| So you want to be a mountain climber. You | | | | up, easy to take down. If weather threatens, |
| want to be a mountaineer, do you? Alright | | | | outcroppings of snow or rock are readily used to |
| then. Here are the very basics. Mountaineering | | | | fortify them. A bivouac (bivy) is an open |
| is the act of hiking, climbing and camping up | | | | encampment that can give you a rough-and-ready |
| mountains. To most of us it is a sport, a | | | | resting and sleeping arrangement. Handmade |
| hobby. But to those for which mountaineering is | | | | shelters, such as a snow cave, may be dug out |
| like breathing, it is a true profession. You must | | | | of the ground in at least four feet of snow—a |
| be athletically fit and have the technical ability for | | | | very compact fit. A quinzee, on the other hand, |
| it. One more thing many people don’t | | | | is carved out of a pile of snow above ground. |
| realize: you’ve got to have the mental | | | | While these handmade shelters may not seem like |
| capacity for it. It’s challenging for the mind | | | | much, they are so much warmer than being |
| and the spirit. You need every part of | | | | outside in the open freezing air. Igloos are surely |
| yourself. | | | | a possibility, but it takes quite some time to build |
|  | | | | one. Time, while climbing a mountain, is always |
|                | | | | something you wish you had more of.     |
| Â | | | | Â |
| There are three typical terrains encompassed by | | | | Aside from knowing what types of terrain to |
| mountaineering. They are snow, glaciers and | | | | expect and how to manage them, what types of |
| ice—each requiring its own specific equipment. | | | | shelter are available, you must know what |
| Snow shoes are very useful for deep snow, such | | | | dangers to look for. The three main types of |
| as what you may find in long fields of snow or on | | | | danger in mountaineering are things falling on you, |
| inferior slopes of a mountain where snow will pile | | | | yourself falling and bad weather. Things falling on |
| up. Glaciers pose no problem by themselves. | | | | you include rocks, snow (avalanches), ice and |
| The greatest danger is in the common | | | | even another climber, or his gear. As a climber, |
| occurrence of a crevasse while crossing one. | | | | you could loose your hold and drop into very thin |
|  These deep chasms are often well hidden from | | | | air. You may go careening down a |
| sight by a snowbridge that is often just a few | | | | mountainside. If you survive the brutal tumble, |
| inches thick. A wrong step and it could be all | | | | hopefully you won’t land in a deep hole or a |
| over for you. In glacial travel, a system of | | | | crevasse. Good grief! And a climber should |
| ropes is used, binding climbers to each other. If | | | | never forget the ever-present threatening danger |
| necessary, a crevasse rescue to the rescue! | | | | of the weather. While many dangers may be |
| Basic glacial gear includes rope, crampons and an | | | | avoided based on the route you choose going up |
| ice axe. This will also be your basic gear for | | | | and down the mountain, no climber can ever |
| travelling over ice. If you’re travelling over | | | | escape the weather. You mustn’t ever |
| steep ice, however, you’ll also need ice | | | | ignore it. It could mean your life and don’t |
| screws (aka pickets) and an extra axe. Now, if | | | | ever allow yourself to doubt it.    I   |
| the ice is a vertical wall, you’ll need ice | | | |  |
| climbing skills to get up there. Be ready for it. | | | | If you’re going to be a mountaineer, |
|  | | | | you’ve got to be serious. A few months |
|  | | | | preparation is not being serious—unless, of |
| Climbing a worthy mountain requires days of | | | | course, you’re already athletically fit and |
| camping out. Time is needed to acclimatize to | | | | adept at another climbing activity. This is one of |
| the high altitude conditions. It often requires | | | | the most dangerous, most extreme nature |
| more than a day to descend to the base of the | | | | sports there is. |
| mountain once you’ve reached the top. | | | |  |
| You’ve got a few choices for shelter on | | | | You must be fit. You have to be smart. |
| those forbidding slopes. Base camps may be | | | | Always be ready. And, please, don’t ever |
| found on many popular, usually very dangerous | | | | climb alone. You know you’re just asking for |
| summits. These camps give you time to | | | | it. Be careful up there! |
| prepare for an attempt to reach the summit. | | | |  |
| Additional camps may be found further up the | | | | Â |
| mountain where the summit cannot be reached | | | | Len Q. is a master blade sharpener and an |
| from base camp in a single day. Mountain huts, | | | | adventurer who strives to protect the natural |
| with varying names based on location, have basic | | | | world. If you would like to learn about |
| eating and sleeping facilities. Some are | | | |  |
| abandoned during certain times of the year but, | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -Â Knife Sharpening:Â How to |
| at favorable times, are fully manned and | | | | Sharpen Knives, Maintain and Store Them |
| stocked. Some huts offer booking in advance | | | |  |
| and, in these cases, cancellations are advised. If | | | |             - The Fastest Way to |
| cancellations aren’t given and the party | | | | Sharpen, Tests for Sharpness and more |
| doesn’t show, it could indicate that someone | | | |  |
| is stuck on a mountain and needs help. | | | |             - Sharpening Other Edges |
| Â | | | | (Maintain and Store Them) |
| Much simpler, temporary shelters are often used | | | | Â |
| up on a mountain. The most common shelter on | | | |              (e.g. |
| a mountain is a tent. They’re easy to pick | | | | |