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BASIC MOUNTAINEERING COURSE No.1

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CLIMB PREPARATION
In preparing for a climb, several factors have to be taken into
consideration by the prospective climber. No Backpacker-beginner or
expert-can ignore physical fitness in preparing for a climb. A certain level
of fitness is required for a pleasant and safe climb. In order to enjoy the
scenery and the company of fellow backpackers, one must be fit to keep
up with them. The lack of preparation has made a lot of potentially
great climbs end in total disaster. Physical Fitness: To help you in
preparing for a climb, we have listed down some guidelines:

1. All participants of the climb must be physically fit. The best type of
fitness program involves continuous endurance training through aerobic
sports such as running, swimming, cycling and walking.

2. Weight training is the perfect supplement to an aerobic program.

This will help you develop your muscular strength and endurance.

3. Any participant in a climb who gets sick before the climb should
forego his participation. A sick climber becomes a liability to the group.

4. An old adage says that the best exercise for mountaineering is

mountaineering. The hardiest hikers and climber are those who spend a
great deal of their time hiking, backpacking and climbing.

5. Being fit gives you the confidence to tackle climbs, such that psyching
BASIC MOUNTAINEERING COURSE No.1 up come almost naturally. Planning a climb: The success of an expedition
depends largely upon the amount of planning given to the activity. The
different components that make up a climb are discussed during the pre-
climb meeting. In preparing for a climb, a plan to climb must first be
submitted and approved by the officers of the organization in order to be
a designated as an official climb. A Climb Report Form (filled out with
the necessary details) is submitted to the Executive Cabinet at least three
(3) days before the pre-climb meeting. The organizers of the climb should 3. Clean-up Climbs: The primary objective of a clean-up is to help
serve notice to the members at least one week beforehand. preserve and maintain a highly impacted mountain by bringing down
Announcements should include the objective, nature, requirements and trash(left on the mountain), planting trees and maintaining trails.
itinerary of the climb. These announcements are to be posted at the These climbs are commonly held in Mt. Makiling, Mt. Makulot and Mt.
organization’s Bulletin Board. Arayat.

THE PRE-CLIMB MEET 4. Major Climbs: major climbs are ascents on mountains whose degree
of difficulty is higher than those used on training climbs. It usually takes
Organizational regulations require that all the participants of the climb several days to complete these climbs. Mt. Banahaw, Mt. Kanlaon and
conduct a pre-climb meeting at least three (3) days before the start of the Mt. Halcon are good examples of these climbs.
climb. This is to ensure that the participants have enough time to
prepare for the climb. The pre-climb is a comprehensive study, 5. Guideship Climbs: Mountaineers provide groups with guided ascents.
presentation and discussion of the essential For a fee, select members can organize a trek for groups interested in
parts of conducting a climb. Its format should include the following climbing a certain mountain. A guideship climb can tackle mountains
items: classified as major or minor climbs.

A.) The objectives of the climb 6. Exploratory Climbs: These are climbs wherein the routes are
established and are ascended for the first time. An exploratory expedition
The objectives of the climb should be determined beforehand since this requires great amount of preparation and careful planning.
will determine the nature, requirements and itinerary of the climb.
Requirements for one type of climb may be radically different from C.) Route Planning
that of another climb, therefore, all preparations for the climb should be
viewed in light of the climb’s objectives. For example, if the objectives is An ascent must be studied with the aid of maps. The map usually gives
to ascend Mt. Guiting-Guiting’s summit (in Romblon), then it follows information regarding existing and
that this climb would require a strong team, extra provisions and rock possible routes, communities within the periphery of the mountain,
climbing equipment. distribution of vegetation, approximate compass bearings and an
approximation of the steepness of the terrain. More are discussed
B.) The nature of the climb lengthily in the BMC 3 lecture.
Climbs can be classified into six (6) categories:
D.) The itinerary of the climb
1. Training Climbs: The primary purpose of these climbs is to meet the
training requirements of the Manuguit Outdoors Club applicants. The The value of having an itinerary is realized in keeping up with schedules
organization provides its applicants with a progressive training program, to avoid unnecessary discomforts such as being forced to do late treks or
which gradually prepares them for major ascents. to set up camp in the dark. Programming activities maximizes efficient
use of time. In multi-day ascents or exploratory climbs, the itinerary is
2. Minor Climbs: Minor climbs are also known as fun climbs. These usually formulated based on the study of the map which provides an
climbs are conducted for their recreational value. They are light and approximation of the distances to travel. The amount of gear and
relaxing backpacking trips to accessible places like Mt. Susong Dalaga in provisions required is determined by the established itinerary.
Lipa, Batangas and Imelda Falls in Majayjay, Laguna.
E.) Climb organization G.) Meal planning

The first step in organizing a climb is the selection of a team leader, a The amount of food to be carried on an expedition is determined by the
scribe, a medic and a tailman. length of stay in the wild plus extra rations in case of emergencies. The

The Team Leader: The team leader is selected according to his/her climber must avoid buying his/her meal requirements at the jump-off
familiarity with the mountain and his/her leadership potential. He /She is point because the presence of stores or markets in the area is uncertain.
given an almost absolute role in decision making on that climb. However, Even if the climber finds one, it’s still uncertain that the store will have
he/she should also be open-minded enough to accept suggestion, what he’s searching for. It is better that the climber plans his/her meal
especially on decisions involving the safety of the party. before the climb so he/she can avoid those stuffs. Besides, what are pre-
climb meets for? The type and amount of food to be used and brought can
The Medic: The medic should have a thorough knowledge of first aid be determined by the following guidelines.
techniques.
1. Meals should be able to provide and replenish the energy requirements
The Scribe : The scribe has the duty of documenting the details of the of the climber. This means packing a lot of carbohydrates with protein
climb. and fat rich food.

The Tailman : The tailman has the responsibility of bringing up the rear. 2. Multi-day ascents require meals that will not spoil easily. Food can be
It is also a rule that a contact person must be chosen before the climb. The preserved through drying, pickling and salting. Food treated with spices
contact person should have a copy of the itinerary and is responsible for and vinegar usually lasts for days. There are also meals which can’t spoil
activating a search and rescue team (if he/she is not contacted within quickly (See Appendix for details)
twenty-four (24) hours of the estimated date/time of arrival).The second
part of organization is subdividing the big group into smaller groups of 3. It is easier to plan and prepare meals for smaller groups. Large groups
five to seven members. This facilitates the sharing of shelter, food require large and heavy cooking utensils.
preparation and increases the safety factor. The small groups shall have a
leader who is responsible for the management of his/her members. 4. Meals should not be limited to pre-packaged food or canned goods.
The creative outdoorsman can come up with a hundred different ways of
F.) Budgeting preparing nutritious and delicious meals in the wild. Keep in mind
however that the wise backpacker will design menus which will use light
An essential part of climbing is determining the approximate cost of ingredients. Canned tomato sauce may be replaced by powdered tomato
transportation, meals and other expenses. Each member usually pays for paste. Soup mixes are lighter than their canned versions. By using light
his/her transportation fare. A certain individual may be assigned ingredients, you will be able to lessen your load. Trail meals are helpful
to prepare a certain meal during the climb. The cost of all the meals is in eliminating hunger and exhaustion during trekking. It can even act as
summed up and payments are settled later (usually in the post-climb your main meal if you fail to eat during meal time due to delayed
meeting). Other expenses like spare batteries, trail food, etc. are for the itineraries.
account of the individual mountaineer, unless discussed otherwise by the
group members.
Trail food should meet 3 requirements: 2. The lead and tail men are the only persons who can give orders to stop
or proceed.
1. It should not induce thirst, since it would induce the climber to
consume more water. 3. The international mountaineering distress signal is six(6) blasts to a
minute. To signal aid is on the way, give (3) blasts to a minute.
2. Nutritious and must satisfy your body’s energy requirements. Sweets in
general, meet this criteria but may require some catabolic conversions C.) Pacing
before your body can use it as a fuel.
1. Always start with a slow pace to slowly warm up your muscles. Then
3. Easy to prepare and should require little or no cooking at all. Time and gradually change your pace to the group’s desired pace.
fuel constraints must be considered. Samples of trail food: Crackers, nuts,
candies, chocolates, fresh or dried fruits, corn flakes, pre-packed 2. The pace of the group should be that of the slowest member or the
gelatines, etc. person who has the heaviest load.

--------------------------------------------------- 3. Do not allow anyone to lag behind.

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TRAIL MOVEMENT AND POST-CLIMB MEET 4. Should there be a need to stop, inform the lead or tail man so that he or
she can give the appropriate order to stop.
A.) Group Formation
5. Maintain a steady rhythm while trekking. When negotiating steep
During the trek, there are some conventions followed regarding group slopes, keep the rhythm (pace) by
formation. Some are listed below: shortening your strides. On level ground, maintain the rhythm by taking
longer strides.
1. The lead man is always in front and is responsible for pacing the group,
while the tail man is responsible for bringing up the rear. D.) Trail techniques

2. Line formation on narrow trails should be single file. Overtaking In negotiating the trail, some techniques must be kept in mind in order to
should be avoided. provide the safest and least difficult route to the summit or objective.
Some guidelines regarding moving on the trail have also been mentioned
3. The ideal distance between two climbers is approximately two (2) here.
meters. This gap will give climbers some space in which to negotiate the
trail and proceed along the group’s pace. 1. The ridge line is most often followed in path finding. Avoid water lines
and gullies since water always takes the steepest route down the
B.) Trail signals mountain.

1. The signal for stopping is one long whistle blasts - and to commence 2. When crossing rivers or streams, bend your knees and face in a
trekking, two short whistle blasts. direction diagonal to the flow of the current to prevent the strong ones
from knocking you down. Unfasten your hipbelt and sternum strap
when crossing rivers and streams - whether a log bridge, over rocks or G.) Trail Regulations
through the water itself. This will allow you to remove your backpack
quickly in case you lose your balance or fall into the water. Backpacks 1. When trailblazing, avoid the indiscriminate cutting of vegetation. Keep
tend to float, forcing you under the water. trailblazing to a minimum to preserve the natural state of the wilderness.
Inform the person behind you of imminent obstacles or dangers along the
3. Do not step on obstacles for they might upset your balance. Avoid path.
dislodging rocks.
2. When the group is unsure of the proper path toward the objective,
4. To maintain balance and traction during descent, learn to dig first with several members should scout for the right trail or path.
your heel or the side of your foot.
3. Side trails not in use should be closed to prevent others from using
5. When there is a need to hold on roots or vines, make sure first that they them. This can be done by blocking the path with sticks or branches.
are sturdy enough to carry your weight and that they do not have any
thorns. 4. To make the path safer for hikers following you, cut sharp thorns and
poisonous plants along the trail.
E.) Rests
5. Do not litter. Pocket all food wrappers.
The interval between different stops will usually depend on the difficulty
of the terrain encountered. Some guidelines are listed below: 6. Smoking on the trail or during short rests is strictly prohibited.

1. Treks on level ground - five (5) minutes rest for every hour of hiking. 7. Straps, flaps, belts and knots may come loose during the trek. It is the
duty of the person behind you to inform you if you had dropped anything
2. Ascents - five (5) minutes rest for every thirty (30) minutes of hiking; on the trail.
on steep slopes - five (5) minutes rest for every fifteen (15) minutes of
hiking. 8. If you get lost, do not panic. Asses your position and then take the
necessary steps to find the correct route.
3. Descents - five (5) minutes of rest for every hour of hiking. During rest
periods, do not sit or lie down at once. Keep standing at least thirty (30) 9. In the event of an accident, keep the casualty comfortable and relaxed.
seconds to allow your pulse to slow down to normal levels before sitting Administer first-aid and transfer the person to the nearest clinic or
down. When resting, sip your water if you are thirsty. Drinking too much hospital.
quickly will induce an abrupt lowering of your body temperature. Check
your equipment before pack-up time and heed the signal of the lead man The Post-Climb Meet
immediately.
An essential part of the climbing experience is the climb’s assessment.
F.) Trail signs This is where the participants of the climb give their impressions and
personal feedback on the climb. The team should meet within five(5) days
It is unavoidable that there will be times when you have to communicate after the climb to review the strong and weak points of the climb. All the
with other members of your team or even other teams during a climb participants of the climb are required to attend the post-climb meeting to
through the use of trail signs. share their assessments. During the meeting, the team leader presides at
the meeting while the scribe takes down the notes. For future reference, There are two types of backpacks used in mountaineering. These are:
the scribe fills up the Climb Report Form and submit it to the secretariat
for filling within two(2) days after the assessment. As a rule, all group a) The External Frame Pack: with this type of backpack, the pack is
equipment should be returned during the post-climb meeting. attached to an external aluminum or plastic frame shaped like you back
and has a structure similar to that of a ladder. The shoulder straps are
--------------------------------------------------- attached to one of the upper rings of the frame. Backbands on the lower
------------------------------- part of the frame from a gap between your back and the pack which helps
THE BASIC CLIMBING ESSENTIALS provide ventilation. The sack is usually divided into two compartments
and usually comes with several external pockets. External frame packs
Familiarity with the equipment used in mountaineering is a requirement are designed to carry heavy and unbalanced loads, and are ideal for treks
for any serious outdoors man. Bringing the right equipment will spell the with wide, well-trodden trails. They may be cumbersome during a trek
difference between a comfortable night’s rest and a miserable, sometimes along narrow trails since they tend to get entangled on vines and
disastrous, night in the wild. The number of equipment for branches. On steep ascents, the external pack forces the body to stoop
mountaineering is so varied today that selecting the appropriate item for forward, putting the weight flat on the back.
you becomes a chore. For this course, we will discuss the items that
should go into your backpack for your stay in the wild. We will also b) The Internal Frame Pack: The frame of the pack is incorporated into
discuss attire for trekking and the proper care and maintenance of the sack. This frame, usually made of aluminum bars or plastic, is
equipment. Climbing equipment can be divided into two types - personal contoured to conform to your back’s shape and is held in place by sleeves
equipment and group equipment. You will find below the item’s along the back of the pack. Internals are designed to hug the body more
checklist for personal and group use. They are as follows: closely and give the arms room to move. They provide good balance on
steep ascents and ease of movement when moving along narrow trails.
PERSONAL USE: Fixtures like lumbar pads increase comfort and compression straps help
balance the load in the sack. Since an internal pack is supported (usually)
1) Backpack only by two parallel stays (bars), you must balance your load with more
care than you would when using an external. An internal can also be quite
One of the basic pieces of equipment you, as a mountaineer will bring on warm since it hugs your back. Internals also feature a top loading design
the trek is your backpack. An ideal backpack is large enough to contain which can be bothersome when unloading a gear.
all the gear and provisions you will need for a certain trip. Since
backpacks come in several sizes, make sure your backpack should also be 2) Boots
sturdy enough to endure the stress of rough handling and carrying heavy Some trekkers consider their boots as being their most essential piece of
loads. Today’s backpacks come with several features that make carrying personal equipment.
loads over long distances more comfortable. One of these features is the
padded hipbelt. The hipbelt transfers the weight of the pack from the A good pair of boots is:
shoulders to the hips, which increases comfort and carrying capacity. It
also prevents the pack from swaying excessively. Padded shoulder straps a) Ankle-high to prevent sprains
lessen the strain on your shoulders. A sternum strap will prevent the b) Cleated for traction
c) Sturdy enough to withstand heavy use and exposure to the
shoulder straps from slipping off your shoulders. Quick-release buckels elements.
and gadgets make iteasy for you to adjust your pack.
There are two types of boots used in tropical climates, the all-leather boot Proper care:
and the lightweight boot. The all leather boot is usually sturdier, more
supportive and water repellant, but is warm and heavy. The lightweight - Sharpen your knife on a fine-grained sharpening stone. Use oil or water
boot is lighter and cooler but less water resistant and provides less ankle as lubricant. Lay the blade edge on a stone. Raise the back of the edge
support. A boot with a low impact sole is to be preferred to a boot an slightly (a 30-degree angle between the blade and the stone will
aggressive sole. These new soles provide good traction while helping suffice). Stroke the edge towards you and off the stone with a slicing
minimize your impact upon the trail and help prevent erosion. motion, as if you were slicing into the stone. Turn the blade over and
stroke it away from you the next time. Continue back and forth until
3) Candles the full length of the edge is sharp. Wipe the blade.
4) Clothing
The type and amount of clothing to bring on a trek depends on the length - Keep your knife keen and clean at all times.
of the trek and the conditions (like rain or cold) you expect to encounter. - Never use it on things that might dull it.
Outdoor clothing should be able to provide protection against the - Keep it off the ground because moisture and dirt will corrode it.
elements. Layering your clothing will also lessen your clothing - Wipe the blade clean after using it then close carefully.
requirements and is more versatile in handling different conditions. This - Keep it out of fire. The heat draws the temper of the steel blade and
matter is discussed further in the BMC 1 lecture. makes it soft and useless.
- Treat the joints to an occasional drop of oil to keep the blades easy to
5) Dog Tag and Whistle open.
Your name tag (with your blood type) and whistle should always be worn - If blade do not move easily, open a few times in warm water, then dry
during a climb for emergency use. Any kind of identification you can in oil.
carry during a climb is also helpful. 11) Fuels for the stove
6) Earth Pad 12) Lighter and Matches
7) First Aid Kit: 13) Mess Kit and Drinking cup
This kit contains essential supplies such as Triangular or Elastic 14) Note book and Pencil
bandages, medication for fever, diarrhea, allergies, skin irritation, other 15) Plastic Bags and Trash Bags
illnesses, Puritabs (for water purification), alcohol, insect repellent, 16) Packed Lunch
disinfectant and a snakebite kit. This kit should always be checked before 17) Rain Gear/Poncho
every climb and is to be placed in a waterproofed container. 18) Repair Kit:
19) Rice and eggs
8) Flash Light 20) Rubber Bands / Garters
9) Food 21) Sandals / Slippers
(See Meal planning) 22) Sleeping Bag
10) Folding knife The ideal tropical sleeping bag is light, compact and quick drying but
This is a small and compact knife which can be folded into its handle for warm enough to provide protection. Three-season sleeping bags are more
convenience and protection. An example is the Swiss Army Knife. It than adequate for tropical climbing. Filling materials for sleeping bags
often has other accessories such as a can opener, a saw, a screwdriver include foam, fiber batting, polyester cotton and down. These materials
determine the suitability of the bag for certain conditions, as some filling
and other useful tools. The blade is used for cutting rope, cooking, material provide more protection
whittling and other camp chores. than others.
Proper care: Group Equipment:

- Wash your bag only when it's so dirty you can no longer stand it. Each The group equipment is divided among the members of the group. Each is
time you wash a bag, it loses a assigned a specific equipment to bring. If a climber fails to participate in.
little of its loft. the climb because he/she got sick, it is his/her responsibility to bring
- To keep your bag cleaner between washings, try a lightweight sleeping his/her assigned group equipments and group food to the meeting place
bag liner - either silk or nylon; not cotton. before the climb.
- Wash sleeping bags according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- You can hand-wash bags in a bathtub. Always handle a wet sleeping 1) Bolo
bag as if it's made of eggshells, because the weight of the water can tear 2) Map and Compass
the baffles, which will render all the "draft tubes", "differential cuts", and 3) Cookset
"shingle constructions" useless. 4) Flag
- Dry your bag on the air-dry cycle with no heat. If you hang the bag up 5) Tent
to dry, make sure it has plenty of support so the baffles don't tear. Several 6) Rope
parallel clotheslines will work. 7) Stove
- Shake out and fluff up your bag before you use it to increase the loft 8) Groundsheet
and make it warmer.
- Don't store your bag in the sack it comes in! Instead, leave it out or Packing of equipment
store it in a big pillowcase. Too
much compression of the down will break down the loft. The maximum carrying load should not exceed one-third (1/3 or 33%) of
your body weight. All equipment which may be affected or damaged by
23) Spoon and Fork water should be wrapped and sealed in durable plastic bags. Use a large
24) Sun Protection plastic bag as the inner lining for the backpack to provide additional
25) Survival Kit protection. Light items should be packed at the bottom and away from the
frame while heavy items should be placed close to the frame. The goal is
The survival kit should be put into a compact and waterproof container to have a balanced pack. Things which will be needed often or will
which can be carried by the person during short hikes without a backpack. require quick access (e.g., rain gear, first-aid, Swiss Knife, trail food, trail
The contents include the following: waterproofed matches, a small water, etc.) should be placed in the top compartment or on the other side
knife, a plastic tarp, a surgical rubber tube and emergency rations. pockets for accessibility. Flashlights should be stored with their batteries
Survival kits are usually placed in a pack’s top compartment for easy taped at the ends to avoid energy drain.
access and portability.

26) Toiletries
27) Trail Food
(See meal planning)
28) Trail Water
29) Tying string
30) Wind Breaker
31) Water containers
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FOOD PRESERVATION

Food preservation and preparation are crucial in mountaineering. There is

no better reward to a long
exhausted day of trekking than the satisfaction of a delicious, well-
prepared and meal.
For preserving meat (like beef, pork and chicken), the meat should first be
cut into strips or cubes. Boil the strips or cubes in a solution of one(1) cup
vinegar and one(1) cup of water with two(2) tablespoons of salt and
one(1) tablespoon of pepper for every kilogram of meat. Onions, garlic
and other spices you wish to add may be included. Despite this method of
preservation, the meat will not have a sour or salty aftertaste therefore,
this method can be used to prepare the meat for any type of dish to be
served in camp.
Dried and preserved food is relatively stable so further treatment may not
be necessary. Fish can be dried and salted before packing. One of the
common precooked meals brought by mountaineers during climbs is the
ever popular, well loved and indestructible pork adobo. The following is
the usual recipe for it: