The Dos and Don’ts of Mountain Climbing – Your Body

       Contrary to the popular belief, mountain climbing isn’t all about how many muscles you can flex in order to reach the top. Whether you believe or not, there are deeper disciplines in this sport than what meets the eye.

           Mountain climbing, like any other outdoor sports, requires good fitness and a lot of endurance skill. This activity, unknown to some, is one of the most intimidating of all. How can you, anyway, battle against a solid pile of rocks molded by nature millions and millions of years ago? Though this activity is often recommended to out-patients who underwent therapy, there are mountains that can shock your body because of its changing terrain and steady yet critical change of altitude. Some mountains perhaps are more recommended than others for leisure walking especially those that are surrounded by low-laying areas. These plains though seem unimportant, can provide temporary and fast rest place.

                Since you will be required to use most of your bodily muscles, expect physical strain in this activity. Endurance is ultimate currency and people who aren’t very active in their lifestyle are known to be stressed out in this activity only after 30 minutes or less of nonstop trekking. A week of running or jogging before heading out can make a difference especially if youre always out of breathe in your current lifestyle.

                Also expect a petty version of weight lifting since you and you alone are responsible for carrying your backpacks full of mountain gears. Though water will most likely weigh you down, never consume water just to lighten your package unless you need to. Water is a necessity in the wild; without it, you just exposed yourself to dehydration, which is fatal if you don’t mind.

                For many mountaineers, physical strength encompasses only at least one-fourth of the entire journey. The remaining three-fourths, they say, is all about mental strength.

                Do you tend to panic easily? Do you make rush and random decisions when put under pressure? Do you easily get angry? If you say yes to these three questions, then you might consider some time before planning your next climb. As easily as it appears, keeping a sane and cool head in the mountains is not as easy as many assumes. Some mountains are still untamed by man that it holds more surprises that a birthday party. There may come a point when you’re on a five-day hike and someone realized that you left your food supply in the village below. What would you do? Rush back, retrieve the item and climb again later? This may seem ideal but time is very essential in this activity for weather can change very fast. Will you suggest dividing the group: some would continue the ascent and some would go down and fetch the items? Possible; but this increases the chance of someone getting lost in the wild because of your diminished number.

                Regardless of your answer to the situation above, mountain climbing is also a sport of rational people. You cannot just make random decisions and panic every time there’s trouble.