Frequently Asked Questions about Climbing and Mountaineering

FAQ

What is the difference between High Altitude and Technical Mountain climbing? What are requirements and conditions for participation in the AlexClimb mountain climbing programs of these categories?

To begin: If you do not understand clearly the difference between rockclimbing and mountaineering, you should read another article first! After that you will come back here and read this information.

The concept of Mountain climbing as a whole, as climbing the tops of the mountains, is divided into several different kinds, united by the common goal - getting to the summit, but the obstacles can differ.

For your conveniency we divided all the mountain climbing programs listed in our Web page into three main categories:

Programs of the basic category "Mountain Climbing"

• Climbing Ishinca and Urus, 5530 m, (Andes, Peru)
• Climbing Elbrus, 5648 m, (Caucasus, Russia)
• Climbing Monblan, 4807 m, (Alps, Italy / France)
• Climbing Mount Kenya, 5199 m, (Africa, Kenya)
• Climbing Kilimanjaro, 5895 m, (Africa, Tanzania)
• Climbing Aconcagua, 6959 m, (Andes, Argentina)
• Climbing Peak Denali (Mac Kinley), 6194 m, (Alaska, USA)

As a rule, these are the mountain programs of the Basic level, intended for the beginners with lack of any climbing experience. To a greater or lesser extent (depending on the program) the participants can face the not technical obstacles at the not serious and comparably comfortable altitude.
For participation in the programs of this category the serious preparation and exhausting trainings are not necessary, normally we recommend "Basic Mountain Climbing Technic Course". The only requirements are - lack of medical contra-indications and convenient physical form.

Mountain climbing programs of the advanced level are split into two main categories:

High Altitude Mountain Climbing

• Climbing Khan Tengri, 7010 m, (Tian Shan, Kazakhstan)
• Climbing Peak Lenin, 7134 m, (Pamir, Kyrgizia)
• Climbing Peak Korzhenevskoy, 7105 m, (Pamir, Tadjikistan)
• Climbing Peak Communism, 7495 m, (Pamir, Tadjikistan)
• Climbing of Peak Pobeda, 7439 m, (Tian Shan, Kyrgizia)
• Climbing Huascaran, 6746 m, (Andes, Peru)

In the programs of this category, the main obstacle which climbers are to overtake is the altitude. That means lack of oxygen, extremely low temperatures, maximum physical loads. As a rule on the High Altitude routes technical obstacles are not serious, and would they be at the normal sea level they won't be of any difficulty, but the altitude factor such as lack of oxygen makes even climbing of 1.5 meters rock step quite problematic sometimes.
The main requirement for participation in the High Altitude AlexClimb programs is your good physical form. The main physical quality which is to be trained for climbing High Altitude mountain is your physical endurance. This can be trained by running long distances, cross country skiing, anaerobic trainings. AlexClimb Special mountain training is methodic, specially developed for preparation to the High Altitude Mountain climbing and successfully used for preparation of the participants from "zero level" to such mountains as Peak Khan Tengri, Peak Lenin and Peak Korzhenevskoy.

Technical Mountain Climbing

• Climbing Ushba, 4710 m, (Caucasus, Georgia)
• Climbing Dykh Tau, 5203 m, (Caucasus, Russia)
• Climbing Shkhara, 5068 m, (Caucasus, Russia / Georgia)
• Climbing Matterhorn, 4480 m, (Alps, Italy)
• Climbing Alpamayo, 5947 m, (Andes, Peru)
• Climbing Nelion, 5199 m, (Africa, Mount Kenya group)
• Climbing Aoraki / Mount Cook, 3754 m, (New Zealand)

In the mountain programs of this category, the main obstacle is the technical difficulty of the route - vertical rocks, steep snow and ice slopes, overhanging ice cornices etc., which can be climbed only using the advanced rock and iceclimbing technic, impeccable skills of using the climbing equipment... The altitude of the mountains which are included in the technical category normally is not significant, although is to be taken with the proper attention.
The mountain routes of the Technical class as a rule require previous climbing experience, good physical form and team working skills.