[Closed] Any climbers/mountaineers here?

mountaineering and climbing are completely different activities, though mountaineering covers many aspects of climbing.

To move with confidence in the alp's and the greater ranges is all about knowledge and putting in the hours.

But first chose, are you a climber or mountaineer.

Most of my experience has been in Scotland with a few trips to The Pyrenees and this year in the Atlas mountains.

My advise is start in the lakes, graduate to Scotland and get some long winter days in, the Aonach Eagach in Glen Coe, Grey Corries are all good starting points.

Join the mountaineering club and get out there, its superb.

My experiences go back 25 years, driving up to scotland in the old works van, getting to the kings house at the head of glen coe and snatching a couple from under the towels, then some great days out.

Winter is the time when Scotland comes alive, the bothies are that more welcoming and the hills, well what can I say.

So many memories and a few friends lost on the way as well.

The mountains get inside you.

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I climbed a mountain in the alps once, bloody scary.

Thanks for the info Monty. Please excuse my downright ignorance here but whats the difference between the two? 😳 Thats a fine example of how clueless I am right there!

Last time I did anything involving any kind of climbing was in the Lakes...cant remember the name of the place though but it was near Ullswater. We did a long walk, a good few miles and part of it involved scaling a rather rocky face (no ropes or anything). Was good fun but quite scary at the top...long way to fall down!

I guess I should be more specific, sport climbing is all about tackling one specific rock face, its not my bag but loads of my mates are into it.

Now it is even more niche with indoor sports climbers sometimes not even getting out on to crags, though most use indoor to train and maintain fitness in winter for the summer outdoor climbs or to train for specific moves.

Grades start from moderate (scramble) up to E numbers (smooth toilet wall grade)

Mountaineering is a more multi discipline activity, starting with hill fitness, navigation, terrain/snow experience and loads loads more.

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I would say I am a mountaineer but not a climber. To me climbing involves ropes and harnesses, mountaineering need not. Rambler / scrambler / dangler is the common definition

Most scary stuff I have done? 1000 ft of ice climb in the mamores, Roc d'infer in the alps, a couple of Pyrenean peaks. I aim to do a 20 000 footer before I hang up my boots.
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Mountaineering is what it says it is i.e. getting up a mountain generally in snow and ice. It can range from unroped hillwalking in winter conditions in Scotland to serious technical stuff in the Alps or Himalaya. The mountaineering I've done is unroped stuff in Scotland in winter plus classic "Victorian" mountaineering in N Wales i.e. Grade III scrambles type stuff finding your own way up the mountain with a short rope and a few bits of protection.

Climbing on the other hand can be part of mountaineering but can equally be done in your local quarry or in the case of one N Welsh pub I know of from the sunroof of your car parked in the pub car park.

Alan Hinkes reckons that all you need for the Himalaya is a couple of good Scottish winters under your belt.

Personally I'd never tackle the likes of Everest (fat chance) unless I was confident I had the skills and knowledge to get myself out of trouble without relying on a guide.

Good luck and even if you don't get to Everest you've picked a great sport.

Mountaineering in the UK is usually easy (but long) rock-climbing on cliffs and crags that go up mountains. Rock climbing is going up cliffs that can be anywhere - sea, hill, river etc. In say the Alps or Rockies, mountaineering is simply getting to the top of the mountains and it's a different ballgame.

Climbing is technical, strenuous, tense but adrenaline filled. Mountaineering is a lot more relaxed (unless at the top end) and is all about spending the day in the wilds soaking up the thrill of being stuck to a cliff thousands of feet up seeing unique views.

Everest is a very difficult thing though - you need permits and they only dish out a limited number a year and they cost thousands if not tens of thousands. So you basically have to buy your way onto an expedition, I think. Tons of other mountains though that are free and have a lot less litter 🙂

Climbing is one of those things that's a lifestyle for a lifetime, kind of like biking. It's not some fad that people do for a kick for a while then move on like the latest wakesurfkitboardjumping whatever... Partly because to get into it you have to practice a lot and get strong and fit enough to do decent stuff - just like biking really 🙂

Which Uni are you at? Different clubs can lead to different experiences.

I'm in the club at my uni, and never go on the trips but last year was in charge of the climbing wall and it was cool. Climbing's really good, I like having specific challenges to conquer- it's a really skillful and precise sport, and very good for fitness.

On the other hand I don't like trudging up mountains in the pissing rain/snow in daft boots just to look at the view then tramp down again. (I'm sure many mountaineers wonder why I pedal up a mountain in the pissing rain/snow in daft clippy shoes just to look at the view then plummet down again, though...)

I have no photos as all my mountaineering was done pre digi camera, but I've spent loads of time in Wales, Lakes and Scotland in winter and Summer and done about 10 trips to the Alps doing mostly PD and AD routes on big peaks.

If your ultimate goal is to climb Everest then you want to be thinking about mountaineering, which is basically about becoming an all rounder, good at everything, from walking and navigating to rock climbing and everything inbetween. The quickest way to learn is to join that uni club and get on as many trips as possible and learn from more experienced people (rather than being self taught). Also, don't pass on the walking trips infavour of just rock climbing, even though it might not be very appealing to you, you'll always learn something new and relevent, then you'll become a good all round mountaineer.

I'm self taught and have always climbed with people who were looking to me to make the decisions and lead routes, so I never progressed to anything too extreme in the Alps, which I regret.
If you do it with an open mind and intention to learn all aspects of walking, climbing and mountaineering and try to hook up with people more experienced, then it will all be much more rewarding and you'll quickly become better at it. Climb with people you trust, then you'll be prepared to push yourself a bit more, knowing that they and you will beable to get out safely.

climbing, hanging upside down on stuff that gravity will eventually pull you off.

Mountaineering, getting to the top of stuff that gravity may pull you off.

walking, what you soft bastards are talking about.. 😉

To me climbing involves ropes and harnesses, mountaineering need not.

Not sure I'd really describe myself as either a mountaineer or a climber, though I have done both. Personally I still reckon climbing Everest is a pretty rubbish ambition to have though - plenty of other things I'd much rather go up given the chance.

ive done both, and a bit of ice climbing too,
i'd go with what montylb says, choose what you want to do then train/gain confidence/ability/experience.

if you like the idea of doing everest then good on you (ive been there whilst a mate was doing a route on ama dablam and its not my bag)even though ive enjoyed a few 4000m peaks in the alps, but start slowly and with people who have a lot of experience to give you,

ive been taken off two routes now by helicopter after someone in another group ice-climbing near us fell around 70ft and royally done himself a mischief and we had to affect a rescue and another time after a large lump of rock peeled off and smacked my climbing buddy sensless (just the two of us and farking sary).
i've given it up now after developing 'the fear' after a few decent falls (pushing myself up the toilet grade smooth walls!!).

a good grounding should be the way to go, dont rush it and take your time to learn off the experienced people. enjoy the mountains they're ace.

K2 for a proper challenge, with your death a very real possibility.

Aracer- 1000 feet of very steep ice? 15 000+ ft summits? North Gully on Ben Lui in winter? Ben alder via the short leachas ( grade 3 scramble IIRC)? Not mountaineering?

mountaineering involves ropes IMO some roped together alpine style sections maybe with some pitches (ie rock climbing) and this can be with or without ice. If you dont use ropes its scrambling (which u can also use ropes for).

I beg to differ. Some of the unroped stuff I have done is deffo mountaineering. See the examples I gave above.

I've done a bit of very easy climbing/mountaineering. For me the winter days out I have had in the Lakes/Scotland are some of my best ever days on the hills. Nothing beats the atmosphere of the winter landscape imo.

Not sure about this 'you have to decide if you are a climber or mountaineer' - both can complement each other surely. BTW try reading Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer and see if you still want to climb everest!

A few pics:
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We'd just climbed over the wind-lip from the slope down to the right.

Suggesting that mountaineering without ropes is not mountaineering, is stupid. Like MTB, you can't deadline peoples ability and their mental threshold to percived danger. Just suggesting that the requirement of ropes as the measure of mountaineering, is crazy. One persons easy scramble is another persons climb requiring a rope. Someone may require a rope on a grade 11 winter climb in Scotland, they may not require a rope on a 4000m West ridge in Switzerland. But, they will improve and raise their game with sensible advice and experience.

There is alot of macho bullshit in climbing/mountaineering, see above.

Avoid people who talk big and do macho posturing, they are probably full of shit.

Take your advice from people who are level headed and modest, they are generally safer mountaineers.