The Mountain Guide: Essential Info and Mountaineering Tools You Need

Have you ever dreamed of mountaineering? Of climbing the tallest mountains in the world and feeling like an explorer? There comes a time in many hikers' lives when they look up at the top of a snowy peak and wonder what it will take to get there. If you've been wondering whether or not mountaineering is something you'd like to attempt, now might be the time.

Even though weight is always a consideration, mountaineering is not an ultralight activity. You'll need to have more than the basics to survive unexpected mountain weather (which you should always plan for). To determine what you need to bring, think about the length of your climb, how remote the location is, and the weather forecast. (You'll also need to have the necessary technical skills, of course.)

The Mountain Guide

What is Mountaineering? 

In some ways, scaling a mountain is not all that different from camping. You generally begin your journey on a well-traveled path with a pack on your back containing the items and gear you'll need for the duration of your trip. However, where the goal of backpacking is to complete an aesthetically appealing loop or hike out and back while camping along the route, the goal of mountaineering is to reach the top of a peak via snow travel, which may also include glaciers or ice.

What Does Mountaineering Require?

Mountaineering may be both physically and mentally demanding, with long hours spent pushing your way up and down a mountain. You'll also need technical skills such as how to use an ice ax and how to rescue a climber from a crevasse before you can go. However, the sense of achievement you'll feel upon reaching the top and the gratification of finishing the trip might make it all worthwhile.

Essential Mountaineering Tools You Should Have

Mountaineering is a gear-intensive sport. If you're using a guide service, some equipment may be supplied or rented for you, so inquire about it first. The items you'll need to bring varies depending on the path you want to climb, but the following are some of the most important personal belongings you'll need:

Helmet

Climbing helmets are used to keep you safe from head injuries. The dangers of head injuries when climbing are probably much greater than you realize.

Climbing helmets are never the most pleasant item to put on. They restrict your vision and can become excessively heated over time. However, these annoyances are insignificant when compared to your safety.

If you suffer a head injury, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to complete the ascent. You might even have to be rescued by other climbers. Rescue operations are never simple or risk-free for the people involved. If you are stranded at a remote location and need help getting to a hospital, things could get ugly and time-consuming.

Harness

A harness is a device that allows you to connect to a rope for belaying and climbing. Climbing ropes have previously been connected directly to the climber's body. That was certainly uncomfortable, and even deadly if you fell from a height.

Types of harnesses:

• Sit Harness: This type of harness is the most common. It wraps around your waist and legs, with a strap that goes between your legs. 
• Chest Harness: A chest harness helps to keep you upright if you fall and can also be helpful when rappelling or lowering yourself down a slope. 
• Full Body Harness: As the name suggests, this harness covers your entire body. It is more commonly used in mountaineering than other types of harnesses because it provides more support.

Ropes

Ropes are mountaineering equivalent to hiking trails. They can take you where you want to go, but they also come with their own dangers and annoyances.

The length of a rope varies depending on your desired activity (i.e., mountaineering vs rock climbing), but for most mountaineers, ropes are about 60 meters long. The weight of the rope is important too because if it's not light enough it will be burdensome to carry up the mountain, even in coils around your body or attached at different points along with your gear.

Carabiners

The workhorse of your climbing equipment. You utilize carabiners for practically everything, including belaying, rappelling, clipping into safety anchors, and tying ropes to protection points.

Carabiners are available in four distinct forms: oval, D-shaped, offset D-shaped, and pear-shaped. The D-shaped and offset D-shaped carabiners are more durable than the oval and pear-shaped carabiners.

The carabiners come in a variety of different types, including straight, bent, or wire gates. Bent gates make clipping ropes into and out of the carabiners easier. Wire gates are a lighter and sturdier variation of standard gates.

Runner/Slings

The terms "runner" and "sling" are sometimes used interchangeably. They're used to set up anchors and belay points. Webbing, as the name implies, is made of fabric that has been woven together in a flat strip or tube form. Webbings can be sewn or linked together to create a runner or sling. Cords (also known as accessory cords) are another option for webbings. They are a sort of static rope that is composed of yarn wrapped around itself repeatedly. To make a runner or sling out of a cord, tie it into a loop.

Belay Device

A belay device functions as a brake by adding friction to your climbing rope. It allows you to catch a falling climber and lower them slowly if they fall. A basic belay device such as the Sticht Plate is designed for mountaineering, but there are also advanced devices that allow more control over how fast or slow someone falls down.

Anchors

You'll also need anchors if you're rock climbing. These connect the climber to the rock and assist in preventing a fall. Fixed anchors may be found on well-established routes. Climbing gyms frequently feature fixed anchors as well. When there are no permanent anchors, climbers will utilize detachable ones. This is also more environmentally friendly as it avoids causing harm to the rocks and mountains themselves.

Types of rock climbing anchors:

• Bolt anchors: bolts are permanently placed in the rock and offer a very secure anchor
• Pitons: these are hammered into cracks in the rock for an insecure, but faster to set up, anchor
• Chocks: these wedges of metal or plastic fit into natural irregularities in the rock to provide a solid anchor
• Cams: these spring-loaded devices wedge themselves into tight spaces and work well on uneven surfaces

Headlamps

Headlamps are essential for mountaineering because you'll often be climbing in the dark. They provide a hands-free way to see what's ahead of you and help avoid any dangerous surprises.

The brightness of a head lamp  is measured in lumens. The higher the number of lumens, the brighter the light will be. Most mountaineers prefer a minimum of 400 lumens for their LED headlamp. Research about the area and know about what you need so you can find the right headlamp for you. 

Crampons

Crampons are metal spikes that you strap onto your boots. They help to increase traction over hard snow and ice.

Crampons come in different stiffness and rigidity. They also have different attachment systems. 

Types Of Crampons:

• C1 crampons
• C2 crampons
• C3 crampons 

Not everyone who goes mountaineering hires a guide. Mountaineering on your own can provide you not only the thrill of alpine adventure but also a profound sense of achievement. However, before attempting your own climb, you must first master technical skills and gain a feeling for how to journey in the mountains. While it's feasible to learn from an experienced mentor or friend, we recommend enrolling in courses taught by certified instructors.

There are many organizations, schools, and clubs that provide this training; some give months-long courses that will teach you what you need to know and will culminate in a climb that puts your new abilities to the test. It's also feasible to learn the essentials by taking several shorter lessons.