MOUNTAINS have always been a challenge to the
spirit of man and man has always accepted that challenge. The loftier a
mountain, the greater has been the desire of man to conquer it, to climb to its
highest peak and to enjoy the thrill of victory. Nearly all the mountains of
the world have now been conquered by the persistence and perseverance of man.
Even Mount Everest cannot now claim to be invulnerable, having already been
scaled several times. Several expeditions were organized to negotiate this
highest mountain peak in the world and at least four of them have been
successful British, Swiss, American and Pakistani. The Chinese too have claimed
to have conquered Mount Everest but their claim has not been fully accepted by
many experts.
Life offers a multitudinous variety to permanents.
Some people are fascinated by a dangerous enterprise Danger to them is the very
breath of life and they feed on the delight which they experience in overcoming
it. Mountaineering appeals to such men because it makes the heaviest demands
upon their courage, perseverance and pores of endurance. That it is a dangerous
sport cannot be denied. As one climbs higher and higher, the air becomes more
and more rarefied and therefore breathing becomes more and more difficult. To
obviate this some climbers now carry a heavy apparatus from which they can
inhale the necessary oxygen. The climber finds it really hazardous because at
any moment he may stumble or slip and go crashing downwards. The unbearable
cold at high altitudes is another difficulty which climbers have to face. They
are often overtaken by storms and blizzards. It is an ordeal to have to walk
through snow in which one sinks to the knees. It is still more dangerous to
climb upwards on ice where foothold is Impossible and steps have to be cut in
the ice with axes in order to make progress. The cold is so severe that the
climbers’ feet, toes and fingers suffer frostbite and become useless. The
action of blizzard loosens huge masses of stone and ice which come crashing
from above which may engulf all the climbers. This is a catastrophe. Many lives
have been lost an account of these avalanches. It is, indeed, wonderful that so
many mountain peaks and summits should have been conquered by various climbing
expeditions in the face of such a multiplication of dangers and hardships.
Mountain climbing requires special knowledge,
skills and equipment. Mountain climbers must be in good physical condition and
have good judgment. Even many skilled climbers have lost their lives trying to
conquer challenging peaks. Mountaineers must know how to use maps and
compasses, because they often must find their way where there are trails. They
must travel through dense woods as they approach a mountain, and cross steep
slopes and rock slides above the tree line on the mountain. Near the summit of
a high peak, the climbers may have to scale steep rock faces and plod over snow
fields and glaciers filled with crevasses. In dangerous areas, climbers’ rope
then’ yes together in ground of two three or more persons. Only one climber may
move at a time. The others brace themselves to pull to rope and keep the
climber from falling if he should slip. Climbers carry pack-sacks loaded with
first aid kit, food and extra clothing for sudden changes in weather. Most
climbers wore bob-nailed boots before World War-It but today they often wear
rubber soled boots. In addition, a climber may carry an ice ax to aid, in
keeping his balance to cut steps in snow and ice, and to stop himself from
falling. They may also carry snow-glasses.