Mountaineering, is it for you?
My first experience with mountaineering was in the ROTC, where I learned to rappel in basic training. Later, I learned how to ascend and rock climb as part of an urban rescue team. It was a great experience and it taught me a lot about myself and the incredible value of this skill.
Of course, climbing is not for everyone. Why not? Ok, it is for most people- they just don't know it yet. Mountaineering is not as hard as it seems, and it can come in handy in a multitude of ways. Yes, it is physically taxing but it’s benefits cannot be denied. Whether you choose to rappel, rock climb, hi-line or lead climb you will need to learn the basics then advance from there.
Your first experience may be rappelling, rock climbing or ascending mechanically. Either way the benefits of the exercise you get and the skills you gain will certainly be worth it. Your first task will be to learn the various knots associated with the sport of climbing. There are about sixteen knots you will come across; however, some are more important than others. The figure eight is perhaps one of the most important knots you will learn. It is used for everything from anchor points to belaying.
There are several, so learn all of them as they will be needed at some point in time. The figure eight with a bight (loop) and the double figure eight are great anchor knots whereas the figure eight passthrough is great for attaching two ropes together. The prussik knot is another essential knot often used for ascending or for braking systems in rigging. Learn as many knots as you can especially those related to your uses as a climber.
Your second task is learning the hardware associated with rappelling and climbing. Everything from a carabiner to a belay device is critical. Essential tools like the figure eight for descending or the pulley for the Tyrolean Traverse are a must know if you are seriously considering learning and utilizing these skills. The chock is used to install an anchor point in the crack of a rock formation. Pay attention to the breaking strength of everything you buy. This is normally measured using kilonewtons.
The kilonewton is the unit of force in the International System of Units, equivalent to one thousand newtons. It is used to determine the load or breaking strength of carabiners and most or all of the tools in the climbing industry. Ropes for example are a little trickier given the stretch normally experienced when trying to break a rope. But all things considered the breaking point of most ropes is somewhere between 14 to 18 Kilonewtons. For those of you wondering one kilonewton equals 224.8 pounds of force. Not to worry all climbing gear is built to withstand thousands of pounds of force, making everything very safe- as long as you look after it.
Lastly, you will have to learn how to care for your ropes and equipment. Ropes should never be thrown about on the floor, as dirt normally contains sand or micro glass. Over time, those destructive materials will work their way into the sheathing or kernmantle and tear through the nylon fibers making up the rope. Frayed sheathing is the first sign of this condition. Ropes with heavy fraying on the surface should be discarded, particularly those ropes that sustained multiple falls (saves) under belay.
Washing a rope is pretty straightforward, use a damp rag with very little soap (no detergent) and simply pull the rope through the rag, changing its position when visibly dirty. There are also commercial systems using a hose that you can purchase to clean your rope. These systems simply blast the dirt loose as the rope passes through it. Of course, you will have to dry the rope and it will take longer than the rag technique. Remember, all of your equipment must be inspected before each use. Look for loose or broken assembly on all your hardware. Pay close attention to pins and locking mechanisms. If it does not lock or has an exposed pin, throw it in the recycling bin.
Many folks like to start at a climbing gym and that is fine. Most of them focus on rock climbing techniques, safety and belaying, all great things to learn before heading out into the mountains. What about conditioning? Should you be in shape? Of course you should. Some aspects of Mountaineering require intense physical strength, especially of the upper body. You should train regularly to keep yourself in shape and ready to rappel and climb as needed. In fact, physical limitations are often what keeps folks from taking on the challenges of mountaineering. You don’t need to be Arnold Schwarzenegger, but you do have to maintain a modicum of strength to be able to raise and lower your body using ropes.
I hope that this article encourages you to take a look at this kind of training and activity. I think you will agree that it is a challenging yet rewarding sport. A great way to stay in shape and pass the time looking at beautiful mountain landscapes. Safe trails out there…
