Ain't no mountain high enough...

Has anyone here ever climbed a mountain, not a stroll up Snowden but a proper mountain. If so, is it easy to organise, train for etc?

I did the Colorado Rockies this year, ending with the climbing of Mount Evans which was a 29 mile climb (no stops...oh yeah!).

They are long old climbs over there, but thankfully quite forgiving in terms of steepness.

It obviously helps to be a competent rider, but the only thing that will really stop you reaching the top of a mountain is your mind.

We had all levels in our group, some whizzed up, some took their time and had photo stops etc.

Ah....do you mean proper climbing? Ropes and stuff?

What do you mean by proper mountain?

I don't know shit but I met a bloke on a big hill in Scotland and he suggested I join
http://www.londonmountaineeringclub.com/
I haven't gotten around to it yet as I'm broke.

Has anyone here ever climbed a mountain, not a stroll up Snowden but a proper mountain. If so, is it easy to organise, train for etc?

Depends greatly on the steepness, climate etc. I'd look around for cheap package deals which offer equipment and a local guide

I walked up Jonhørnet with two mates and a pencil drawn map*.
http://www.westcoastpeaks.com/pics09A/nordsmor_002jonshornet.jpg

(*During the summer, so far less snow on the peak)

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Yeah i think what i mean is more ropes etc, with snow and whatnot. As you can see i know nothing about but i reckon it would great fun, and an awesome challenge.

How do you get into it though? i'm thinking of learning wall climbing etc in the new year, does anyone do that?

Depends on the mountain you pick, some are essentially long/steep/cold walks and others are technical challenges as well as being long/steep/cold. Many off the more walk like mountains it is easily possible to hire guides for but you will want to do some technical training first anyway (think ice axe arrests, crampons, cutting steeps and getting really fit). Then there is the kit outlay which isn't tiny, you could always try for sponsorship or store discounts.

Indoor rock climbing can be a good introduction with ropes and some technical kit but it doesn't substitute for spending time on hills and in cold place before you try to do it at altitude.

Although all that said you can probable climb Mount Blanc with guides and stuff relatively cheaply (but it is quite a small mount really). And bouldering is far more fun than any of the above!

tends to be alot of outdoors involved with that type of thing, away from computer screens, I wouldnt like it.

I've been up a few Munros (Scottish mountains over 3000 feet) and believe me, they ain't no stroll in full on Winter conditions....

Try the Cuillin Ridge on Skye for exposure and rope work needed - Inn Pinn? shudders (Not done it hasten to add)

Or the Aonach Eagach in Winter would be a serious technical challenge

Yes but when you climb mountains then you will, unless you are Extremely Hardcore, be climbing in the season with the best weather and possible to some extent picking the best days according to the forecast.

As for Scotland it seems to surprise most people that it is actually a very harsh environment. When the weather turns bad it gets very dangerous but really it is the damp that will get you in the end not the cold itself...

I've been up a few Munros (Scottish mountains over 3000 feet) and believe me, they ain't no stroll in full on Winter conditions....

I can believe that. I've never been up one in the winter but was up one this autumn in a gale on a ridge line on my own and tha was pretty scary. I think people can underestimate small mountains in the UK and what they have to offer. They don't have the big number associated with them but there can still be a fair amount to deal with. One of my aims over the next few years is to do some more scrabbling in Scotland and start doing some outdoors climbing in the peak district e.t.c.

Yes but when you climb mountains then you will, unless you are Extremely Hardcore, be climbing in the season with the best weather and possible to some extent picking the best days according to the forecast.

Of course if you're a real purist you make sure you cycle to the mountain.

you can get it all in the space of a few hours in Scotland, rain, sleet, snow, low cloud, and wind. wind chill on the tops is a big factor, it can be brutal. add to that some big drops from a corrie edge if you mess up your navigation in a white out for instance, or cornices that appear to be solid, its all over

I have been to Norths but I did get off and push.

BlueQuinn has been out to mountainous Essex and didn't once get off and push. Now that's the dedication of a proper mountain goat.

I think the highest up I've been was skiing in the South Tyrolean Alps, but I don't know how high that was. Another resort in southern Austria was at 2,200 metres, but of course that was all by ski lift.

I've done some walking in northern Austria, e.g. on top of the Schafberg, 1783 metres:

[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schafberg[/ame]

We rode up most of it on the funicular railway, though, and only walked the last 200 vertical metres along a fairly pleasant path.

I found the most beautiful thing about the Austrian Alps for me were the high mountain meadows/pastures ("Almen"). Wonderful walking there, beautiful atmosphere, great air, and the quietness ...

I would start of on some easy scrambles in snowdonia and see if you enjoy the exposure or whether it scares the shit out of you. Indoor wall climbing will definately help you feel confident travelling on steeper ground as well. There are some nice routes up tryfan and Crib goch is a good exposed ridge which coincidently leads upto snowdon and aint just a stroll unless your nuts enough to walk along the top of the ridge. Make sure that you go with someone who knows how to use a map and a compass and you need to wear the right clothing and carry some safety equipment as well.