/out/ - Outdoors » Thread #1154661

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Mountaineering

Anonymous Fri 08 Dec 2017 22:36:13 No.1154661 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By: >>1154668 >>1154758 >>1157846 >>1157860 >>1158154 >>1159219 >>1159672 >>1159689 >>1160005

I don't climb, but I'm fascinated by stories of great mountaineering exploits in the Himalayas, the Andes, the Alps, and so on.
Anyone here a mountaineer or wants to share cool stories you've read?
The mountain that most fascinates me is probably K2. It seems that to climb it would be like climbing a steep crag into another world.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Fri 08 Dec 2017 22:47:50 No.1154668 Report

Quoted By:

>>1154661
Bump. Read about Mallory and Irvine. Anything about the pioneers is fascinating really.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sat 09 Dec 2017 00:57:30 No.1154758 Report

Quoted By: >>1155758 >>1162920

>>1154661
I'm taking mountain school this spring hopefully, then hopefully climbing Rainier and Athabasca. K2 is very intriguing though due to the almost alien nature of it. Weather patterns aren't really even known, few people attempt it and even fewer summit. The higher rez pics of climbs there are pretty stunning.

Here, have some retro climbers from another thread.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 10 Dec 2017 06:44:30 No.1155758 Report

Quoted By: >>1159132

>>1154758
Is that Norgay and Hillary? I feel like I’ve seen those outfits before. Congrats on mountain school though, I wish I had the time/money/location to get into mountaineering.

For anyone interested, the user Mountain Springs has a whole playlist of uploaded mountaineering documentaries on YouTube. Pretty cool stuff. Lots of docs on K2 and Everest.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 13 Dec 2017 00:16:07 No.1157846 Report

Quoted By:

>>1154661
i dont /out/, but rather read about /out/.
seems very legit here.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Wed 13 Dec 2017 00:31:58 No.1157860 Report

Quoted By: >>1162668 >>1162920

>>1154661
this picture (of K2) is one of my favorite nature pictures of all time

I really love the sense of scale it presents, the tiny climbers in bright colors appear so small and alien next to the shades of the mountain and the size is just fucking crazy, all the mountains in the background are incredibly tall and massive by any standard, but they're dwarfed and shrunken in the distance

and the way the blue of the sky gives way to the dark purpleish blackish color of space near the top of the frame is really something, it makes it feel so otherworldly

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 13 Dec 2017 01:35:04 No.1157933 Report

Quoted By:

Mountaineering is a wonderful sport to follow.
Read about people like Reinhold Messner and Jerzy Kukuszka as a start to understand what the best of the best looks like. Then look at the British 1970s crew (Bonington, Boardman, Joe Tasker) -- the Shining Mountain is a good book. These guys embody the best of alpine climbing, which to me is attacking remote peaks in novel style in true alpine style (not a massive expedition with multiple fixed camps).

The sport has never really been better than it is now. Killian Jornet summited Everest twice in a few days. Unfortunately the world's best mountaineer, Ueli Steck, died this year.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 13 Dec 2017 05:38:15 No.1158154 Report

Quoted By: >>1159105

>>1154661
Fred Beckey is the shit, but he's mainly focused on the Pac-NW. Loads of first ascents.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 14 Dec 2017 21:00:17 No.1159105 Report

Quoted By: >>1159187

>>1158154
holy shit i just found out he died earlier in october

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 14 Dec 2017 21:31:06 No.1159132 Report

Quoted By: >>1159194

>>1155758
Thanks. I'm far from a richfag...don't give up on the idea. Use eBay, sales and any pro dealso you might have access to to acquire your stuff. Or find a 0% interest credit card and just pay it off within the parameters before your 0% period is up.

There's ways to make it happen anon. I would say time is the bigger issue of those. You only live once.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 14 Dec 2017 22:54:07 No.1159187 Report

Quoted By:

>>1159105
Me too. Apparently he was kind of abrasive and just an inveterate dirtbag. Not at all like I pictured him from reading his guidebooks.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 14 Dec 2017 23:03:40 No.1159194 Report

Quoted By:

>>1159132
I think just taking a crevasse rescue course is really what's important. Most other stuff you can learn along the way or pick up from books/youtube. But the gear is obviously super expensive.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 14 Dec 2017 23:49:06 No.1159219 Report

Quoted By: >>1159545 >>1160150 >>1166560

>>1154661
Two books, Touching the Void and Accidents in North American Mountaineering.
If you still want to climb after reading those, my hope is at least you are aware that mountaineering / climbing it is not a lark.
Two sayings I say to my students: "There are bold climber and there are old climbers, but no old and bold climbers" and " All the experts are dead."
Enjoy, but be humble.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 15 Dec 2017 07:38:06 No.1159463 Report

Quoted By: >>1159489 >>1159507 >>1159545

I'll be in Europe during summer next year, thinking of climbing Mont Blanc solo, or with people I'll meet when over there. It'll be my first mountain climb, but it doesn't seem that difficult - just have a reasonable amount of fitness and common sense.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 15 Dec 2017 08:59:33 No.1159489 Report

Quoted By: >>1159492 >>1159955 >>1167714

>>1159463
>It'll be my first mountain climb
>it doesn't seem that difficult
>just common sense
you're likely going to die

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 15 Dec 2017 09:12:03 No.1159492 Report

Quoted By: >>1159497 >>1159687 >>1162187 >>1163615 >>1166548

>>1159489
from what I've read, it's mostly hiking, no vertical work and a clearly defined and well walked trail. All the gear you need is required by law anyway, the accidents happen from people walking far off the trail and falling down the crevices with most of the fatalities occurring during winter.

iirc, out of the Seven Summits, it's the second easiest and only because Mt. Kosciusko in Australia has a sealed road to the summit.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 15 Dec 2017 09:23:18 No.1159497 Report

Quoted By: >>1159659 >>1159955 >>1166548

>>1159492
You clearly haven't got a single clue what you're dealing with here.
>no vertical work
Is this bait?
>the accidents happen from people walking far off the trail and falling down the crevices
No, people - even experienced climbers - die from avalanches, rockfall, cold, hypothermia and altitude sickness
> most of the fatalities occurring during winter
Wrong again, most fatalities occur during summer when inexperienced tourists like yourself clog up the trails
> out of the Seven Summits, it's the second easiest
Why on God's green earth are you even talking about the Seven Summits when you've never climbed a mountain in your life. Why don't you throttle back a little bit and start climbing some lesser peaks before doing the real thing.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 15 Dec 2017 10:22:56 No.1159507 Report

Quoted By: >>1159955

>>1159463
Honestly, if you're serious you're probably going to die anon.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 15 Dec 2017 13:07:37 No.1159545 Report

Quoted By: >>1159955

>>1159463
There’s a saying on mountain project that fits perfectly.

Yer gonna die

>>1159219
Touching the Void is an incredible story

Anonymous

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Anonymous Fri 15 Dec 2017 18:31:13 No.1159655 Report

Quoted By:

I visited colorado and hiked up one ~13,500ft peak. It was a blast with great views, I'd love to try some of the Colorado 14ers and move on to some of the higher ones in the PNW

Extreme mountain climbing is so crazy to me. It's fascinating but how a group of people decides to summit K2, knowing 1 of 4 of them may die, seems wild.

Pic related is mountain

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 15 Dec 2017 18:46:00 No.1159659 Report

Quoted By: >>1159665 >>1159667 >>1159671

>>1159497
a ten year old climbed it lmao

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 15 Dec 2017 19:10:12 No.1159665 Report

Quoted By: >>1159955

>>1159659
It's one of the deadliest mountains in the world. Climbing on a glacier isn't like hiking. Inexperience and lack of knowledge can kill you.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 15 Dec 2017 19:11:35 No.1159667 Report

Quoted By:

>>1159659
A 12 years old also climbed Everest. I suppose you consider it a walk in the park too?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 15 Dec 2017 19:19:10 No.1159671 Report

Quoted By: >>1159955

>>1159659
A ten year old with way more experience than your dumb ass

Anonymous

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Anonymous Fri 15 Dec 2017 19:27:29 No.1159672 Report

Quoted By:

>>1154661
>Bonatti and Hunza climber, Amir Mehdi, climbed up to deliver oxygen to Compagnoni and Lacedilli for their summit attempt. It was an epic climb with the weight of the oxygen bottles at that altitude and both men were exhausted. Bonatti and Mehdi arrived in failing light at a point on the "shoulder" at 7,900 metres (26,000 ft) where the team had agreed to place camp IX. To their surprise the camp was not there. Alarmed, Bonatti and Mehdi called out to Compagnoni and Lacedilli who eventually answered from a site further up and left on the mountain, instructing Bonatti to leave the bottles and descend down the mountain. Bonatti could see the headlamp shining from the site over a difficult traverse in the dark, 600 ft away. Bonatti pleaded with Compagnoni and Lacedilli to join them in the camp. The headlamp abruptly switched off and despite continue pleas from Bonatti and Mehdi, Compagnoni and Lacedilli remain silent, sentencing Bonatti and Mehdi to an unplanned bivouac at 7,900 metres (26,000 ft) in the open.
Italians are dicks

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 15 Dec 2017 19:58:04 No.1159687 Report

Quoted By: >>1159955 >>1163615

>>1159492
The fact that you think Mont Blanc is one of the Seven Summits shows what a fucktard you are. Elbrus is the highest peak in Europe.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Fri 15 Dec 2017 20:07:26 No.1159689 Report

Quoted By:

>>1154661
Have you read pic attache yet OP?
I've read a ton of mountaineering books and Joe Simpson has written some good ones.
Most of his later books chronicle the deaths of his mountaineering friends.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 16 Dec 2017 06:43:31 No.1159955 Report

Quoted By: >>1163615 >>1165980

>>1159489
>>1159497
>>1159507
>>1159545
>>1159665
>>1159671

plenty of novices climb it solo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2MMFQszzCo

>>1159687
on some lists, it's considered the European summit as Elbrus is considered to be in Asia. Not going to argue the point, because that is up to actual geographers and mountaineers.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 16 Dec 2017 11:07:06 No.1160005 Report

Quoted By: >>1160305

>>1154661
I really recomend to you, watching that movie.
It's about golden generation of Polish himalayists, who were climbing during Soviet occupation of Poland.
Personally, i think stories about them are very interesting.
Did you know, that Poles were first ones, who climbed Mt. Everest at winter?|
It's nice, if you like to learn about history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_tVLsrDCOY

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 16 Dec 2017 18:07:05 No.1160150 Report

Quoted By: >>1160187

>>1159219
>no old and bold climbers
who is Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 16 Dec 2017 20:17:57 No.1160187 Report

Quoted By: >>1160308

>>1160150
and Kurt Diemberger

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 16 Dec 2017 22:28:08 No.1160272 Report

Quoted By: >>1160313 >>1160595

recently I cashed out my bitcoin and bought a ton of mountaineering gear, but only know how to do basic mountaineering (no glacial travel or roped anything experience, hardest mountain ive climbed is Shasta). Any recommendations on mountaineering schools in the PNW? I have lots of backpacking and general backcountry travel experience, am a decent sport climber, but want to take it to the next level.

Is hiring a guide a good way to learn? I dont want someone to just do everything for me, I want to be taught to do it myself. should I just try and do it on my own?

ideally I'd want to do something on a mountain that isn't super crowded all the time, like Rainier or Baker, but if that is the best option ton learn I would do that

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 16 Dec 2017 23:16:47 No.1160305 Report

Quoted By:

>>1160005
Poles are the most powerful race. Fact.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 16 Dec 2017 23:17:54 No.1160308 Report

Quoted By:

>>1160187
Or Fred Beckey who died of old age.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 16 Dec 2017 23:21:53 No.1160313 Report

Quoted By: >>1160318

>>1160272
Last year I took American Alpine Institutes 1 week intro to alpinism course on Baker. It was great, learned a bunch and met some friends through it. We have climbed many other mountains on our own since then.

I highly recommend them. Now is a good time to book for a course.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 16 Dec 2017 23:27:22 No.1160318 Report

Quoted By:

>>1160313
Btw this was on Baker in spring time and it was not busy at all. There was only 1 other group on our side of the mountain. Probably the whole mointain, I think the north side approach was still snowed out.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 17 Dec 2017 10:08:05 No.1160595 Report

Quoted By:

>>1160272
I did a two day crevasse rescue course with Baker Mountain Guides last summer. I learned a ton about glacier travel, how to rope up, self arrest, etc. The following weekend I climbed Baker.

If you're just starting out doing some sort of mountaineering course will probably be more valuable than just a guided ascent.

Baker wasn't super crowded. There were two other groups when we went on the Coleman Glacier and we passed them fairly quickly. The summit area was kind of packed with people coming from other routes. Later I did Mt. Shuksan and I thought it would be a better first climb. The ascent was easier plus awesome scrambling on the summit pyramid.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 19 Dec 2017 21:49:51 No.1162166 Report

Quoted By: >>1162613 >>1163299 >>1163890

Have you read this great piece in th new york times ?

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/18/sports/everest-deaths.html

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 19 Dec 2017 22:40:47 No.1162187 Report

Quoted By: >>1162373

>>1159492
Three days after I climbed the cosmic route in 2012, 9 people were killed on Mt. Blancs main trail to the summit. A week of on and off snow and rain made a very unstable snow pack. Mt Blanc kills more people than any other mountain in Europe.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 20 Dec 2017 01:37:46 No.1162261 Report

Quoted By: >>1162322

I just read Into Thin Air

What’s /out/‘s opinion of Krakauer?

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 20 Dec 2017 04:21:46 No.1162322 Report

Quoted By:

>>1162261
Pretty good author in my opinion. There’s a reason he has mixed opinions though, although the reason escapes me at the moment.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 20 Dec 2017 07:36:42 No.1162373 Report

Quoted By:

>>1162187
the Gouter trail is pretty reliable compared to the other paths to the summit, the 9 people killed in the avalanche in 2012 were trying to summit Mont Maudit on a trail that is frequently prone to avalanches and crevasses. The hardest or more dangerous section of Gouter is the Grand Couloir with over 70 deaths since 1990.

>Mt Blanc kills more people than any other mountain in Europe.
over 20,000 people summit per year compared to the 60 on average that die on the Mont Blanc massif (which also includes skiers falling down crevasses). The large amount of people attempting is the reason the deaths are so high.

But congratulations on summiting, was it a good experience?

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 20 Dec 2017 20:00:18 No.1162613 Report

Quoted By:

>>1162166
Damn, that was an intense read. Yet, for some strange reason it makes the mountain even more appealing.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 20 Dec 2017 21:59:22 No.1162668 Report

Quoted By:

>>1157860
Air density wise, they are closer to being in space at that altitude too than to sea level. It is about 0.35 atm at that altitude, while sea level is obviously 1 atm.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 21 Dec 2017 01:16:06 No.1162771 Report

Quoted By: >>1162802 >>1162970

>be me
>heading over Crib Goch in Wales
>chatting with a guy and his grandson as I went over the ridge
>old guy is actually dressed in tweed
>enjoyed chat with him - really nice bloke - I carried on at speed having said adios

>didn't think of it for a few days until...

>my mate phones me in work and says have a look at some national newspaper other.

>old guy and his grandson in the papers. Turns out he had been on Sir Edmund Hillary's team when they first summited Mt Everest.

>He was out showing his grandson one of the training routes the team used on the Snowdon horseshoe to prepare themselves for that first ever successful ascent.

>I was walking with a mountaineering legend and didn't even know it at the time

>mfw

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 21 Dec 2017 02:12:19 No.1162802 Report

Quoted By: >>1162948 >>1163247

>>1162771
>I was walking with a mountaineering legend and didn't even know it at the time
At least mention his name

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 21 Dec 2017 06:37:42 No.1162920 Report

Quoted By: >>1166542

>>1157860
>>1154758
Hey I'm like you regarding K2. I also have an affinity for Kachenjunga. People think Everest is dangerous but the summit to death ratios of K2 and Kachen are much more terrifying. I don't think I'd ever have the courage to attempt Himalayan peaks, or anything over 15,000 ft. I've been fascinated by pictures of them for years, though.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 21 Dec 2017 08:28:17 No.1162948 Report

Quoted By:

>>1162802
Embarrassingly can't remember his name anon it was a long time ago. I'll have to do some digging about and see if I can find it.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 21 Dec 2017 10:08:14 No.1162970 Report

Quoted By: >>1162972

>>1162771
That's actually pretty cool.

I kept hoping I'd run into fred beckey out here in the Cascades some day but it never happened.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 21 Dec 2017 10:17:48 No.1162972 Report

Quoted By:

>>1162970
climbing test

Anonymous

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Anonymous Thu 21 Dec 2017 11:23:45 No.1162994 Report

Quoted By: >>1162995

I love climbing, but I think the oxygen-assisted climbs are pretty fucking gay. I can't believe people ice climb and stuff, maybe my balls are too small... but no. I'm good. I like my comfy-tier scrambles and easy ascents.

Maybe when I'm older I'll be riskier like the Chinese and superrich. I have family friends who climb all over the world, they're very chill. One's even done the cross-Antarctic expedition (and sailed around the world multiple times). His name is literally Manly. Very cool stuff

Anonymous

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Anonymous Thu 21 Dec 2017 11:27:46 No.1162995 Report

Quoted By:

>>1162994
I'm not into the whole "let me climb every peak in X area" even though I understand why some people want to do that. I just always liked climbing things growing up, running up any hill I saw, scrambling up rock outcrops... so I guess now that I'm older, it extends to big things. There's a mountain in my area I've been meaning to climb, just gotta fucking wait another 6 or 7 months to do so x__x

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 21 Dec 2017 22:05:01 No.1163247 Report

Quoted By: >>1163248 >>1163274

>>1162802
Found him anon.

His name was George Band - youngest member of the team who all stood on top of Mt Everest in 1953

Died in 2011 it'll have been 2003 when I met him on the Snowdon range as he apparently bagged the place via several routes that they used during winter training with Hillary and team.

Pic related - that's him sat somewhere quite a way up the PYG track.

Gotta say it.....

F.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 21 Dec 2017 22:06:10 No.1163248 Report

Quoted By: >>1163251

>>1163247
Pic didn't post

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 21 Dec 2017 22:08:58 No.1163251 Report

Quoted By:

>>1163248
My fucking mimi is being autistic - won't let me post an image.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Band

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 21 Dec 2017 22:50:20 No.1163274 Report

Quoted By:

>>1163247
what a legend

Anonymous

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Anonymous Thu 21 Dec 2017 23:43:18 No.1163299 Report

Quoted By:

>>1162166
"He loved the mountains like God. If he is there, let him be."

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 22 Dec 2017 12:50:49 No.1163615 Report

Quoted By: >>1163616 >>1163633 >>1163833

>>1159492
>>1159687
>>1159955
It's mostly Elbrus for Europe and Carstensz Pyramid for Australia (not Kosciuszko) nowadays.

Climbed Mont Blanc and Elbrus, AMA.
Currently looking for a new Project.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Fri 22 Dec 2017 12:55:59 No.1163616 Report

Quoted By: >>1163617

>>1163615
climb Ball's Pyramid

report back with lord howe island stick bugs

Anonymous

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Anonymous Fri 22 Dec 2017 12:57:02 No.1163617 Report

Quoted By:

>>1163616
;__;

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 22 Dec 2017 12:58:38 No.1163618 Report

Quoted By: >>1163619

i would do it if i had someone to take me under their wing. in the meantime, i fear it is too elitist. did everest base camp and it just felt like a meme to be honest. 95% very easy. only problem was getting sick.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 22 Dec 2017 12:59:41 No.1163619 Report

Quoted By:

>>1163618
i realise mountaineering is a completely different tier, kind of scary.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 22 Dec 2017 13:36:15 No.1163633 Report

Quoted By: >>1167091

>>1163615
How does one climb Elbrus?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 22 Dec 2017 20:27:14 No.1163833 Report

Quoted By: >>1167091

>>1163615
What was the permit and guide process like for Elbrus? Were you free to just go for it?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 22 Dec 2017 22:16:24 No.1163890 Report

Quoted By:

>>1162166
Very nice, thanks for sharing

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 25 Dec 2017 22:17:12 No.1165964 Report

Quoted By: >>1166348

Does anyone here into Scottish winter mountaineering?

I live in UK and walk/scramble/climb a lot in the summer but have somebody very little work in the winter.

>which is the best month for good weather (some snow, ideally not high winds) or does it all come down to luck?
>which would be the best mountain ranges for solo trips? I’d be looking for simple navigation and easy walks, happy to cover reasonable distance but as I’d be alone I wouldn’t want to put myself in risky situation until I had more experience

I have a two week trip booked for the alps next summer where I’ll be taking a course, would just ike to be more prepared and fitter for it by doing some mountains in Scotland this winter.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 25 Dec 2017 22:42:31 No.1165980 Report

Quoted By:

>>1159955
the risk / reward ratio is off though. yes, you will have climbed the mont blanc and most likely you will survive, but either you will be in a blissful state afterwards ("that was too easy") or you will hate yourself afterwards ("why did I do it"). your lack of experience will not let you appreciate your achievement.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 26 Dec 2017 03:45:27 No.1166224 Report

Quoted By:

>Alpine Clubs

They're obviously worth joining but which one is better? All the main clubs in Europe have reciprocal benefits with each other, if I'm in Germany for a year, would it be worth joining the DAV over an english-speaking club like the AAC(UK)?

Anonymous

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Anonymous Tue 26 Dec 2017 11:05:21 No.1166348 Report

Quoted By: >>1166568

>>1165964
I did my first proper Scottish winter mountaineering last month. Pic related, was a great day out on Stob Ghabhar. Solo until I met a couple of others going down. Have you got any winter experience elsewhere?

>best month for weather
Probably April-May for most reliable weather but really conditions vary massively even from one day to the next. We had phenomenal conditions in November (several feet of snow, clear skies and low winds) but it could have easily been no snow, 90mph winds and rain. The best way to do it is base yourself in Scotland then when the forecast is good (always use MWIS) go for a day-trip or an overnight. If you plan more than a week in advance it’s 100% luck.

>best mountain ranges for solo trips
There’s lots around Glencoe which is very feasible for someone with a little experience and the right gear (crampons, ice axe, gps and emergency gear advisable). However there are easier walks in the Trossachs and the Arrochars like Ben Lomond and Ben Arthur.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 26 Dec 2017 18:35:36 No.1166542 Report

Quoted By:

>>1162920
> I don't think I'd ever have the courage to attempt Himalayan peaks, or anything over 15,000 ft.

There is a huge disparity between Himalaya 8-7k and lower Himalaya peaks. 15k can be as easy as a walk up to the summit, or nearly that. Don't write that shit off so easily.
If you're in average shape you can absolutely do 15k with little danger. There is always some danger, but it can be minimized.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Tue 26 Dec 2017 18:50:37 No.1166548 Report

Quoted By:

>>1159492
While Mt.Blanc is relatively easy, and not as dangerous. That is in relative terms. Relative to a very dangerous difficult sport. If you're not going to slap yourself and take this shit very seriously you're throwing a dice with your life hanging on the outcome.

Even as a clueless novice I'll easily give you 90% chance of success without injury, even perhaps 95-99%, who knows.

Do you want to take a gamble such as 1/20 if you can easily prevent most of the danger by not being a retard?

Yes, you are a retard, you have grievous misconceptions over what to expect as outlined by dear mr .>>1159497

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 26 Dec 2017 19:07:09 No.1166560 Report

Quoted By:

>>1159219
where can i download Accidents in North American Mountaineering?

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 26 Dec 2017 19:15:29 No.1166568 Report

Quoted By: >>1166637

>>1166348
>>1166348
I have a small amount of Scottish winter experience, but always within groups. I know I would enjoy walking independently more than within a group, I just need to figure out where to get started. Nice picture btw

Can you still rely on much snow in April and May? Or would it only be expected on the peaks?

I might be tempted to head down to Ben Lomond and work my way up to Glen Coe weather dependent.

How much does winter and summer navigation compare on the munros? And how often did you encounter other people ?

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 26 Dec 2017 21:16:00 No.1166637 Report

Quoted By: >>1166708

>>1166568
>Can you still rely on much snow in April and May? Or would it only be expected on the peaks?
You can never rely on it, but it’s not unlikely. But yes, by that point the snow line will be rising up towards the peaks. Again, if you want lots of snow and good weather the best thing to do is base yourself nearby for a couple of weeks between December and March and you’ll probably get a few good days in there somewhere.

>I might be tempted to head down to Ben Lomond and work my way up to Glen Coe weather dependent.
Not a bad plan. Where do you live if Lomond is ‘down’?

>How much does winter and summer navigation compare on the munros?
I use GPS so it’s never too difficult. The only real thing which can worsen navigation is poor visibility, which happens frequently in autumn/winter but also occasionally in spring/summer. That and snow obscuring paths which is only really dangerous on exposed slopes or other areas where the ground could collapse.

>And how often did you encounter other people?
Again it’s kinda random. You’ll never get the kinds of crowds you get in England except maybe on Nevis in summer. I met two others in winter on one of the least-travelled munros, and yet when we did An Teallach, one of the most famous, on the hottest and clearest day of the year we never saw another soul.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 26 Dec 2017 23:24:46 No.1166708 Report

Quoted By: >>1167041

>>1166637
Thanks for the really detailed reply!

Do you find much need for ice axe and crampons? I have B2 boots and can get hold of a walking axe, crampons may have to be rented though as I don’t have enough funds to cough up for them.

I live on a northern Scottish isle, so everywhere south of Thurso is down for me.

I did Nevis this summer up the tourist track as weather was forecasted to be very poor and hated it purely based on the quantity (and also quality) of all the people. 10 minutes from the top and I had a stranger give me a high five and tell me how well I was doing and that I was nearly there.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Dec 2017 08:07:44 No.1167041 Report

Quoted By: >>1167051

>>1166708
>Do you find much need for ice axe and crampons?
Quite often. I’d say don’t go out on any Munros in winter conditions without them.

>I live on a northern Scottish isle, so everywhere south of Thurso is down for me.
Oh cool, me too. Which one? Also the northwest highlands have a lot to offer if it means you don’t have to drive down as far. Assynt down to Torridon is all amazing and includes the Letterewe Wilderness which is about as hardcore as it gets in the U.K. There are plenty of easier hikes which would be great in winter like Suilven.

>I did Nevis this summer up the tourist track...
That sounds real shit. If you ever do it again I’d go via the CMD arête, far fewer people and much more beautiful. Myself and a couple of friends are hoping to do it in January as part of the three peaks. Apparently a winter traverse of CMD is one of the best in the Highlands.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Dec 2017 08:47:22 No.1167051 Report

Quoted By: >>1167057

>>1167041
Noted regarding the axe and crampons.
What kind of distances would you expect to cover in snowy Munro conditions? I like 14 mile days in the Summer, but know sunlight is a limitation and speeds drop a lot in the snow.

I’m on Orkney. It’ll just be bizarre if you say you are too. I haven’t actually done much walking north of Inverness despite being closer in proximity. But Suilven has a gorgeous shape to it. Do you ice climb at all?

Are you doing Scafell and Snowdon as the other two peaks? How is winter in the Lake District? Because that was my other idea for starting out, because everything is a bit lower and it’s so condensed.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Wed 27 Dec 2017 09:06:33 No.1167057 Report

Quoted By: >>1167062

>>1167051
>What kind of distances would you expect to cover in snowy Munro conditions?
Really depends on the route, usually between 10-15km but you can make it longer or shorter as you like by linking multiple tops or doing a linear route.

>I’m on Orkney. It’ll just be bizarre if you say you are too.
Yeah I’m from Sanday. You in the Brit thread I’m guessing?

>Are you doing Scafell and Snowdon as the other two peaks?
Yep, gonna be fun but hard.

>How is winter in the Lake District?
Pic related, really fantastic. It’s no walk in the park but conditions are far more reliable than the Highlands and there’s a lot less risky terrain. Of course the trade-off is that the scenery and size aren’t really on the same level.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Dec 2017 09:19:50 No.1167062 Report

Quoted By: >>1167077

>>1167057
Yeah, that was me in the Brit thread. I think I know a lot of outdoorsy people through climbing, but I guess I probably won’t have seen you around if you’re on the isles. How often do you get to Orkney/British mainland?

What’s the ridge in the picture?

What routes are you doing up Scafell and Snowdon? I did Crib Goch this summer and it looks like something that would be a lot of fun in winter. But I guess if you’re going for 24 hour completion doing picking the longer routes/ridges might need some serious speed.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Wed 27 Dec 2017 09:37:50 No.1167077 Report

Quoted By:

>>1167062
>How often do you get to Orkney/British mainland?
Well I live on mainland Britaina now but when I was on Sanday I left maybe once a month or so and got down to Edinburgh a few times a year.

>What’s the ridge in the picture?
Striding Edge, the best part of a lovely circular on Helvellyn. It’s walkable in pretty much any conditions and only really slightly challenging in winter if you haven’t got spikes.

>What routes are you doing up Scafell and Snowdon?
Scafell probably the corridor route and Snowdon most likely the Pyg track. I’d love to do Crib Goch in winter and since your time doesn’t start until you leave your first peak it’s possible, but conservation of energy will be very important, plus we’ll probably be attempting it in the dark with very little visibility so just seems a bit foolhardy. I went for the first time in October for a solo wild camp and loved it, pic related.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Dec 2017 10:38:02 No.1167087 Report

Quoted By: >>1167090 >>1167262

https://trekandmountain.com/2017/12/25/polish-team-to-attempt-first-winter-ascent-of-k2/

>If anyone can succeed on this steep, icy and notorious mountain it’s likely to be this group led by 67 year old Wielicki, who was the first man to do a winter ascent of Everest. He’s spent nearly 14 months on K2 and managed a summer ascent on his fourth go. He tried it in winter over a decade ago but was unsuccessful, however since then equipment has improved and as he explains; “We now have heated gloves and shoes, and one other change is revolutionary: satellite communications and satellite weather forecasts”.
>Wielicki, who has climbed all 14 of the world’s peaks over 8,000 metres, feels it is the end of an era for big Himalayan quests and warns that; “We are moving now from risk to recklessness”.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Dec 2017 10:50:15 No.1167090 Report

Quoted By:

>>1167087
Wish them all the best, can't wait to see the first k2 winter summit. The poles deserve it. Crazy bastards.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Dec 2017 10:51:03 No.1167091 Report

Quoted By: >>1167195

>>1163633
>>1163833
You need a visa for russia and a "border permit" since it's not exactly a very stable region.
Did it without guide. Just had some local agency doing the paperwork for us. See http://www.pilgrim-tours.com/index.shtml?tours/lite/index

Anonymous

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Anonymous Wed 27 Dec 2017 16:08:34 No.1167195 Report

Quoted By: >>1167699

>>1167091
>no guide
South route I presume? Tried North twice, weather was respectively lethal and utter shit but made it second time.

Also just bagged my first 6000m peak, Island Peak, about two weeks ago. Pic related, small white peak left of black peak.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Dec 2017 18:07:23 No.1167262 Report

Quoted By:

>>1167087
Don't forget about Leszek Cichy.
They climbed Everest together,
Here is a video from that:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP5L4W8ooV8

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Dec 2017 09:38:56 No.1167699 Report

Quoted By: >>1167765

>>1167195
Yes via south route and had a good weather window on summit day.
Nice experience but would not do again. Maybe with ski from the north.

>Island Peak
Congrats on that. Looked into that one too, maybe with EBC Trek some day.

Currently thinking about Aconcagua or some 7000er like Muztagh Ata or Pik Lenin.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Dec 2017 11:08:37 No.1167714 Report

Quoted By: >>1167795

>>1159489
>literally walking
>going to die

It's what you do every day on way to the grocery store, just with steeper incline.

You autists really make a grand achievement out of any shit imaginable.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Dec 2017 14:13:40 No.1167765 Report

Quoted By: >>1167823

>>1167699
North route Elbrus is seriously one of my favourite places on the whole planet. Might do it again and wait for good weather.

Did Island Peak with Three Passes Trek, quite hard - 17 days with only one rest day - but quite the trek. Gokyo trek is nicer than EBC btw.

Been eyeing Lenin Peak too for a few years now. Some day!

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Dec 2017 15:30:35 No.1167795 Report

Quoted By:

>>1167714
Whom the fuck walks to the grocery store?

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Dec 2017 16:32:53 No.1167823 Report

Quoted By: >>1167884

>>1167765
What was Island Peak and the 3 Passes like? We’re doing Annapurna soon but would like to go back for something more challenging.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Dec 2017 17:34:08 No.1167884 Report

Quoted By: >>1168382 >>1168432

>>1167823
Hard as balls for me because I was carrying a >20kg pack. 5kg of camera equipment plus spare cold weather gear for my sister before you ask why.

Other than that it's quite the amazeballs hike. Island Peak was cool too, would recommend. Spoke to several people who did both Annapurna and Khumbu region, and the latter is apparently more spectacular. Would avoid peak tourist season though.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Dec 2017 08:16:19 No.1168382 Report

Quoted By: >>1168674

>>1167884
How difficult was Island? I’ve never done mountaineering outside of Scotland so would you recommend getting alpine experience?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Dec 2017 12:04:59 No.1168432 Report

Quoted By: >>1168674

>>1167884
Could've easily reduced that by 5kg. :-)

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO IMG_20171227_201531_536.jpg, 692KiB, 1280x1280

Anonymous Fri 29 Dec 2017 19:27:08 No.1168674 Report

Quoted By: >>1168683

>>1168382
Technically not difficult, but my previous experience with crampons and rapelling came in handy. Plenty of people do it with less experience though. You usually get the required training in base camp anyway.

>>1168432
Nevaaaarr. I'm too much of a /p/nut to leave my DSLR at home. Taking pictures is just too much fun for me.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Dec 2017 19:35:10 No.1168683 Report

Quoted By: >>1168856

>>1168674
See I shoot only on a TLR which I’m scared to take mountaineering even though it’s cheaper and lighter than a DSLR. Did you take it up the Peak?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 30 Dec 2017 00:53:02 No.1168856 Report

Quoted By:

>>1168683
>TLR
Noice.
Yeah, summit pack is pretty light anyway so I didn't mind the extra 1.5kg body and lens for once.

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