What You Didn’t Know About Mountaineering | A Beginner’s Guide

Contributed by: Karen Ching

Mountain climbing is the trend nowadays aside from going around beaches but it is not an easy sport. You have to read and understand a lot of survival life hacks from mountaineering guides so you’d know what to do and not to do as you climb those gorgeously dangerous mountains. It’s a physical activity but you also have to be mentally prepared when something unexpected arises.

Survival in the mountains depends on how you prepare for the worst – it may or may not happen – but it’s best to know the basic points in mountaineering before you go.

Know who you’re with

In most cases, friends tell you to join them for a mountain climbing trip. That’s fine. But if you wanted to go but has no one to go with, book into a group hike which is actually common nowadays to save you from all the inconveniences. There may be fees included but if you really wish to experience your first climb, book from a group that has good reviews and is recommended by climbers for safety precautions.

Know where you’re going

Of course, before anything else, you should plan on where you are going. There’s a lot of go-to-mountains in the internet but, before you pick something out and climb, you should consider your own physical capability. It doesn’t hurt to know your own weaknesses – what would hurt is going somewhere you know you would not be able to survive.

To help you out, here are a few key factors to consider when planning your route:

• Difficulty – Above all, choose mountains that would match your physical capability and experiences. Trail difficulty varies from minor to major hikes and for beginners, it’s best to NOT go on major hikes immediately.
• Terrain – More often, terrains are overlooked by beginners. It’s one thing to prioritize your battleground when climbing as to whether you’re climbing rocks, inclined steps, or thick forests.
• Weather – Another factor to consider when mountain climbing is the weather. If heavy rain’s expected for your chosen date, you should definitely prepare your gears or to be safe, cancel the trip altogether.
• Current status – You should also consider the mountain’s current status. If it’s safe and open to travelers as certain cases such as forfeiting the trip on the spot happens.

Know What to Wear

Once you’ve determined your route, you need to get the right gear. This is where the importance of determining the weather condition takes place as it’s either you wear something to keep you warm or something that would keep you safe under the sun.

For sunny trips, bandannas, arm and leg sleeves, sunglasses and sunblock are the right gears. But for cold night trips, you have to keep yourself warm with thermal blankets, jackets, and scarves. Plus, in case of rain or river cross, make sure to have your things waterproof with ziplocks.

When it comes to particular terrains, be sure to wear the right footwear. Wear shoes with good traction that will suit the trail accordingly.

Know What To Do In Case…

In mountain climbing, it’s always best to prepare for the worst. You may encounter problems that vary from common physical setbacks (i.e., cramps, blisters, and sprains) to major ones such as dehydration, fatigue, hypothermia, heat exhaustion, and wounds and scratches – thus, you should learn first aid beforehand and bring your own first aid kit.

Climbs are unpredictable, things may or may not go as expected but always remember that the best survival hack to worst case scenarios is to take a deep breath and remain calm.

Let Others Know

A better way to prepare for unexpected instances is to let others know where you’re going, when you’re going and when you will return. It’s recommended to have your whereabouts known should accidents happen so they’d know where to find you. Also, collect contacts to ask for help even if signal can be a bit awful at the mountains.

First time climbers aren’t always well-informed as excitement can get a bit distracting sometimes. Thus, it’s always best to prepare by reading guides and blogs, and asking from the experienced to avoid unwanted circumstances. You can enjoy the mountains later, but for now, make sure to prepare for your first climb.