall—almost entirely from the first-person POV of the climbers themselves, supplemented by deeply researched and reported writing.
The 2026 edition will feature stories from or about Sasha DiGiulian, Michaela Kiersch, Noah Wheeler, Jonathan Siegrist, Sungsu Lee, Hamish McArthur, Quinn Mason, Mary Eden, and Seb Berthe, in addition to many local contributors who wrote about rock climbs and areas of regional and global significance.
In a nutshell? The ACJ features gripping, compelling stories about hard rock climbing. Period.
If you are an AAC Partner level member or above, you can get this book in the mail as part of your member benefits! Be sure to open upcoming AAC emails to ensure you’re opted-in to receive this exciting new book.
Not a member? Join the Club by August 1 to ensure you get this year’s copy!
The American Climbing Journal is powered by:
The American Climbing Journal is supported by:
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If you are an active member of the American Alpine Club come August 1st, 2026, have an up-to-date mailing address in your member profile, and are opted into any of our current books (Accidents in North American Climbing or American Alpine Journal) you will automatically be sent the first edition of the ACJ! If you have any questions or issues accessing your member profile, please contact us at [email protected].
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The ACJ will ship alongside our other existing publications in the fall of 2026.
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Yes! There will be hardcover editions of the ACJ made available to Great Ranges and Advocate level members. Additionally, we will run a limited-run sale of these books to members in mid-July. Should any copies remain after that, they will be available for purchase along with paperback copies in the American Alpine Club store in the fall.
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Yes! Active AAC members at the Partner level or higher have access to the current year’s publications in digital form in their member profiles. The 2026 editions of all 3 books will be uploaded in the fall.
American Alpine Journal
Published since 1929, the American Alpine Journal (AAJ) is renowned as the most comprehensive worldwide source of information on major new climbs. The AAJ publishes first-person reports about big new routes, first free ascents, significant attempts, and mountain exploration anywhere in the world. This rigorousrecord keeping of the cutting edge of climbing is a feast of inspiration for all climbers!
Accidents in North American Climbing
Published annually since 1948, Accidents in North American Climbing documents the year’s most significant and teachable climbing accidents. Each incident is analyzed to show what went wrong, in order to help climbers avoid similar problems in the future. Whether it’s how quickdraws can come unclipped from a bolt hanger under specific circumstances, or how the rise in hiking apps is getting less experienced climbers and hikers into dangerous situations, our expert analysis will keep you informed on how to stay safe out there at the crags and on the slopes
American Alpine Journal—2024 Impact
244
individual stories and reports from around the world in the 2023
12,387
copies of shipped to members
850+
volunteer hours contributed, including writers, photographers, and volunteer editors
Accidents in North American Climbing—2024 Impact
11,985
copies shipped to members
280
climbing accidents reported and researched
2,490+
volunteer hours, including writers, photographers, guides, and volunteer editors
Submit a Report
American Alpine Journal
The AAJ publishes first-person reports about big new routes, first free ascents, and significant attempts and mountain exploration anywhere in the world. Most routes are at least six to eight pitches long, but we make some exceptions.
There are two ways to report new climbs:
Send your new route reports with this Submission Form.
Email reports and photos to the AAJ or to these editors:
United States (including Alaska): Michael Levy
Canada, Mexico, New Zealand: Whitney Clark
Himalaya, Karakoram, China, Europe: Lindsay Griffin
South America (except Peru, Bolivia and Brazil): Dougald MacDonald
Peru: Pete Takeda
Bolivia: Julian Dreiman
Brazil, Africa: Owen Clarke
Norway: Maarten van Haeren
Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan: Damien Gildea or Dougald MacDonald
Greenland, Middle East: Matt Samet
Antarctica: Damien Gildea
Accidents in North American Climbing
We welcome first-person reports about technical climbing accidents, as well as reports and analysis from rescuers, rangers, and other individuals familiar with the incidents. The person(s) involved may choose to remain anonymous.
Our online Submission Form collects all the necessary information.
Email the editors to ask questions about your report or to submit photos or diagrams.
Publications Search
Search the complete archive of AAJ and Accidents articles, maps, topos, and thousands of photos.
AAC Podcasts
American Alpine Club Podcast
The American Alpine Club Podcast is your guide to the climbing community. We're not your typical training podcast. Instead, we're covering the advocacy issues facing climbers, diving into forgotten and niche stories from climbing history, discovering undercover crushers, analyzing trends in climbing accidents, hearing from SAR professionals, and exploring the biggest cultural ideas in climbing with some of climbing's top athletes.
Cutting Edge Podcast
The Cutting Edge presents in-depth interviews with the world's best climbers, just back from great new climbs, along with historical perspective from the editors of the American Alpine Journal and local experts. This podcast is hosted by Jim Aikman and produced by the American Alpine Club.
Members
Are you receiving the AAC publications? Would you like to help the Club save resources by opting out of the print editions? (Digital/PDF copies are always available to members.) Review and update your current publications settings at your Member Profile.
Not a Member?
You can buy print or digital (PDF) copies of the current and past editions of our books at the AAC store.
