- It is advisable to gain experience in mountain climbing gradually, starting with smaller mountains and progressively tackling more challenging higher mountains and more complex mountaineering routes.
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Mount Everest, for example, stands at 29,032 feet (8848 metres) and is more than 2500 metres higher than Mount Kilimanjaro.
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Climbing a snowy mountain is both a thrilling and challenging venture that requires a combination of physical fitness, technical skills, and mental preparation.
The climb might be harder if you are trying to scale the heights for the first time.
National Geographic reports that scientific research shows that the human body cannot survive over an extended period above 19,000 feet.
Mount Everest, for example, stands at 29,032 feet (8848 metres) and is more than 2500 metres higher than Mount Kilimanjaro.
Here are some things that you may consider to ensure that they are in check before you set out to climb a snowy mountain;
Physical Fitness
Due to the physical demands of the climbing activity and the difficulties presented by high-altitude environments, snowy mountain climbing requires a high level of physical fitness.
It frequently entails trudging through rocky, steep terrain while carrying heavy loads, which calls for a high level of muscular strength, stamina, and cardiovascular endurance.
Additionally, adjusting to decreased oxygen levels is required for high-altitude climbing, which, for the unprepared, may accelerate fatigue and exhaustion.
According to a report by The Trek, the exercise requires at least five types of physical training; functional training (mimicking what you’ll do on the mountain), cardiovascular training (aerobic and anaerobic), strength training (including upper body), flexibility training (yoga, stretching, or meditating and cross training.
“Mountain climbing is a serious undertaking and just because you exercise regularly doesn’t mean you can climb a mountain of 10,000 feet or higher, nor does the fact that you can run a marathon mean that you will make it to the summit with ease. Pure cardiovascular fitness is not going to cut it at altitude. Your limits will be pushed both physically and mentally. This can be done through hiking, running and other aerobic exercises,” the report reads.
Strengthen your legs, core, and upper body to handle steep slopes by carrying gear during your hikes and maintaining balance.
Give your body time to adjust to lower oxygen levels by ascending to higher altitudes gradually to prevent altitude sickness during your climb, which can be crippling or even fatal in extreme cases.
Research shows that the lack of physical preparedness is the major reason for most climbers failing to reach the summit. This has been attributed to altitude sicknesses.
The most common ones are; High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), and Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)
Technical Skills
While trying to help your body adjust to higher altitudes and lower oxygen levels, it is important to take time and learn the basic technical skills for the task.
These are the skills that will help you navigate the icy and snowy terrain safely.
These include things such as; rope skills, ice climbing, glacier travel, self-arrest techniques, and the proper use of climbing equipment like crampons, ice axes and avalanche awareness.
Rope skills will aid when travelling on glaciers. Glaciers are slow-moving masses of ice, and they are a common feature in snowy mountain environments.
Climbers can rope up in groups to form a team when navigating a glacier or ascending high snow slopes.
A climber's team is formed when they rope up together to navigate a glacier or scale a steep snow slope.
Rope travel promotes safety by providing climbers with a human anchor, especially when travelling in groups.
Learning how to navigate the snowy mountains using ropes will help you create safe anchors and belays, prevent falls on yourself and other climbers, and use rappelling techniques to descend safely.
In mountaineering, self-arrest is a technique where a climber who has fallen and is sliding down a snow- or ice-covered slope brakes the slide on their own without using a rope. This is usually done with an ice axe.
Avalanche awareness will enable you to assess and recognise signs of an avalanche beforehand and act accordingly. Avalanches can cause suffocation, trauma, or hypothermia in their victims.
According to a 2001 research, avalanches claim the lives of 150 people worldwide on average every year.
In 2023, there were at least 30 reported deaths from avalanches in the United States.
Mental Preparedness
Snowy environments can be harsh and mental toughness is essential. You need the resilience to adapt to changing conditions, a skill that is crucial for overcoming obstacles and reaching the summit safely.
In an interview with National Geographic, renowned mountain climber Alex Honnold highlighted the importance of resilience in the face of the unpredictable and frequently harsh conditions common in mountainous terrains.
Research further shows that mental resilience helps climbers not only overcome physical problems but also helps them stay focused, make important decisions under duress, and eventually keep going towards their goal of reaching the summit even in the face of the most difficult obstacles.
Gear and Equipment
In a snowy mountainous environment, having the appropriate equipment is essential as it not only provides the climber with comfort but ensures their safety.
A backpack with necessary supplies including food, water, navigational tools, and emergency gear should be carried along with solid mountaineering boots, crampons, ice axes, helmets, harnesses, ropes, and layers of clothing for warmth and wind and moisture protection.
Carry navigation equipment to guide you through the climbing route. Most snowy mountains have different routes that climbers can use to navigate.
Mount Kilimanjaro, for example, has six routes that one can use to reach its summit; Machame route, Marangu Route, Rongai Route, Lemosho Route, Umbwe route, and Northern Circuit Route.
Each route is completely different from the rest in terms of the acclimatisation, the days taken to climb and the various conditions. As you carry the equipment for navigation, it is important to understand how to use them as well.
According to a report by Kilimanjaro Bound, poor route selection is one of the prevailing factors for failures to reach the summit because it is easy to choose a route which is not convenient in terms of acclimatization and experience; such a route can easily bring about problems of altitude sickness if you are not prepared.
It is advisable to gain experience in mountain climbing gradually, starting with smaller mountains and progressively tackling more challenging higher mountains and more complex mountaineering routes.