Basic Mountaineering and Backpacking

Lei Mangubat

Climb Preparation

Physical fitness Important for safety

and to prevent accidents

Enjoy scenery and company

Physical fitness guidelines:

Continuous endurance training through aerobic sports, such as running, swimming, cycling and walking

Weight training to build muscular strength and endurance

Any participant who gets sick should forego the climb. A sick participant is a liability to the group.

Best exercise for mountaineering is mountaineering.

The Pre-Climb Meet

Conducted at least three (3) days before the climb.

A comprehensive study, presentation and discussion of the essential parts of conducting a climb.

A. The objectives of a climb- Determines nature, requirements and itinerary of the climb

B. The nature of the climbSix (6) categories:a. Training Climbsb. Minor Climbs

c. Clean-Up Climbs

d. Major Climbs: ascents on mountains whose degree of difficulty is higher than those used on training climbs, which usually takes several days to complete.

e. Guideship Climbs: mountaineers provide groups with guided ascents. For a fee, select members can organize a trek for groups interested in climbing a certain mountain.

f. Exploratory Climbs: the routes of these climbs are established and are ascended for the first time.

C. Route Planning An ascent must be aided

with the aid of maps. The map usually gives information regarding existing and possible routes, communities within the periphery of the mountain, distribution of vegetation, approximate compass bewaring and an approximation of the steepness of the terrain

D. The itinerary of the climb To keep up with schedules to avoid discomforts

and even danger. Planning or setting a schedule maximizes the

efficient use of time. Equipment, other gear, personal items to bring are

also determined by the itinerary.

Climb Organization Selection of a team leader, a scribe, a medic and a tailman

Team Leader Selected according to his/her familiarity with the mountain

and his/her leadership potential. He /She is given an almost absolute role in decision making on that climb. However, he/she should also be open-minded enough to accept suggestion, especially on decisions involving the safety of the party.

The Medic- Should have a thorough knowledge of first aid techniques.

The Scribe - The scribe has the duty of documenting the details of the climb.

The Tailman - The tailman has the responsibility of bringing up the rear.

Contact Person Should have a copy of the itinerary and is

responsible for activating a search and rescue team (if he/she is not contacted within twenty-four (24) hours of the estimated date/time of arrival)

The group shall also be subdivided into into smaller groups of five to seven members.

This facilitates the sharing of shelter, food preparation and increases the safety factor. The small groups shall have a leader who is responsible for the management of his/her members.

E. Budgeting Determining the approximate cost of

transportation, meals and other expenses

F. Meal Planning amount of food to be carried on an expedition

is determined by the length of stay plus extra rations in case of emergencies.

Guidelines for meal planning Meals should be able to provide

and replenish the energy requirements of the climber. This means packing a lot of carbohydrates with protein and fat rich food.

Multi-day ascents require meals that will not spoil easily. Food can be preserved through drying, pickling and salting. Food treated with spices and vinegar usually lasts for days. There are also meals which can’t spoil quickly.

It is easier to plan and prepare meals for smaller groups. Large groups require large and heavy cooking utensils.

Meals should not be limited to pre-packaged food or canned goods..

Trail food requirements:1. It should not induce thirst, since it would induce the

climber to consume more water.2. Nutritious and must satisfy your body’s energy

requirements. Sweets in general, meet this criteria but may require some catabolic conversions before your body can use it as a fuel.

3. Easy to prepare and should require little or no cooking at all. Time and fuel constraints must be considered.

Examples: Crackers, nuts, candies, chocolates, fresh or dried fruits, corn flakes, pre-packed gelatins, etc.

Trail Movement

A) Group Formation During the trek, there are

some conventions followed regarding group formation. The lead man is always in

front and is responsible for pacing the group, while the tail man is responsible for bringing up the rear.

Line formation on narrow trails should be single file. Overtaking should be avoided

The ideal distance between two climbers is approximately two(2) meters.

B) Trail signals Always start with a slow pace to

slowly warm up your muscles. Then gradually change your pace to the group’s desired pace.

The pace of the group should be that of the slowest member or the person who has the heaviest load.

Do not allow anyone to lag behind.

Should there be a need to stop, inform the lead or tail man so that he or she can give the appropriate order to stop.

Maintain a steady rhythm while trekking. When negotiating steep slopes, keep the rhythm (pace) by shortening your strides. On level ground, maintain the rhythm by taking longer strides.

D) Trail techniques In negotiating the trail, some techniques must be

kept in mind in order to provide the safest and least difficult route to the summit or objective. The ridge line is most often followed in path finding. Avoid

water lines and gullies since water always takes the steepest route down the mountain.

When crossing rivers or streams, bend your knees and face in a direction diagonal to the flow of the current to prevent the strong current from knocking you down.

Do not step on obstacles for they might upset your balance. Avoid dislodging rocks.

To maintain balance and traction during descent, learn to dig first with your heel or the side of your foot.

When there is a need to hold on roots or vines, make sure first that they are sturdy enough to carry your weight and that they do not have any thorns.

E) Rests The interval between

different stops will usually depend on the difficulty of the terrain encountered.

1. Treks on level ground - five (5) minutes rest for every hour of hiking.

2. Ascents - five (5) minutes rest for every thirty (30) minutes of hiking; on steep slopes - five (5) minutes rest for every fifteen (15) minutes of hiking.

3. Descents - five (5) minutes of rest for every hour of hiking.

During rest periods, do not sit or lie down at once. Keep standing at least thirty (30) seconds to allow your pulse to slow down to normal levels before sitting down. When resting, sip your water if you are thirsty.

Drinking too much quickly will induce an abrupt lowering of your body temperature. Check your equipment before pack-up time and heed the signal of the lead man immediately.

F) Trail signs It is unavoidable that there will be times when

you have to communicate with other members of your team or even other teams during a climb through the use of trail signs.

G) Trail Regulations Preserve the natural state of

the wilderness. Inform the person behind you of imminent obstacles or dangers along the path.

When the group is unsure of the proper path toward the objective, several members should scout for the right trail or path.

Side trails not in use should be closed to prevent others from using them. This can be done by blocking the path with sticks or branches.

To make the path safer for hikers following you, cut sharp thorns and poisonous plants along the trail.

Do not litter. Pocket all food wrappers.

Smoking on the trail or during short rests is strictly prohibited.

Straps, flaps, belts and knots may come loose during the trek. It is the duty of the person behind you to inform you if you had dropped anything on the trail.

If you get lost, do not panic. Asses your position and then take the necessary steps to find the correct route.

In the event of an accident, keep the casualty comfortable and relaxed. Administer first-aid and transfer the person to the nearest clinic or hospital.

The Post Climb Meet This is where the

participants of the climb give their impressions and personal feedback on the climb. The team should meet within five(5) days after the climb to review the strong and weak points of the climb. All the participants of the climb are required to attend the post-climb meeting to share their assessments.

During the meeting, the team leader presides at the meeting while the scribe takes down the notes. As a rule, all group equipment should be returned during the post-climb meeting.

Water Management Water discipline

1 liter: trail water Avoid drinking in huge

gulps Bring additional if you

are a heavy drinker

Garbage Management Trash of any kind

should not be left at jump-off points.

Do not reinforce locals’ habit of collecting trash from visitors except if they intend to recycle.

Every member of the group is responsible for her trash.

Pick up trash you see along the way.

When you see trash left by other climbers on the campsite, bring them with you for proper disposal.

Inform appropriate barangay officials of the misconduct, so that in the future, they will be more stringent in checking if climbers brought down their trash with them.

Garbage segregation Practice garbage

segregation. Do not bury your

garbage in the outdoors even if it is biodegradable.

Climbing Checklist Money Cellular phone Identification card Whistle Hiking boots Backpack Trail water Rain gear Water containers Notebook and pencil

Plastic bags and trash bags

First aid kit Trail food Packed lunch Sunblock

Optional Umbrella Camera and tripod Pack cover

Enjoy your climb!