OnFitness Magazine - July/August 2014 - 27

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Scrambling
Also known as alpine scrambling,
scrambling is mainly climbing an easy
mountain or rock face without technical
climbing gear.
Scrambling takes you onto routes that
require the use of your hands, taking the
middle ground between rock climbing and
hill walking. But what makes it stand out
from both is that you rely on your hands
for balance and pulling up when you
scramble.
Rock climbing
A basic know-how of rock climbing can
score you big points on the mountains. This
skill is required if you want to tackle,
obviously, a rock face that you can't scramble.
Beginners should train at a climbing
gym. The indoor climbing experience
offers a safe, controlled environment to
hone basic climbing skills including use of
equipment. Bouldering is climbing at low
heights without gear, and "traversing" is
horizontal bouldering close to the ground.
If you're into DIY home projects, you
can construct a bouldering wall in your
basement or backyard. Z

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successful mountaineering experience.
Strong lung power is vital and can be
achieved even with indoor workouts. Build
your endurance by running trails.
Consider also adding HIIT hill workouts
and long runs - nothing short of a 10K
- to your training program.
Strength work is also important. Do
plenty of total body, compound
movements to get your strength and power
up to the challenge. Do squats, deadlifts,
pull-ups, pushups and overhead presses to
develop that needed power to tackle the
grueling mountains.

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Fitness for mountaineering
A high overall level of physical
conditioning is a big foundation for a

V O L

T

he feeling of standing at
the top of the world
with jaw dropping views
in every direction is
priceless, and one that
only mountaineering
can fully satisfy.
.....Mountaineering is one
of the most challenging and extreme
outdoor activities, mixing the risks of falling
into crevasses caused by over-fatigue or
carelessness, suffocation from falling rocks
and avalanches, and becoming prey to
temperature extremes (mainly frostbite and
hypothermia). The mountains have taken
many lives over the years, including those
of the most experienced mountaineers.
Mountaineering involves
hiking/trekking and backpacking (ranging
from local foothills to more giant hills, to
higher mountains to extreme altitudes on
enormous mountains), scrambling,
bouldering, and rock and ice climbing.
Thus, mastering the most basic skills is
necessary for safe excursions.
It takes time, patience and lots of
learning curves to master this wide range
of skills. Taking a mountaineering class or
venturing up a mountain with a guide will
help expedite the training process.
Choose a course that will teach the
basics, such as how to secure a climbing
rope, how to use a harness and other basic
skills like that of map and compass. Some
beginners' courses may take place inside a
gym or rec center, where you won't need to
fret about environmental conditions. More
advanced courses deal with use of an ice
axe, double boots and crampons.

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BY EDWARD BACHMAN

W W W. O N F I T N E S S M A G . C O M

What does it
take to be a
mountaineer?

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enough?
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OnFitness Magazine - July/August 2014

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