Advice for Beginner Mountain Climbers by Sheryl Wright

Photo by Oziel Gómez from Pexels

Mountain climbing can look deceptively simple. It often appears to be hard on the way up and a breeze on the way down. However, straight up may not be an option, and losing your footing on the way down increases your chance of a serious injury. Learn to focus on your breath, your footing, and your desire to enjoy all aspects of the climb.

Learn to Walk Downhill

Find a spot to practice climbing downhill. If possible, look for somewhere that includes rough rocks and loose gravel, as these can be particularly treacherous. Focus on your balance, your core muscles, and your shoe snugness. If your shoe stays flat but your foot slides inside it, you could suffer a terribly painful break or sprain.

During these early climbing practices, set up a calling or texting pattern with a friend and let them know what trailhead you are parked at. You may be perfectly safe visiting a nearby park or hiking trail, but if you should take a tumble and be unable to get out, you may find that you have no cell service or that your tumble damaged your phone. Set up a time to contact your friend, and if they cannot reach you, give them a deadline for when they should either come looking for you and your car or contact the authorities.

Never Lose Track of the Weather

Check average temperatures for your planned climbing days and location, then hone in as you get closer to your actual climbing date. Watch for hazards including

  • snow and rain
  • high winds
  • general temperature

Because climbing gear can be expensive, you may choose to just wear what you already own. However, unless you own a great deal of fleece, you will need more weather-appropriate clothing. For example, you may already have many sweatshirts and fleece jackets, but you probably do not own waterproof pants, so put some money into those.

If you have a good pair of hiking shoes, you can probably wear them on your climb. You will also need good-quality socks that will carry moisture away from your skin to avoid getting a blister. You do not want to take off your socks and shoes on a cold, windy slope to clean and bandage your feet.

Vacation at Higher Elevations to Get Used to the Altitude

No matter where you currently live, it probably is not as high as you plan to climb. Consider vacationing at a higher elevation, such as in the Gatlinburg cabins, to build up your tolerance for higher elevations.

There are many ways to avoid altitude sicknesses, but once you actually start to feel nauseated or start vomiting, it is probably too late. Snack on a schedule. Bring salty snacks so you are triggered to drink water. Set a timer on your phone to give you a heads up to open that water bottle and stay hydrated. Because climbing can be quite cold, many people neglect to drink water, get dehydrated, and get sick. Even if you do not end up vomiting, the headache from altitude sickness can really damage your vacation.

Invest in High-Quality Snacks and Meals

Make sure your snacks are easy to get to. Zip them into your pockets, put them at the top of your pack, and designate one pocket as the place for your wrappers and garbage. Avoid leaving micro trash on the trail.

As possible, bring in bars that will provide carbs. Things that are slightly sticky will not only give you energy on the climb. They will also be less likely to fall apart when you open the package. Get in the habit of taking a standing break, setting down your pack, enjoying an energy bar of some sort, and stretching your shoulders. Be aware that if you sit down, you will get cold quickly, and standing up will be pretty tough.

A beginning climber needs a bit of gear, plenty of food, great shoes, and a guide. If you have a friend who is an experienced climber and they are willing to join you on your first climb, invite them over to check out your gear to make sure you have what you need for a successful climb.