Many young children dream of becoming a policeman, pilot, firefighter, doctor, soldier, etc. when they grow up. Not too many young children dream of becoming a mountain climber, except perhaps if they have relatives or close friends that are mountaineers. It is understandable and for good reason - mountain climbing can be an extremely difficult sport.



The most experienced climbers can still experience difficulties while climbing a mountain, which tells of the hazards of mountaineering. With this fact, how much more for the beginners? Certainly, mountain climbing beginners ought to be prepared before attempting any climb.

Mountain climbing beginners have a lot of preparation to do before any climb. One of these is to get proper mountain climbing training first. Contrary to what many people think, mountain climbing isn't getting up one morning and deciding to climb the nearest mountain. There is proper training involved, which includes techniques such as roping, rappelling, emergency signals, and essential tips.

One of the essential tips that a mountain climbing novice or beginner ought to know are his own limits. It has been said that you are the only one that knows your body, and most mountaineers find this to be true. That being said, mountain climbing beginners shouldn't set Mt. Everest among their first ten peaks to conquer - it will be too much.

Another tip is to never climb alone, beginners more importantly. Novice mountain climbers are more likely to experience hazards they have never seen before, and they could panic should these unforeseen things happen. Of course, panicking can only cause people to think cloudily and may cause more danger.

Mountain climbing beginners may also be surprised at the equipment needed, which are all essential for climbing, particularly when dealing with certain mountain ranges (e.g. the Alps). Since the equipment will be quite an investment, novices may elect not to purchase them, or just get the cheapest ones regardless of quality. This could prove to be a mistake, since equipment is perhaps the second most important thing in mountain climbing, next to proper training.

Finally, it is important to know the weather beforehand. It would be stupid to climb when weather forecasts are predicting a snowstorm in the general vicinity. It would also be stupid to attempt a climb without first knowing the weather conditions.

Beginners ought to gain experience first by climbing some of the easier peaks. When they get the hang of it, that's the best time to move into a more difficult mountain, and so on, until the time comes to conquer Mt. Everest.