#101 Getting Started in the Mountains

Discovering the mountains without frustration and progressing over the long term requires a few reference points. This page presents the essential pillars for building solid foundations.

Choosing a direction

The first step is to define a goal: climbing, running, skiing, bivouacking? For those who do not yet have a clear idea, the page #101 - The Different Mountain Sports offers an overview of the existing disciplines. The vast majority of these sports share a common foundation: endurance and hiking techniques. Endurance determines your ability to sustain long days of effort in the mountains. Hiking, often seen as self-evident, is nevertheless the base to master first. Without it — walking with a loaded pack, managing a bivouac, navigation — any progression towards more technical disciplines becomes fragile.

Training

A structured training plan lets you progress without getting injured and optimise your performance. The road from beginner to seasoned practitioner is long, but accessible to most people: genetic factors only influence the last few percent of your maximum potential. The page #101 - Training details how to build a suitable plan. If you lack the motivation to do it yourself, a coach can provide the support you need. Motivation cannot be decreed. It is built around an ambitious yet personal goal, used as a long-term horizon, and more realistic intermediate milestones that let you measure your progress.

Gear

A few pieces of equipment are essential from the start: trail shoes, technical clothing, a backpack. A GPS watch paired with a heart rate chest strap lets you track your training reliably. The rest of your gear is acquired gradually, according to your practices and projects. The page #101 - What Gear for Fastpacking? offers pointers for practitioners looking to move towards self-supported outings.

Technical skills

The mountains require you to quickly acquire a few fundamental skills. Planning an outing lets you anticipate the unexpected and make the most of the terrain. Knowing how to read a map, use a GPS and interpret a weather forecast are essential skills to avoid finding yourself in trouble. These basics are detailed in the pages #101 - Navigation, #101 - Weather and #101 - Preparing Your Outing. Protecting wild environments is also a skill to acquire from the start. See #101 - Protecting Our Environment.

What next?

The mountains are a dangerous, wild and ever-changing environment. For beginners, heading out with an experienced practitioner, joining a mountain club or finding a mentor remains the safest way to learn the tricks of the trade. The rest will come naturally through practice and the people you meet.