The health of the planet can often be judged by events in the mountains.

Jake Norton on the north ridge of Everest with an International Mountain Guides Mallory & Irvine Research Expedition (photo: Dave Hahn)

Mountains shelter remnant and sometimes pristine ecosystems and serve as centers of biodiversity. Deep in the ranges, endangered human societies often exist alongside rare animals and plants.

Mountains are sensors of environmental change because they extend upwards through multiple climatic zones. Small shifts in temperature and precipitation can trigger large changes in glaciers and treelines. Events on the peaks can foreshadow subsequent changes at lower altitudes.

The rocks exposed in mountains provide windows into the Earth's deep history. Their study provides insights into hazards like volcanic eruptions and landslides, and they inform us about the slow, million-year rhythms of change that contrast our brief existence.

Mountains have spiritual importance. Increasingly, they are the only setting for outdoor adventure in a place not dominated by people. And they have a rich and thrilling history. This history documents some of the most extreme ventures of the human spirit and so has the power to educate and inspire.

AFFIMER's goal is to increase the understanding and appreciation of mountain environments by supporting scientific and historical research.

History
A California Public Benefit Corporation, organized under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable purposes, the American Foundation for International Mountaineering Exploration and Research (AFFIMER) is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational and scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

AFFIMER is dedicated to promoting the exploration of mountains for the purpose of increasing geographic, cultural, and scientific understanding of the global alpine environment.

Founded in 1990 by a group of alpine mountain climbers and researchers from across the United States, AFFIMER is governed by a volunteer board of directors and receives its funding from private contributions and donations from the public.