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The 6,000 members of the UK Section
of the Austrian Alpine Club
welcome all who are interested in
mountaineering, alpine sports and
walking to join them in membership.

Joining is easy
and brings many Benefits.

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Benefits of AAC(UK)/OeAV Membership

Mountain Huts

There are almost 1,200 mountain huts in Austria, Germany and South Tirol. Many of these belong to the Austrian (OeAV), German (DAV) and South Tirol (AVS) Alpine Associations. The rest are run by other clubs or are privately owned. These huts were originally built at strategic bivouac points. Those most difficult to reach or those with poor water supplies are still very simple huts or bivouac shelters but most have been enlarged and modernised and are comfortable, well provisioned mountain inns. Sleeping accommodation is either in Matratzenlager (mixed sleeping platforms with bedding) or bedrooms, which can be mixed dormitories. Matratzenlager are both popular and inexpensive. Everyone must bring their own sheet sleeping bags.

Overnight fees in the Huts are reduced for OeAV members. In Category I and II huts there is always a Bergsteigeressen (Mountain Climbers’ Meal, a cheap but filling evening meal) for members, and only members have the right to buy jugs of Teewasser (hot water for making tea and other beverages).

Details of most of the huts in the Eastern Alps can be found on our Hut Page .

AAC(UK) members can help support these huts via our Hut Fund .

Reciprocal Rights

Other European countries have similar hut systems. The OeAV has reciprocal rights (Gegenrecht ) agreements with alpine clubs in these countries, and the other Austrian alpine clubs, whereby AAC (UK) members enjoy the same reduction in hut fees as the members of those clubs. In addition to the Deutscher Alpenverein (DAV) and Alpenverein Südtirol (AVS ), these include alpine clubs of France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Slovenia, Belgium, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg. A full list of the Austrian and European Clubs to which this applies may be found on our Reciprocal Rights page.

AWS Annual Alpine Association Worldwide Rescue and Repatriation Insurance

The OeAV insurance policies under which OeAV members receive cover are provided by UNIQA Personenversicherung AG and GENERALI Versicherung AG , both Austrian companies and governed by Austrian law.

For a summary of cover provided by AWS (Alpine Association Worldwide Service) as part of OeAV membership, please refer to the AWS explanatory leaflets listed below.  NB this cover is primarily for mountain rescue NOT comprehensive travel insurance and you should read the leaflet carefully to ascertain whether you need to take out additional insurance to meet all your requirements.  If you have any queries please contact the insurer direct as explained in the leaflet, not the AAC(UK) Office which is not able to answer questions which seek interpretation of the insurance cover, but do check the Insurance FAQs.

The following leaflets are in Portable Document Format (PDF) and may be printed.  If you do not have a PDF Reader installed on your computer you may download one free of charge. 

[AWS Insurance leaflet in English]  
[AWS Insurance leaflet in German]

Merchandise

We sell a range of merchandise to members only, through the AAC(UK) Office:

  • Alpenverein Maps, Books and other publications. Details .
  • Clothing and similar goods bearing the club insignia.

Other Benefits

  • Subsidised training courses in the Alps and UK
  • Meets , walks , lectures and social activities in the UK
  • Meets in the Alps and other mountain areas of the world
  • Quarterly newsletter with news and reviews of Club activities
  • Expedition Fund  to help finance expeditions by AAC(UK) members.
  • Details of how to obtain special discounts available only to members, from selected mountaineering clothing and equipment suppliers such as Cotswold Outdoor and Webtogs

[click here to join or renew]

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Last updated  18 December 2009