MOUNTAINEERING • Getting started • Is mountaineering for me? • Skills & techniques • Fitness • Food & nutrition • Equipment overview • Gear check list • Joining an expedition • The effects of altitude • Navigation • Safety & first aid • Further reading

MOUNTAINEERING
Skills & techniques

Mountaineering requires that participants aquire a very specific set of skills in order to operate safely and efficiently. These skills are best taught by qualified mountaineering instructors through a recognised Technical Mountaineering Course.

Some of the mountain climbing techniques and skills needed are:

• Knots & hitches
• Weather observation skills
• Mountain terrain identification
• Glacier travel
• Crevasse rescue
• Snow & ice climbing
• Belay techniques and systems
• Attaching to anchors
• Crampon techniques
• Ice belays
• Snow belays
• Self arrest
  
• Abseiling
• Moving together as a group
• Alpine rock skills
• Rope techniques
• Avalanche awareness
• Mountaineering first aid
• Building snow shelter

 

Technical Mountaineering Courses

There are lots of companies that offer recognised Technical Mountaineering Courses. These companies can provide the necessary training for you to climb mountains safely and efficiently. After completing a TMC not only will you have the skills and confidence to climb, but the course itself will give you a fair indication as to whether you would like to pursue mountaineering long term. Either way, a TMC is a great adventure experience in it's own right. Some of the most reputable companies providing recognised TMCs are:

• Alpine Guides: Based in Mount Cook, New Zealand
• Adventure Consultants:
• SummitClimb.com:

Learn more about these adventure companies.

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