| Mountain climbing can be done under many different | | | | happen to collapse the tent or destabilize it in any |
| conditions, and as such, there are a lot of different | | | | way. |
| forms of mountain climbing shelters. Seeing as | | | | Some mountain climbers like to use snow caves as a |
| different locations can have wildly different terrain | | | | basic form of shelter. They're warmer than tents, |
| and weather conditions, the choices available to | | | | despite being made of snow, but in order to build a |
| mountain climbers vary based on location and the | | | | snow cave, a climber needs to have access to basic |
| general expected needs of the climbers. These | | | | tools, the most important being a snow shovel. It is |
| shelters are particularly important on longer climbs, | | | | not that hard to build a snow cave; they can be built |
| when people spend days on the mountain to climb to | | | | anywhere there is at least four feet of snow, which |
| the highest peaks. | | | | is a common condition for many mountain climbers to |
| Huts are extremely common forms of shelters found | | | | be in. A snow cave is not the same as an igloo, as it |
| in many European climbing spots. They can be found | | | | is far more simplistic and easier to build. Igloos are |
| at different points along the mountains, and offer the | | | | extremely uncommon shelters, as they are difficult |
| basic necessities, such as a dining area and a place to | | | | to assemble. |
| sleep, as well as provide shelter should a climber need | | | | Many climbers choose to rough it and go the route |
| to rest, or unload some of their pack along the way. | | | | of a bivouac or a "bivy." A climber uses a Bivouac |
| Huts vary in what they provide; some have staff | | | | sack and a sleeping bag and rests, usually using a |
| year-round, some have seasonal staff, and some | | | | crevice or a trench as a means for shelter. Although |
| have no staff at all. Some of the more upscale | | | | some purists enjoy doing it this way, many climbers |
| staffed huts have diverse offerings that climbers can | | | | will consider this an option only in case of an |
| take advantage of, with food and drink made | | | | emergency. |
| available. Others require the people staying in the | | | | It is important to remember that mountain climbing is |
| huts to bring their own provisions. It is also important, | | | | a very dangerous activity. One of the best ways to |
| when considering huts, to find out what they offer | | | | ensure safety is to be certain the proper shelter will |
| and if they are booked, as many cost money and | | | | be available, but also to have a back-up plan as well. |
| accept reservations. This is particularly true of the | | | | If you are expecting to stay at a hut, for example, it |
| huts with full-time staff. | | | | is not a bad idea to have a tent or a bivouac with |
| Tents are also a very common choice for mountain | | | | you, just in case something happens and you need |
| climbing shelters. A climber simply brings a tent on the | | | | to stop before you reach the hut destination. With |
| climb and secures it appropriately. It is important to | | | | potential changes in the weather, and the knowledge |
| buy a tent that is strong enough to hold up to all | | | | that anything can happen once you're on the |
| weather, as many mountain climbers encounter | | | | mountain, this is some of the best advice someone |
| snow, ice, and high winds. As such, using a tent is not | | | | can give you. |
| always the safest way to go, especially if winds | | | | |