| A brief description of the three basic | | | | his / her handholds and footholds, and make |
| divisions of mountaineering/climbing. | | | | sure to transfer weight from one outcropping |
| | | | of stone to another gradually while |
| Mountaineering is the sport of hiking and / | | | | maintaining multiple connection points. |
| or climbing to the top of mountains. In | | | | |
| America the terms used are usually | | | | To walk or climb over parts of a mountain |
| mountaineering or mountain climbing, while in | | | | which are covered in ice and snow requires |
| Europe the term alpinism is also commonly | | | | more special equipment than standard rock |
| used. While vertical rock climbing and | | | | climbing, most notably crampons: ten or |
| vertical ice climbing may be required to | | | | twelve point spikes which are attached to |
| reach the top of a mountain, not all | | | | one's boots for increased traction, or |
| mountains require the same kind of climbing | | | | snowshoes for gentle snowy slopes. The kind |
| techniques to get to the summit. However, | | | | of crampons which are used to walk over icy |
| mountain climbing takes advantage of some of | | | | surfaces are different from those that are |
| the safety techniques that are used for | | | | used for climbing a sheer vertical surface of |
| vertical rock climbing and ice climbing, most | | | | ice, as vertical crampons will have spikes on |
| notably rope harness systems with multiple | | | | the toes pointing forwards. The ice axe is |
| connection points for holding the weight of | | | | also used in the process of ascending a snowy |
| the climber in case there is a situation | | | | / icy area of the peak ' in the beginning |
| where the ground gives way (or if one of the | | | | stages of climbing a mountain the ice axe can |
| harness points fails). | | | | be used as a staff or walking stick, as you |
| | | | move upwards the point of the pick can be |
| There are three basic divisions of the craft | | | | used as a dagger or the ice axe can be swung |
| of mountain climbing, depending on whether | | | | over the head to dig into ice above the user, |
| the climber is traveling over rock, snow or | | | | making it easier to ascend. |
| ice. Different equipment is used for each of | | | | |
| these environments and special techniques | | | | It is often safer to climb a mountain as a |
| have to be used to ensure the safety of the | | | | team. When you climb as a team your entire |
| climber and the group. When walking over | | | | group can be attached to each other by a |
| rock, conditions are usually the safest, | | | | single rope line. If one member of the group |
| although one must be careful of the hazards | | | | falls or has an accident the others can come |
| of falling rocks (caused by the gradual | | | | to that person's aid and perform a rescue |
| process of erosion of the mountains and the | | | | operation. This is particularly important |
| recent weather conditions) and loose rocks or | | | | when climbing on glacial deposits which often |
| rotten rocks which may give way if the | | | | contain hidden crevasses. If proper safety |
| climber is not careful. To survive while | | | | precautions are studied, mountain climbing is |
| climbing over rock, the climber must pay | | | | one of the most exhilarating sports that one |
| close attention to the condition of any of | | | | can enjoy. |