SUMMIT EXCITING
Mountaineering will get the adrenaline flowing, improve your fitness, help you escape the stresses of everyday life, and – best of all – make you feel utterly alive
It’s the sport of climbing mountains, but it’s far more than just hill walking. With a dizzying dose of danger, adrenaline and adventure, whether you’re scrambling a knife-edge ridge, donning crampons for a winter ascent, or bagging a high-altitude summit abroad, mountaineering is your chance to play intrepid explorer.
As well as being a mountaineering guide, Trendall is a photographer and author of guidebook Skye's Cuillin Ridge Traverse. Based on the Isle of Skye, he has summited the Inaccessible Pinnacle – one of the UK’s most iconic and fearsome peaks – hundreds of times. He has also pursued mountaineering across the globe, successfully completing legendary climbs including El Capitan in Yosemite and the north face of the Grande Jorasses on the Mont Blanc Massif. Here’s why he loves mountaineering – and how you can get involved.
Think of mountaineering as a kind of three-dimensional game, involving every muscle in your body but requiring a lot of thought, planning and psychology, too. Physical attributes alone won’t make you a good mountaineer. Fears have to be conquered, tired muscles coaxed into overdrive, and stressful situations overcome. It’s a huge mental and physical challenge, but the rewards are well worth it.
High in the mountains, you’ll experience life on the edge – it’s an almost existential experience. There’ll be excitement and adrenaline. You’ll visit new places and meet new people. And even the most mundane things will feel incredible: a mountain-top mug of instant coffee tastes better than the most expensive artisan latte, simple foods taste amazing as you replace lost calories, and a night camping above the clouds will be seared into your memory forever. You’ll return from the mountains empowered, with mental batteries recharged.
Scrambling and easy mountaineering hits the sweet spot between walking and technical rock climbing, enabling you to experience beautiful, almost magical, scenery without needing to be a highly-skilled climber. It’s a constant movement through a spectacular environment with the added bonus of technical challenges and endorphin-producing exercise.
Big mountains and cliffs abroad are an obvious attraction, but the UK offers a huge variety packed into a small geographical area. In fact, you’re better off undergoing your mountaineering apprenticeship in the UK. There won’t be any problems with altitude, no language difficulties, costs will be cheaper and adventuring locally is better for the planet. Snowdonia, the Lake District and the Scottish Highlands are all highly recommended, and Skye’s Cuillin Ridge is a world class venue.
For beginners, simply start small and work up. Walks and scrambles in mountains may lead to more technical stuff involving climbing and abseils. You could perhaps join a club, find like-minded adventurers, and even hire a guide to teach you new skills.
“High in the mountains, you’ll experience life on the edge”
Professional mountaineering guide Adrian Trendall is a big believer in the body-boosting, head-clearing power of places on high