Climbing a Peak: What it takes

Colorado peak questions, condition requests and other info.
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LifeIsGood
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Climbing a Peak: What it takes

Post by LifeIsGood »

Are you really climbing?

The word 'climbing' is used very casually on this forum- often used for 'walking uphill,' but it is supposed to mean technical climbing, using ropes, on rock or ice, or at the very least using both hands.

There are plenty of words that can be used instead, so as not to exaggerate, such as: hill-walking, hiking, scrambling, ascending, etc. (Maybe the term 'hiking' feels inadequate for extremely high elevations.)

In which case, the term 'mountaineering,' (which can sometimes be synonymous) would often be more appropriate, such as the presence of snow or glaciers while walking uphill.

I'm guessing Bill uses the term in the route descriptions so the general public will view these as more serious than average hiking.
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Re: Climbing a Peak: What it takes

Post by osprey »

You are a climber if you have conquered the mountain.
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Re: Climbing a Peak: What it takes

Post by greenonion »

Oooh my goodness... :shock:
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Re: Climbing a Peak: What it takes

Post by Alpine Guy »

Interesting how, once the knees start to go, what used to be a hike starts lookin like a climb. We'll all be mountaineers if we live long enough.
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Re: Climbing a Peak: What it takes

Post by Wildernessjane »

I promise you, it doesn’t really matter what other people choose to call it. It will in no way diminish your own personal experience. You do you.
Last edited by Wildernessjane on Sun Apr 18, 2021 8:02 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Climbing a Peak: What it takes

Post by BillMiddlebrook »

LifeIsGood wrote: Sun Apr 18, 2021 4:36 pm I'm guessing Bill uses the term in the route descriptions so the general public will view these as more serious than average hiking.
Lol. Or, I own a dictionary
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Re: Climbing a Peak: What it takes

Post by hotrod »

I use the term summit, as in, "I summited Elbert."
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Re: Climbing a Peak: What it takes

Post by Jorts »

Alpine Guy wrote: Sun Apr 18, 2021 6:16 pm Interesting how, once the knees start to go, what used to be a hike starts lookin like a climb. We'll all be mountaineers if we live long enough.
Can prob delay that occurrence by laying off the meat.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5540319/
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Re: Climbing a Peak: What it takes

Post by Harrison1991 »

Jorts wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 7:12 am
Alpine Guy wrote: Sun Apr 18, 2021 6:16 pm Interesting how, once the knees start to go, what used to be a hike starts lookin like a climb. We'll all be mountaineers if we live long enough.
Can prob delay that occurrence by laying off the meat.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5540319/
Or, maybe just keep your weight at a reasonable level, and eat food in moderation. If you’re healthy, consuming red meat is just fine
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Re: Climbing a Peak: What it takes

Post by LifeIsGood »

hotrod wrote: Sun Apr 18, 2021 9:06 pm "I summited Elbert."
Exactly! I myself have stood atop Elbert three times, but I sure as hell don’t say I ‘climbed’ it, even though once was in calendar winter with crampons on my feet.

If you have just one axe in hand, is it really climbing?

Ascending rock routes rated 5th class or higher is definitely ‘climbing.’ 4th class seems a bit more gray, but is probably still ‘climbing.’ 3rd class, however, is scrambling.
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Re: Climbing a Peak: What it takes

Post by timisimaginary »

this is why i never say i "climbed" a ladder, but people do look at me funny when i tell them i "hiked" the ladder to get to my roof.
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Re: Climbing a Peak: What it takes

Post by LifeIsGood »

timisimaginary wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:22 ami "climbed" a ladder
What would be the equivalent rating for a normal ladder?, probably just class 4?

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