The Chicago Mountaineering Club was founded in 1940 and incorporated in the state of Illinois as a
not-for-profit corporation on February 14, 1985.
The Club's mission is to: promote interest in the sport and craft of mountaineering, foster
fellowship among climbers of the Chicago/Midwest area, disseminate mountaineering knowledge and information, develop
skill in the climbing techniques of its Members, and sponsor local practice outings and periodic western outings.
Membership in the Club is open to anyone who is 18 years of age or older, is seriously interested in climbing (rock,
ice, or alpine), and has participated in at least three Club-Sponsored local outings or one Western Outing.
The Chicago Mountaineering Club is a proud supporter of the Access Fund. Many climbing areas could have been closed and lost forever had it not been
for the efforts of this vital organization. Among the Funds recent efforts, it has been lobbying the state of Wisconsin
against its efforts to limit climbing access. The Club views support of the Access Fund by all climbers as extremely
important.
The Chicago Mountaineering Club also actively supports the Mountaineering Foundation of Chicago (MFC). Under special
agreement, the MFC allows the Club and its members access to the John Speck Memorial Library. The Library consists of
mountaineering books, guides, pamphlets and journals. It also contains materials related to the Club’s history, and
serves as an archive for other Club records. To obtain access to the library, contact the librarian, Pieter Fockens, at 847-729-6804.
