Mountain Climbing

Mountain Climbing

Mountain climbing, also referred to as mountaineering refers to the practice of scaling raised points for sport, research or enjoyment (Sheel, 2004).

Types of Mountain Climbing

Three categories of mountain hiking exist, which are trail climbing, rock climbing and ice climbing. Trail climbing involves the participant simply hiking through the length of trails to the mountain crest. Normally, the mountains are comparatively small and the trails are not extremely steep. Rock climbing is a second example and it involves a landscape with steeper slopes and larger mountains (Sheel, 2004). The members have to climb on hands and feet, using specialized equipment, ranging from thick rubber-soled boots, shoes, rope, and steel spikes (pitons), that are forced into the rock to aid in climbing. Ice climbing is the third example and it is only common in extremely high mountains, whose crests are beyond the timber line. The equipment required for ice climbing include the ice axe and clip-on boot spikes, known as crampons, which are used on solid ice or snow (Ewert, 1985).

History

Mountain climbing can be dated long time back in the ancient periods where people used to climb mountains to perform their daily mandatory activities such as retrieving lost animals. For some other reasons, early attempts to scale mountain peaks were inspired by the need to construct altars, to see an overview of one’s own neighborhood or the neighboring countryside, and to observe meteorological or geographical phenomena (Frison-Roche & Jouty, 1996). However, climbing mountains in a much more technical manner such as a sport, bares a shorter history. People try to get accomplishments from conquering sports of mountain climbing of those mountains that have never been previously climbed or tried.

Mountain climbing as a sport started in the 1780 and after the ascent of Mont Blanc, in the year 1786, people started looking for other high heights mountains to make their first ascents (Frison-Roche & Jouty, 1996). Asia has been known for having some of the toughest mountainous landscapes because it has the majority of the globe’s highest peaks. In1953, Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand made history by becoming the first to conquer climbing Mt. Everest (world’s highest - 8,850 m/29,035 ft) (Frison-Roche & Jouty, 1996). One year later, Italians Achilles and Lino conquered climbing the second largest mountain in the world, K2, which is also located in the Himalayas. Since at the time the mountains were being climbed for the first time, the mountaineers used to challenge themselves by seeking to reach at the peak using the most challenging routes and techniques as well as using less help from their climbing partners. In 1978, Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler made history by pioneering the climbing of Mt. Everest without oxygen support (Frison-Roche & Jouty, 1996). Two years later, Messner, who was from Italy returned to beat their conquest by climbing Mount Everest all alone and without oxygen.

As time went by, people sought to use more challenging techniques to climb mountains. For instance in the late 20^th and early 21^st centuries, people became more daring by some surmounting groups of related summits. In 1985, Dick Bass pioneered the Seven Summits by scaling each the highest mountain on every continent. 14 years later, Messner completed climbing these seven mountains in the world which were all higher than 26,000 ft. On May 2005, Ed Viesturs from the United States also accomplished this feat by climbing the 14 highest mountains in the world in 16 years and completed the feat without the benefit of bottled oxygen (Frison-Roche & Jouty, 1996).

Motivation

People climb mountains for various reasons, like research and adventure or enjoyment. The thrill of the challenge that people derive from climbing mountains is satisfying to many mountain climbers. They take pleasure in the unobstructed view they get from mountain tops and the excitement of reaching a summit (Sheel, 2004). It is sport the mountain climbers enjoy with their fellow participants to explore and have fun by beating the challenge of getting to the heights the hills provide. In addition to the physical exertion, completing the task with any injuries is considered a success because the sport involves many safety risks (Ewert, 1985).

Development

Mountain climbing has lately become a famous sport and by the publicizing the improvements made on mountain climbing equipments, successes and tragedies encountered during mountain climbing, the number of mountain climbers has increased (Stebbins, 2005). Many countries therefore have demanded that the mountaineers must first acquire permits to climb the mountains. In Himalayan for example, mountaineers must pay environmental bond, which is necessary in guaranteeing that the Mountaineers will remove all their waste by the end of their trip. Environmental efforts also seek to persuade the local rock climbers to participate in annual clean up day to pick up litter, maintain approach trails and wash off the gymnastic chalk from the rock (Sheel, 2004). The US, for instance, has regulations in place to control equipment that destroy the rock.

There is also the Access Fund to help the climbers' access mountaineering spots and also help in solving environmental problems related to cliffs in the US. Recently, many people have been involved in climbing small avenues in a much more controlled setting arising from the invention of indoor rock climbing from 1980s (Stebbins, 2005). However, outdoor climbing is more challenging and requires new skills and judgmental calls because dangers such as cliff are caused by bad weather, loose rocks and falling stones.

During the late 20^th centuries, new developments in climbing competitions were made whereby rock and ice climbing of all ages and skills became so popular. These competitions are based on how fast a climber can ascend within a given time. These sports have led to the creation of more climbing gyms, club sponsor competitions and national organizations for climbing sports such as the American Sport Climbing Federation. In 1932 Union Internationale d’Alpinism et Alpinists (UIAA), was founded and since then the organization has presented about eighty climbing associations in about sixty countries (Stebbins, 2005).

The Components And Rules

The participants’ primary concern is safety, therefore, there are rules to be observed. Hiking excursions must be carefully planned. Detailed information on the length and difficulty should be noted and party members should be told where one is going. Before any excursion, one should pay attention to the latest weather forecast and be watchful for any weather changes in the course of the excursion. Individuals should objectively assess their fitness levels and choose a suitable excursion based on the evaluation. Excursions should be begun in the early morning hours and returns accomplished before nightfall.

Participants should adopt a moderate and  standard walking speed and include adequate breaks where children are involved. They should carry a first aid kit, select light and breathable clothes to wear plus some spare clothing. They should also ensure that they have carried enough food and fluids. The participants should treat nature with respect and protect it by avoiding littering or making noise. They should always trail the marked paths and frequently check on the map for directions.

Tournaments

Mountaineering competition became fashionable in the last bits of 20^th century, with  different hikers in the rock and ice climbing categories showcasing their skills and abilities. The regular climbing contest is judged depending on the height one can climb within a definite period. Speed climbing contest pit hikers against a timer to observe how swift they can climb a wall. Local hiking gyms and clubs fund contests, as do national organizations (Kurtzman & Zauhar, 2005).

 Globally, mountaineers, ice and rock hikers from over 80 associations in about 60 countries are represented by the Union Internationale d’Alpinism et Alpinists (UIAA) since it was founded in 1932 (Kurtzman & Zauhar, 2005). As the sport’s popularity increased significantly in the 1980s and 1990s, the UIAA’s responsibility also increased in terms of mountain safety, tutoring, and environmental management.

Competitors from all over the world are hosted in major events although it has been noted there is always a profound attendance by China in the speed climbing, and  Australia and Eastern Europe appear monopolize on the technical discipline. Junior climbers are also hosted in the championships though many of the contestants in the main adult events are still in their teenage years (Kurtzman & Zauhar, 2005).

References

Ewert, A. L. A. N. (1985). Why people climb: the relationship of participant motives and experience level to mountaineering. Journal of Leisure Research,17(3), 241-250.

Frison-Roche, R., & Jouty, S. (1996). A history of mountain climbing. Flammarion-Pere Castor.

Kurtzman, J., & Zauhar, J. (2005). Sports tourism consumer motivation. Journal of Sport Tourism, 10(1), 21-31.

Sheel, A. W. (2004). Physiology of sport rock climbing. British journal of sports medicine, 38(3), 355-359.

Stebbins, R. A. (2005). Challenging mountain nature: Risk, motive and lifestyle in three hobbyist sports. Calgary: Detselig.