Appalachian Mountain Club. AMC climbers could be found on expeditions throughout the world. Although there were no club-sponsored climbing trips, there were nevertheless numerous private trips to areas throughout the United States and South America. Spreading suburbia has limited the access to some local climbing areas, and the energy crisis has increased the use of many smaller, more accessible local cliffs. There is substantial moral suasion being applied to keep all climbers climbing clean.

The increased interest in climbing has been seen in the winter use of New Hampshire’s Presidential Range with an attendant increase in accidents. The club’s New Hampshire Chapter is currently involved with state agencies in rescue organization and operation. Baxter Park in Maine was again the scene of a joint ADK-AMC Advanced Winter Mountaineering School. The students in this course, with a 4-to-1 student-teacher ratio, learned snow and ice climbing as well as general hiking, climbing, and route finding in winter and whiteout conditions. It would be hoped that the knowledge gained by participants in courses of this type would be further disseminated by them and would help reduce the number of winter mountaineering accidents. One may well question, however, the use of a fragile and remote wilderness area like Baxter Park for a climbing school for 35 people, and, indeed, some hope that the school will not be held there again.

Reed W. Markley, Chairman, Interchapter Mountaineering Committee