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