2003 American Alpine Journal Submissions

[Colin]

Regional Reports Guidelines - American Alpine Journal

 

In 2003 the AAJ will be changing its regional method of reporting. In the

interest of maintaining a more complete historical climbing record it will

be giving more attention to a regional overview in addition to personal

accounts of first ascents. The battle in recent years has been to capture

historically important climbs, events, or trends in each mountain region

that might otherwise be missed by the AAJ's standard first-person reports of

big new routes. The AAJ will continue it's effort to be the 'show case' of

notable International climbing, but will be allowing more opportunity to

record regional activity, that has in recent years been limited due to space

considerations. Regional climbing will be recorded in two ways: 1) A

regional correspondent (or cooperative set of correspondents) will report to

the AAJ on important NEW-routes, statistics, or other essential activities

and items of note in that area. The regional correspondent(s) also will help

to ensure that first-person accounts of big new routes are duly filed with

the AAJ. In that regard the correspondents will recognize that essential

activities are those things that record important events and trends for

historical documentation and/or that will be of immediate value for

near-term visitors. The regional summary will be limited to 1,000 words,

though more words are possible if the information is considered vital, and

will be best described as an overview of the years regional climbing with

respect to trends, climbs of note, climbing events etc.. 2) A regional

correspondent (or cooperative set of correspondents) will also submit the

first ascent bigger routes, defined as Grade IV or longer alpine routes;

recognizing that cragging is not the purview of the AAJ. These Grade IV

reports will be first-person accounts (limited to 250 to 500 words). Fact

checks with first-ascentionists and/or others in the know

will be done by the regional correspondents and/or AAJ¹s editors. Photos

may be requested. The report is to be filed by February 1 with special

consideration for later

submissions.

 

Colin Haley and myself have recently been designated as the Washington

Cascades correspondents for the AAJ. We will be submitting the regional

record for all Cascade climbing which may include the regional activity

record of AAC members. For general AAC member activity submit your accounts

to Peter Ackroyd the AAC Section Chair. Even though personal accounts

will be limited to Grade IV's we would encourage all accounts to be

submitted in the same (first person) format. Within a year it is the

directional hope of the AAJ to incorporate a web base accounting system that

will in effect allow for all first ascents (of all difficulties and grades)

without space limitations.

 

In that event, and in consideration for the 2003 AAJ, please submit accounts

under the following criteria:

250-500 words

dates

people involved

rating difficulty, grade

We encourage creative and whimsical writing, but please, all in good taste

and in the interest of the historical record and those who may follow in

your

foot steps.

 

Accounts, or any questions regarding submissions, should be e-mailed to

either gordys@altrec.com or colinhaley@attbi.com. Please pass this

information along to those that might not otherwise come across it.

 

Gordy Skoog

NW climber, unaffiliated