What Is Mountaineering?

Climbing has many definitions to many people in many different places. When you think of climbing, you could think of scaling up a rock in a canyon, working out moves in a climbing gym or putting in ice picks on a frozen waterfall, and with all three definitions (or more!) you’d be correct! A specific type of climbing called mountaineering involves a variety of rock, snow and off-trail travel skills to reach a summit. It’s also called “alpinism” in some parts of the world. No matter what combination of rock, snow, and ice you find, they all require a high level of technical ability, athleticism, and skill.

Techniques

The techniques used during mountaineering vary greatly depending on the season, location, and the particular route chosen by the climbers. Although a route might be primarily one type of terrain, alpinists must be trained to climb on all types of typography due to the unpredictability of mountain landscape. The best conditions for a mountaineering trip are generally during Spring, Summer, and early-Autumn. These seasons usually provide a more pleasant experience with stable weather conditions by avoiding heavy snowfalls, frigid temperatures, and strong winds. Depending on the route, they typically have their own “peak season” where the climbing is most popular.

Preparation

To prepare for these types of climbs, there are plenty of instructors led courses out there that will not only go over the fundamentals of each type of terrain and how to climb it, but they’ll also go over the fundamentals of merely surviving on a route. They can cover how to survive in the cold, how to get enough calories and water during a climb, winter camping skills, shelter preparations, and so much more.

Training

Not only will you have to learn the fundamental skills, but you’ll also have to prepare yourself physically and mentally before heading out as well. Mountaineering includes a lot of gear, so unless you plan on hiring a pack animal to climb a mountain with you, carrying all of that equipment is your responsibility.

Physical

You’ll not only need to work on your cardiovascular endurance, but also your strength to haul your gear and yourself up the mountain. Find some indoor stairs and strap a pack on next time you’re at the gym to give yourself the most realistic workout.

Psyche

For mental preparation, experience is going to be your best preparation tool. Going into the mountains for hours and days at a time can take a toll, and you have to be on your game the entire time you’re on your excursion.

You must commit more time and energy to complete an alpine climb; you must be prepared for hardships, discomfort, and risk along the way and still stay sound of mind to return to the ground safely.

Experience

Most people who take up mountaineering have some background and experience in at least one other type of climbing, like rock climbing for instance, and then advanced their skills elsewhere. Going with a guide the first time or two while going into the mountains might be the safest option to get the experience outdoors that you need, but in a safe environment.

Gear

Due to the increase in skill requirements for mountaineering, you’ll need to up your gear game. While the list is quite extensive, if you’re looking for the absolute essentials to mountaineering, they’re listed here but can be route dependent:

• Mountaineering rope
• Harness designed for mountaineering
• Mountaineering helmet (to protect from rockfall)
• Carabiners (both locking and wired)
• Belay device
• Crevasse rescue equipment (for glaciated travel)
• Mountaineering boots
• Gaiters
• Camping items (if you plan on multi-day trips)
• Crampons
• Mountain axe and Ice tools
• Mountaineering gloves
• Clothing, food, etc.

Risk Assessment

As you can assume, this is a hazardous hobby and sport. There are two main types of danger to avoid when mountaineering, and they both include falling in some way.

Falling Objects

First is the risk of things falling on the climbers. A simple way to avoid having smaller rocks, snow, or ice hurt a climber is for them to wear a helmet. Many times if you are the belayer and your climber above you knocks some debris loose, merely wearing a helmet can prevent severe damage, along with being aware at all times and keeping your eyes to the sky to look out for potential hazards.

Falling Climber

The next danger is the falling of the climber. While sometimes things happen that are out of our hands as climbers, there are things we can all do to mitigate the potential hazards that might cause a potentially deadly fall. The biggest way to learn how to prevent falls, once again, is experience. Taking classes, courses, or going on guided trips at your local crags will give you the knowledge and confidence to haul yourself up a mountain and back down again with confidence and safety. There will be no better way to prepare than to practice, practice, practice.

Getting out into the mountains and “bagging a peak” as a mountaineer is one of the most thrilling and rewardable experiences any climber can have. But it can also be potentially deadly without the correct preparation, gear, and experience.

If you have been climbing for a while and want to test your skills on other terrains, look to see if there are any guided courses coming up in your area to learn and test new skills. Go to your local outdoor gear shop and do your research on the required gear to make sure you have equipment you can trust in the mountains. Lastly, know the dangers of this thrilling sport, and do everything you can to prepare against disasters.

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