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Questions tagged [mountaineering]

This tag should be used on questions that discuss possible places for mountaineering in a specific region; do's and don'ts during a mountaineering expedition; safety and equipment associated with mountaineering; general advice for making it a better experience; etc.

2 votes
2 answers
140 views

How to do a snowpack test without using a saw

Suppose I am out in the mountains and I want to do a snowpack (in/stability) test before traversing across a slope. I have not, however, carried a saw - to cut a snow column. I have on me regular ...
ahron's user avatar
  • 1,841
4 votes
1 answer
210 views

At what elevation do 50% or higher percentages of mountaineers report symptoms of altitude sickness?

I've read somewhere that above 2500 meters (8,202 ft) 20% of climbers report having had altitude sickness. IIRC they also wrote that 40% of climbers report altitude sickness above 3500 meters (11,500 ...
Johannes's user avatar
  • 247
3 votes
1 answer
277 views

What is the record for the longest amount of time someone spent on the summits of Denali and Aconcagua?

Babu Chiri Sherpa holds the record for the longest time spent on the summit of Mt Everest, about 21 hours. He did so on purpose, and people usually don't spend more than about half an hour at the ...
Johannes's user avatar
  • 247
10 votes
8 answers
5k views

How high can one go from sea level without having to worry about altitude sickness?

If you're an average-healthy person from (near) sea level, how high may you climb a mountain before needing to stay at the altitude to acclimatise? Is it alright to go/drive up a 9000 ft (2750 m) ...
Johannes's user avatar
  • 247
4 votes
1 answer
249 views

What size backpack do I need for mountaineering expeditions?

I am trying to decide on a backpack strategy for Himalayan expeditions to 6k-7k peaks. Typically, these involve a few days approach march to the base camp. Then the actual climbing is another 3-5 days ...
ahron's user avatar
  • 1,841
1 vote
1 answer
175 views

Why aren't ground penetrating radar drones used for hidden crevasse detection

In a few studies, researchers used ground penetrating radar to detect hidden crevasses in alpine regions. Since the cavity of the crevasse refracts and reflects differently than the surround snow, the ...
roh's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
0 answers
132 views

Garmin watch with vs without maps

I'm looking to get a new Garmin wristwatch. Broadly, I'm looking at the Garmin Instinct 2/solar and the fenix 6. Neglecting the price differential, the main difference seems to be that the fenix has 1....
ahron's user avatar
  • 1,841
3 votes
0 answers
140 views

What was the highest mountain climbed without supplemental oxygen, and the lowest one climbed with oxygen, before Messner's 1970 Nanga Parba ascent?

I wonder what the highest mountain (or highest elevation above sea level, not necessarily a summit) had been that was climbed without oxygen and the lowest one that was climbed with oxygen out of fear ...
user avatar
0 votes
4 answers
356 views

What is the highest "hikeable" mountain in the world? [duplicate]

What is the highest mountain in the world that can be hiked all the way up? That you can go up to the top without any sort of experience climbing.
blademan9999's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
685 views

Is it possible to sleep at an altitude more than 500m above last night?

On a high altitude climb or hike, there is famous safety rule for acclimatization "you should never sleep at an altitude more than 500m above the last night" One of my hike require to me ...
Kharak's user avatar
  • 43
5 votes
1 answer
263 views

When did it become commonplace to rely on Sherpas' technical skills in climbing?

I am rereading Annapurna by Maurice Herzog, the account of the first successful ascent of an eight-thousander, which took place in 1950. In Chapter VII, the following dialog takes place: [Lachenal, ...
ab2's user avatar
  • 23.9k
5 votes
1 answer
482 views

Use of high altitude (8000 M) boots at lower altitudes (6500 M)

On Himalayan climbs, good hiking boots (hard or flex soles) will suffice till base camp. Single boots like La Sportiva Nepal Extreme can suffice (in combination with gaiters) till maybe 6000 M peaks ...
ahron's user avatar
  • 1,841
4 votes
1 answer
408 views

Traversing a knife edge ridge

Are there any specific skills and/or techniques for traversing a knife edge ridge in the mountains? The route to many summits (e.g. Mt. Matterhorn, Mt. Satopanth, etc.) includes sections of traversing ...
ahron's user avatar
  • 1,841
3 votes
2 answers
318 views

Risk of permanent damage from high to extreme (6000m) ascents

I'd be grateful for any views on the risk of sustaining permanent structural and cognitive changes from a climbing trip to high altitude (5000-6000m) if acclimatisation is reasonable and no HACE/HAPE ...
Anothercanary's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
375 views

Making a (retrievable) base in soft snow using a pair of ice-axes

When an ice ax is used to make a T slot base in soft snow, it cannot be retrieved after the last climber gets down and has to be left behind. We were taught and shown (and I have forgotten, hence the ...
ahron's user avatar
  • 1,841

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