Mountaineering is the sport, hobby or profession of walking, hiking, trekking and climbing up mountains. It is also sometimes known as alpinism or alpine mountaineering (especially in Europe). When undertaking this hobby, you can mountaineer any terrain as long as you are using the right technique. There are three aspects of mountaineering - rock-craft, snow-craft and skiing, depending on whether you choose to conquer rock, ice or snow. All three types will of course require great athletic and technical skills, and more importantly – experience.

Prime locations where mountaineering is most popular are mostly in the Alps, where the sport originated. Other popular mountain ranges include the Caucasus, the Pyrenees, the Tatra Mountains, the Rockies and Sierra Nevada of California, the Cascades of Washington and the high peaks of Alaska.

Something to be pre-warned about is that like all vigorous outdoor activities, mountaineering is not for the weak of heart and lungs! Rapid ascent can lead to altitude sickness, which symptoms include headache, lack of appetite, nausea, lethargy and an aching body! If not careful, Mountain sickness may progress to HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema) and HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema), both of which can be fatal within 24 hours. The best treatment is to descend immediately.

If you’re not up for high peaks, there is no need to turn your back on Alpine Mountaineering as there are always lower peaks for you to conquer.

For more information, be sure to check out the Traveller Trail's Travelogue and Directory for great sources regarding Alpine Mountaineering.