Mountaineering is definitely an extreme sport. It takes you to your physical and mental limits, and then pulls you out the other side. It taxes your stamina, taxes your endurance, your strength, your patience… but at the end, when you’re standing on top of the mountain staring down at the beauty of the world below you, it’s all worth it.
If you’re thinking about mountaineering, use caution. It’s harder than it looks and not at all like a walk in the woods. As a beginning climber, take mountaineering training before you head out! Here are the top 10 reasons to take mountaineering training before your first climb:
Reason #1 . Health
Being healthy doesn’t cut it. Mountaineering is a whole other sport; it’s an extreme sport, which means you need to be in extremely good shape. Maybe not like Sylvester Stallone, but better than average. Mountaineering training will help you condition your body for the times when you’re hanging off a rock 1,000 feet in the air. It takes time to plan your next move, so you may be hanging there for a minute.
Reason #2. Strength
You’ll need a lot of strength for this extreme sport. You’ll need to know how to use those muscles of yours on the mountain. Halfway up the mountain is not the best time to realize that your body strength is only half what you thought it was. Mountaineering training includes specific strength training. Your hands have to be strong enough to hang onto that rock while you’re planning your move. Your arms, back and legs (especially your legs) have to be strong enough to push you up an entire body length.
Reason #3. Stamina and Endurance
While you’re mountaineering, there will be times that you can’t stop; you might not be able to find a convenient ledge waiting for you to sit on. No matter how tired you are, you can’t always take a rest on the side of a mountain when you want to. Mountaineering training will help build your endurance to new heights for those challenging times. It will also help increase your cardiovascular fitness for better stamina.
Reason #4. Flexibility
Your fingers need to be flexible enough to grab a centimeter wide ledge. As well, your legs need to be flexible enough to lift to shoulder level for the next rock. Mountaineering training can help with that flexibility, and a good trainer will help you with the specific exercises needed to turn you into a flexible wonder.
Reason #5. Patience
Hanging off the side of a mountain while you’re searching for the next tiny ledge is not the time to get an attitude. If you get angry or impatient at a mountain, it just sits there. You, on the other hand, can go plummeting. Mountaineering training allows you the ability to raise your levels of patience. It prepares you mentally for the emotional rigors you’ll face on the mountain.
Reason #6. Knot-tying
Being able to tie a knot is a fundamental skill for mountaineering. You’ll need to know what knots are safe, how to do them and how to make sure they’re done correctly. Mountaineering training will teach you the knots needed to keep you safe when you’re rappelling down the mountain or climbing up it.
Reason #7. Movement
There are ways to move and there are ways not to move. There will be times that you can’t afford to stumble. For mountaineering, you need to have balance and agility. You need a toolbox that includes necessary body positions, movements and decision-making abilities. Being a skilled scrambler is optimum. Mountaineering training can help you hone those essential skills that will make climbing that much easier.
Reason #8. Technical Knowledge
With mountaineering, you’ll have gear, and stuffing a backpack full of “stuff” won’t do it. This is especially true if you have no idea how to use it. Your guide in mountaineering training will teach you what gear you’ll need, as well as give you the technical knowledge to use it correctly.
Reason #9. Understanding the Principles
As stated in the beginning, mountaineering is nothing like a walk in the park. In fact, it’s not much like hiking either. There’s a lot of climbing, and lot of scrambling and a little bit of walking. Choosing to take mountaineering training before you climb can teach you the necessary principles needed to enjoy the climb and stay safe.
Reason #10. It Just Makes Sense!
There are a lot of “do-it-yourself” people, and that’s great. However, with mountaineering, you may be having a blast, but you’ll be risking your life while you’re doing it. That’s why it’s called an extreme sport! Once you’re out there and climbing your heart out, you won’t be able to check your “Mountaineering Handbook” or ask somebody what to do next. The side of a mountain is not the place to be wondering “what now” and “how do I use this thing”.
Ultimately, taking mountaineering training before your first climb will help you be as prepared as one can be, physically, mentally and emotionally. It will never make mountaineering easy, but it can make it easier, as well as safer.