Mountaineering
Also referred to as ‘mountain climbing’ or mainly in Europe ‘Alpinism’) is the sport of
climbing a mountain. Regardless of the length of the trip which can range from a few
hours to multi-day expeditions, mountaineering is more physically demanding than
hiking. Mountains often provide a mixed terrain (with the presence of rock, ice and
snow), so climbers need to be able to navigate through a wide variety of conditions.
Depending on the case, mountaineering may involve using technical equipment and
combining a series of related skills like scrambling, climbing, and glacier travel, ice
climbing or mixed climbing.
Besides reaching a summit or completing a ridge traverse, the true
success (and the main objective) of a mountaineering trip lies on overcoming
safely every hazard along the route
Most challenges in the mountain derive from the terrain’s characteristics:
crevasses, avalanches, rock fall, glaciers, etc. High altitude (especially when attempting
a peak over 4,000 meters) and adverse weather conditions are two other essential
factors that may add difficulty to a mountaineering trip.
Other factors are directly related to mountaineers themselves, including their
physical condition and acclimatization, technical skills, equipment,
orientation, resourcefulness and decision-making skills.
Mountaineering is mostly practiced in groups: team-work and support are very
important parts of the activity.
When is the best time of the year for a
mountaineering trip?
The best conditions for a mountaineering trip are generally during spring, early-
Autumn, and summer. These seasons provide more pleasant and stable weather
conditions and allow mountaineers to avoid heavy snowfalls, extremely cold
temperatures, and strong winds.
Tips in Preparing for a Mountaineering Trip
1. Personal Health
2. Clothing
3. Wearing a pair of hiking shoes
4. Gear
5. Food
6. Companions and Climbing Buddies
7. Itinerary
What equipment do you need for
mountaineering?
Mountaineering rope.
Harness designed for mountaineering.
Mountaineering helmet (to protect from rockfall).
Carabiners.
Belay devise.
Crevasse rescue equipment.
Mountaineering boots.
Camping items: 4-season tent, sleeping bag (check climate conditions),
backpack.
Crampons.
Ice axes.
Mountaineering gloves.
Some guides who lead mountaineering trips include their clients’ necessary equipment
in the price. However, in other cases, you will need to take your own equipment or rent
it.
Why hiring a guide for a mountaineering
Trip?
Going on a mountaineering trip with a certified mountain guide is always
recommended, both if you don’t have much experience in the mountains or if you want
to accomplish more challenging goals. A certified guide usually knows the area very
well, can handle the logistics of the trip and above all, is responsible for the group’s
safety.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Destination
The system is divided into three parts:
1. Classification (Minor or Major)
2. Difficulty Scale (1/9 being very easy; 9/9 technical)
3. Trail Class (1 -5 which describes the type of trail to expect).
This can be quite overwhelming for newbie climbers, so for the purpose of this article, we can just
use the "Minor - Major" classification in choosing mountains to climb.
Generally, a Minor Climb is any climb that can be accomplished within a single day without
extraordinary physical effort, taking five hours or less from the jump-off point (location at the foot of
the mountain where the hike begins) before reaching the summit.
A Major Climb normally requires two or more days to accomplish, with the climber exerting a great
deal of physical effort, and normally takes six hours or more to reach the summit.
How can you benefit from mountaineering?
There are numerous benefits to mountaineering. The most obvious
benefits are improving both your physical fitness and cardiovascular fitness
levels as well as reducing body fat through aerobic exercise. Some other less
obvious or ‘less tangible’ benefits include greatly improving your own personal
confidence and team working skills, which you will use in your work and
personal life without even realizing it!
CATEGORIES OF MOUNTAIN CLIMBING
Alpinism, alpine/alpine climbing- is the common term for classical
mountaineering of mountains covered with ice and snow and usually
when you say mountaineering we refer to this type of mountaineering.
Via Ferrata - is a climbing niche in which a cable infrastructure has
been prepared in advance, to which the climbers connect. Therefore, it
doesn’t require a high level of skill. Via Ferrata has dedicated climbing
equipment adapted for connecting to the fixed cables on the mountain.
Via Ferrata actually means “iron path”, and although started in the 19th
century, it usually relates to the routes established during World Wars I
and II to facilitate the movement of troops.
Trad / Traditional climbing, is the name for the classic cliffs climbing
where we climb the bare mountain and perform while anchoring to rock
crevices so that we can secure ourselves with the climbing rope.
Bouldering is a climbing rock in nature or climbing wall, at low altitude.
Not much in common with the classical mountain climbing and the skills
are different.
Ice climbing can be a part of the Alpine climbing journey to the summit
or a dedicated climb. It refers to climbing the glacier ice, which is
different than walking on snow and requires high skills in order to
properly use an ice ax, anchor techniques (using ice screws or other
techniques) and crampons to hold your feet on the ice. Ice climbing
does not necessarily include conditions in alpine climbing at high
altitudes for oxygen acclimation and high altitude weather or the
logistics observed in alpine climbing trips.
Mixed climbing -as the name implies, is the combination of ice climbing
and rock climbing. It can require the use of ice-related equipment, such
as climbing boots and crampons, as well as an ice ax or ice screws
anchoring. In some cases, mix climbing requires using “Dry-
tooling“, which basically means using ice ax over the exposed rocks
and crampons or rock shoes.
Free Climbing usually refers to cases of rock climbing where
equipment is used only for safety purposes, rather than assisting the
climb. The climber relies solely on their own physical strength in order to
progress.
Solo-climbing is the term to describe the case of a rock climber that
climbs alone without any assistance or belaying.
Free-solo climbing is the case in which the climber climbs solo, without
any assistance or protection equipment at all!
Top Climb Mountains in the
Philippines
1. Mount Pinatubo
2. Mount Apo
3. Mount Pico de Loro
4. Mount Pulag
5. Mount Daguldol
6. Mount Mariveles
7. Mount Banahaw
8. Mount Kanla-on
9. Mount Guiting- Guiting
Mountaineering Etiquette
Follow the mountaineer's creed:
"Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but foot prints, kill nothing but time."
As a mountaineer, it is our job to be stewards of Mother Nature. Here are a few important things to
remember when climbing mountains:
Do not throw your trash anywhere, instead place it in your trash bag and bring it down the
mountain and dispose of it accordingly.
Do not vandalize or write words on trees and rock formations.
Be considerate of other visitors and mountaineers. Minimize noise, like shouting, playing of
loud music, etc.
Be respectful to the locals and their customs and traditions. Greet other people when you
meet them in the trails or in towns.
Leave what you find. If you see something that is beautiful, please, by all means just leave it
there and don't bring it home with you.
Follow the "Leave no Trace" principles, outlined on this link in detail.
