What is Mountaneering?

What is the difference between rockclimbing and mountaineering? Are these not a same thing?

:) One of the most frequent questions.

Rockclimbing and mountaineering.
Actually, for many people who are for the first time got fascinated by the splendour of the mountains, these two conceptions mean the same thing - climbing up the mountain.

In reality, although mountaineering and rockclimbing not long ago indeed existed inseparably with each other, at the moment the rockclimbing became into the totally different sport activity, which has nothing to do with the mountains. In other words rockclimbing just as it is for today means quite independent sport, which is more close to gymnastic than to mountain climbing. As a sport object in rockclimbing we normally take specially equipped wall or "rockclimbing route" which is at average not high as 10-15 meters, bolted and cleared from any dangerous objects, completely safe. The goal in the sportive rockclimbing is working at the technical skills for resolving different complicated moves which are necessary for climbing the rockclimbing route.

The word Rockclimbing combines some different activities: 

• The classic Rockclimbing.
  Climbing the routes lead up on the natural rocks.
• Sportive artificial wall rockclimbing.
  Climbing the specially equipped surfaces, made from plywood or plastic, more or less imitating the rock.
• Bouldering.
  Most likely, it is the most sportive kind of rockclimbing. It is climbing the short but overcomplicated climbing routes, normally not higher than 5-6 meters.

Many people practice rockclimbing just as fitness, for keeping themselves in the convenient physical form. There is no age limit for rockclimbing, children can begin to climb at the age of 5-6 years.  

Mountaineering. 

Mountaineering or Mountain climbing it is quite wide conception, which includes climbing rocks, climbing ice, physical and psychologic preparation, many necessary special skills etc. It would not be correct even to call it sport - it is more way of life - active, adventurous, demanding from you to keep yourself in the proper physical form and vigour, ready to new interesting travels and climbs. The goal in mountaineering - climbing the top of the mountain. Depending on the route category, ascent can be technically easy, not complicated with any serious obstacles, and possible for totally unprepared participants (Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Monblan), but also it can by complicated with different difficulties: vertical rocks, glaciers and crevasses, deep snow and avalanche danger, lack of oxygen - for climbing such mountains the previous climbing experience is essential and the climber has to prepare himself very seriously.

 In contrast to sportive rockclimbing, mountaineering is confrontation with mighty element, which can be successfully accomplished only by concentration of all the physical and mental qualities.

 Risk level and physical loads in mountain climbing are much higher than in rockclimbing. The fully comprehension and responsibility are vitally important. It is why for climbing mountains there is an age requirement: not younger than 20 years old.

Text — Alexey Trubachev, founder of the MCS AlexClimb mountaineering and climbing school.