Basic Mountaineering and

Backpacking
Lei Mangubat
Climb Preparation

Physical fitness
Important for safety and
to prevent accidents
Enjoy scenery and
company
Physical fitness guidelines:
Continuous endurance
training through aerobic
sports, such as running,
swimming, cycling and
walking
 Weight training to build
muscular strength and
endurance
Any participant who gets
sick should forego the
climb. A sick participant is
a liability to the group.
Best exercise for
mountaineering is
mountaineering.
The Pre-Climb Meet

Conducted at least three

(3) days before the climb.
A comprehensive study,
presentation and discussion
of the essential parts of
conducting a climb.
A. The objectives of a climb
- Determines nature, requirements
and itinerary of the climb
B. The nature of the climb
Six (6) categories:
a. Training Climbs
b. Minor Climbs
c. Clean-Up Climbs
 d. Major Climbs: ascents on
mountains whose degree of
difficulty is higher than those used
on training climbs, which usually
takes several days to complete.
e. Guideship Climbs: mountaineers
provide groups with guided
ascents. For a fee, select members
can organize a trek for groups
interested in climbing a certain
mountain.
f. Exploratory Climbs: the routes
of these climbs are established and
are ascended for the first time.
C. Route Planning
An ascent must be aided with the
aid of maps. The map usually gives
information regarding existing and
possible routes, communities
within the periphery of the
mountain, distribution of
vegetation, approximate compass
bewaring and an approximation of
the steepness of the terrain
D. The itinerary of the climb
To keep up with schedules to avoid discomforts and even
danger.
Planning or setting a schedule maximizes the efficient use of
time.
Equipment, other gear, personal items to bring are also
determined by the itinerary.
 Climb Organization
Selection of a team leader, a scribe, a medic and a tailman

Team Leader
Selected according to his/her familiarity with the mountain and his/her
leadership potential. He /She is given an almost absolute role in decision
making on that climb. However, he/she should also be open-minded
enough to accept suggestion, especially on decisions involving the safety
of the party.
The Medic
- Should have a thorough knowledge
of first aid techniques.

The Scribe
- The scribe has the duty of
documenting the details of the climb.

The Tailman
- The tailman has the responsibility
of bringing up the rear.
Contact Person
Should have a copy of the itinerary and is responsible for
activating a search and rescue team (if he/she is not contacted
within twenty-four (24) hours of the estimated date/time of
arrival)
 The group shall also be
subdivided into into smaller
groups of five to seven members.
This facilitates the sharing of
shelter, food preparation and
increases the safety factor. The
small groups shall have a leader
who is responsible for the
management of his/her members.
E. Budgeting
Determining the approximate cost of transportation,
meals and other expenses
F. Meal Planning
amount of food to be carried on an expedition is
determined by the length of stay plus extra rations in case
of emergencies.
 Guidelines for meal planning
Meals should be able to provide and
replenish the energy requirements of
the climber. This means packing a lot
of carbohydrates with protein and fat
rich food.
Multi-day ascents require meals that
will not spoil easily. Food can be
preserved through drying, pickling and
salting. Food treated with spices and
vinegar usually lasts for days. There are
also meals which cant spoil quickly.
 It is easier to plan and prepare
meals for smaller groups. Large
groups require large and heavy
cooking utensils.
Meals should not be limited to
pre-packaged food or canned
goods..
 Trail food requirements:
1. It should not induce thirst, since it would induce the climber to consume
more water.
2. Nutritious and must satisfy your bodys energy requirements. Sweets in
general, meet this criteria but may require some catabolic conversions
before your body can use it as a fuel.
3. Easy to prepare and should require little or no cooking at all. Time and
fuel constraints must be considered.
 Examples: Crackers, nuts,
candies, chocolates, fresh or
dried fruits, corn flakes, pre-
packed gelatins, etc.
Trail Movement

A) Group Formation
During the trek, there are some
conventions followed regarding
group formation.
The lead man is always in front
and is responsible for pacing the
group, while the tail man is
responsible for bringing up the
rear.
Line formation on narrow trails
should be single file. Overtaking
should be avoided
 The ideal distance between
two climbers is approximately
two(2) meters.
B) Trail signals
Always start with a slow pace to
slowly warm up your muscles. Then
gradually change your pace to the
groups desired pace.
The pace of the group should be
that of the slowest member or the
person who has the heaviest load.
Do not allow anyone to lag behind.
Should there be a need to stop,
inform the lead or tail man so that
he or she can give the appropriate
order to stop.
Maintain a steady rhythm while
trekking. When negotiating steep
slopes, keep the rhythm (pace) by
shortening your strides. On level
ground, maintain the rhythm by
taking longer strides.
D) Trail techniques
In negotiating the trail, some techniques must be kept in mind
in order to provide the safest and least difficult route to the
summit or objective.
The ridge line is most often followed in path finding. Avoid water lines
and gullies since water always takes the steepest route down the
mountain.
 When crossing rivers or streams,
bend your knees and face in a
direction diagonal to the flow of the
current to prevent the strong
current from knocking you down.
 Do not step on obstacles for they might upset your balance.
Avoid dislodging rocks.
To maintain balance and traction during descent, learn to dig
first with your heel or the side of your foot.
When there is a need to hold on roots or vines, make sure
first that they are sturdy enough to carry your weight and that
they do not have any thorns.
E) Rests
The interval between
different stops will usually
depend on the difficulty of
the terrain encountered.
1. Treks on level ground - five
(5) minutes rest for every
hour of hiking.
2. Ascents - five (5) minutes
rest for every thirty (30)
minutes of hiking; on steep
slopes - five (5) minutes
rest for every fifteen (15)
minutes of hiking.
3. Descents - five (5) minutes
of rest for every hour of
hiking.
 During rest periods, do not sit or
lie down at once. Keep standing
at least thirty (30) seconds to
allow your pulse to slow down to
normal levels before sitting down.
When resting, sip your water if
you are thirsty.
Drinking too much quickly will
induce an abrupt lowering of
your body temperature. Check
your equipment before pack-up
time and heed the signal of the
lead man immediately.
F) Trail signs
It is unavoidable that there will be times when you have
to communicate with other members of your team or
even other teams during a climb through the use of trail
signs.
G) Trail Regulations
Preserve the natural state of the
wilderness. Inform the person
behind you of imminent obstacles
or dangers along the path.
When the group is unsure of the
proper path toward the objective,
several members should scout for
the right trail or path.
Side trails not in use should be
closed to prevent others from
using them. This can be done by
blocking the path with sticks or
branches.
To make the path safer for hikers
following you, cut sharp thorns
and poisonous plants along the
trail.
Do not litter. Pocket all food
wrappers.
 Smoking on the trail or during short rests is strictly prohibited.
Straps, flaps, belts and knots may come loose during the trek. It is the duty
of the person behind you to inform you if you had dropped anything on the
trail.
If you get lost, do not panic. Asses your position and then take the
necessary steps to find the correct route.
In the event of an accident, keep the casualty comfortable and relaxed.
Administer first-aid and transfer the person to the nearest clinic or
hospital.
The Post Climb Meet
This is where the
participants of the climb give
their impressions and
personal feedback on the
climb. The team should meet
within five(5) days after the
climb to review the strong
and weak points of the
climb. All the participants of
the climb are required to
attend the post-climb
meeting to share their
assessments.
 During the meeting, the
team leader presides at
the meeting while the
scribe takes down the
notes. As a rule, all group
equipment should be
returned during the post-
climb meeting.
Water Management
Water discipline
1 liter: trail water
Avoid drinking in huge
gulps
Bring additional if you are a
heavy drinker
Garbage Management
Trash of any kind should
not be left at jump-off
points.
Do not reinforce locals
habit of collecting trash
from visitors except if
they intend to recycle.
Every member of the
group is responsible for
her trash.
 Pick up trash you see
along the way.
When you see trash left
by other climbers on the
campsite, bring them with
you for proper disposal.
Inform appropriate
barangay officials of the
misconduct, so that in the
future, they will be more
stringent in checking if
climbers brought down
their trash with them.
 Garbage segregation
Practice garbage
segregation.
Do not bury your garbage
in the outdoors even if it is
biodegradable.
Climbing Checklist
Money Plastic bags and trash bags
Cellular phone First aid kit
Identification card Trail food
Whistle Packed lunch
Hiking boots Sunblock
Backpack
Trail water Optional
Rain gear Umbrella
Water containers Camera and tripod
Pack cover
Notebook and pencil
Enjoy your climb!