Questions tagged [mountains]

Questions specifically about mountains and their properties, geology, geography and topology should be tagged with this tag. This tag is not to be confused with mountaineering tag.

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Visibility in mountains and hills [closed]

Is the visibility better to west than east? I was on one mountain in the west and could not see the one far in the east, not even close. The guy who was in one mountain the east, said he saw the ...
Alex J.'s user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
251 views

Is there a mountain with a summit cross in the USA or Canada?

I've never seen a summit cross on a mountain in the USA or in Canada, unlike in Europe where so many mountains have crosses, most likely an overwhelming majority of the Alps. Why are summit crosses so ...
Johannes's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
612 views

Terms for different parts of a mountain RANGE

I am a writer and poet working on the first story I've written set in the mountains; also have been intrigued by mountain hiking most of my life and might be in a position to do some soon, so would ...
Daniel Chadwick's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
954 views

Luzern: Walking from Pilatus Kulm to Frakigaudi Toboggan

I cannot find information about walking from the top of Pilatus to the toboggan station at Fräkmüntegg. There seems to be path, and Google Maps shows the walk as being 3.6km with 713 metres of descent,...
Martin Argerami's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
92 views

Is descent from mountain to jungle normally barred by thorn bushes?

Reading River of Darkness: Francisco Orellana's Legendary Voyage of Death and Discovery Down the Amazon, starting on page 27, the section where the Spaniards are descending from the Andes towards the ...
rwallace's user avatar
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4 votes
4 answers
1k views

Austria: 1:25000 paper and other maps

This year I will do some hikes, tours in Austrian mountains. I don't know, what do you think are the best, precise 1:25000 paper maps for Austrian mountains? The difficulty will be light - very ...
Alex J.'s user avatar
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0 votes
4 answers
342 views

What is the highest "hikeable" mountain in the world? [duplicate]

What is the highest mountain in the world that can be hiked all the way up? That you can go up to the top without any sort of experience climbing.
blademan9999's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
173 views

Condensation, dew when biouvacking above tree line

I have problems with condensation, dew when I camp above tree line in European mountains. The problem is that my down sleeping bag gets wet from the outside. Even when I use single wall tent the ...
Alex J.'s user avatar
  • 1,185
3 votes
2 answers
397 views

Approach shoes for Mt. Rainier

I've seen many suggestions/recommendations for so-called "approach shoes" needed for climbing presumably just to Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier. I'm going to be joining an RMI-lead expedition for ...
nate's user avatar
  • 173
3 votes
0 answers
55 views

zoomable Köppen climate maps

So I recently hiked Humphrey's Peak in Arizona and was curious if I passed through multiple different Köppen climate types. Quoting https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Arizona#Humphreys_Peak , &...
neubert's user avatar
  • 797
3 votes
1 answer
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identifying the treeline for arbitrary mountain ranges in the united states?

https://www.seeker.com/why-trees-dont-grow-on-mountaintops-1792565118.html suggests that the treeline for Humphrey's Peak, in Arizona / Coconino County is at 11,400 feet (3470 metre), but is there a ...
neubert's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
243 views

Staying online while hiking

I like to go on multi day hikes, however I need to be able to access the internet on my phone for work related emergencies. Recently I had a very annoying situation. I needed to send a single e-mail ...
user1721135's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
413 views

How am I supposed to remember if I'm supposed to "play dead" or "make myself appear big" for various dangerous wild animals?

I've countless times heard things like this when they give tips for how to act when encountering a bear in the wild: Play dead! Lie down and don't move an inch! And (for all animals): Don't run! It ...
Aniv W.'s user avatar
  • 51
7 votes
3 answers
323 views

How to prepare for a blizzard while trekking on a mountain pass?

This winter (not sure about the possibility) I'm planning a solo trek across a mountain pass. It's 3000 m (9800 ft) high and I'm pretty used to high altitudes. I've heard that about 30 ft of snow ...
Tim Crosby's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
437 views

What are these grayish plants with little white "hair" in Joshua Tree National Park?

While hiking Ryan Mountain (elevation 5457 feet) in Joshua Tree National Park last month, I saw several of these grayish plants near the top of the mountain. I did not see any at lower elevations. ...
pacoverflow's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
196 views

Equipment for driving off road in the Northeast United States

What equipment is necessary for driving on 4x4 trails and rougher forest roads in the Northeast United States? This would include safety equipment, recovery equipment and any other equipment needed. ...
Yossarian's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
175 views

What materials from nature can you use to build a pair of skis on a mountain?

I'm working on a survival story and want to make it authentic. If you were stranded on a mountain trying to get down as fast as possible, what would you do? EDIT: What if this was after a plane crash ...
Jori Richman's user avatar
19 votes
7 answers
12k views

How can I protect myself in case of a human attack like the murders of the hikers Jespersen and Ueland in Morocco?

I read about the murders of Louisa Vesterager Jespersen and Maren Ueland. What safety mistakes these girls did during their camping trip? What could have been done to avoid this situation? How can I ...
Pie's user avatar
  • 327
42 votes
2 answers
12k views

Impact of throwing away fruit waste on a peak > 3200 m above a glacier

Is it okay to throw away the non-edible part of the apple - the apple core / or in general fruit waste? Does it decompose on the rock (maybe with the help of animals) and temperature, or does it ...
cerv21's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
904 views

How do people deal with sweating and 'feeling hot' at high altitude climbs (above 5500m)?

How do people deal with sweating and 'feeling hot' at high altitude climbs (above 5500m)?? Just a background on myself: I've done hikes/climbs up to 3000m where temps hit at the lowest of around -1 ...
S. Ong's user avatar
  • 185
2 votes
0 answers
188 views

What is an efficent and effective way to find a reputable private guide for a backpacking trip?

My first question on TGO was about low altitude trips that have the feel of much higher elevations. I asked that question because of the declining physical capacity of my husband. I received ...
ab2's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
85 views

What is the snow level going to be in the Atlassian mountains(Toubkal) in the end of April?

The question is should we prepare to snow hiking in the end of April going to Toubkal? How can we predict or make educated guess on snow level? Is there any resource we can monitor snow level in the ...
Rudziankoŭ's user avatar
15 votes
2 answers
2k views

Strategy to ascend steep scree slope

On a hike a while back, I was going up the less favored side of a large hill. Due to recent geological activity, the hill side had sort of cracked/split creating a 5-10 foot wide pathway along the ...
ahron's user avatar
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12 votes
3 answers
1k views

What counts as climbing a mountain?

Obviously by anyone's definition, you need to reach the top to successfully climb a mountain, but after hiking to the top of Guadalupe Peak, where the peak is at 8,751 ft, but with a prominence of ...
Travis's user avatar
  • 223
1 vote
1 answer
320 views

How can I tell the difference between a Tentworm caterpillar and a Fall Webworm caterpillar by observing the web?

A question from August 13, 2018 asked what type of caterpillar was living in a cocoon on a tree at the Mass. Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, on Mt. Wachusett, in Princeton, Central Massachusetts, USA. ...
Sue Saddest Farewell TGO GL's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

What is growing in these cocoon-looking structures found on a mountain in Massachusetts, USA?

We found a few things which we think are cocoons on a tree at Mass. Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, on Mt. Wachusett, in Princeton, Central Massachusetts, USA. It was last week, mid-August. The tree ...
Sue Saddest Farewell TGO GL's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

What makes some of the lakes in the Himalayas saline?

I recently had a tour to Ladakh, a union territory in India (formerly a part of India's Jammu and Kashmir state). The plan included a visit to (and camping at) lakes Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri and Tso ...
WedaPashi's user avatar
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6 votes
3 answers
1k views

What are the simplest 5000 m mountains to hike?

My friends and I are 4 years experienced hikers, and next year we want to go for a 5000 m (16,400 ft) mountain. What are the best options regarding the complexity of the trail and how beautiful the ...
Superluminal's user avatar
8 votes
4 answers
2k views

How warm should a sleeping bag be to sleep in summer in the Alps comfortably?

I am looking to buy an ultralight sleeping bag, that would be warm enough for sleeping in the Alps in summer comfortably. I would be sleeping in a tent on a sleeping mat. I would probably be staying ...
april rain's user avatar
  • 3,454
9 votes
1 answer
134 views

Is there any measurable effect on acclimatization rate for people living in middle mountains?

Do people living in middle mountains (500-1000 m.asl) have any measurable advantage against lowlanders when it comes to acclimatization? Are there measurable differences in blood cells density? I'...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
14 votes
3 answers
2k views

How dangerous is it to rummage the ground in the mountains of Nevada desert with venomous creatures out there?

I made plans to do some hiking in the mountains of Nevada this weekend. I'll have someone there nearby and a hospital is an hour drive away. We thought it would be fun to uncover rocks and even dig ...
Michael d's user avatar
  • 257
6 votes
2 answers
11k views

At what wind speed is hiking considered unsafe

I have enough experience with mountain hiking, but in the area where I live (the Alps), the wind rarelly gets extremelly strong, so I have no idea about judging when it is actually unsafe to hike ...
april rain's user avatar
  • 3,454
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

What are the busiest months for hiking in the New Hampshire Presidential Mountains?

I'm planning a 3 day hike (somewhere between early June and early September) in the New Hampshire's White Mountains, specifically the Presidentials. I'd like to avoid the biggest crowds and would ...
Gilles's user avatar
  • 367
4 votes
2 answers
526 views

Camping on top of a mountain

I have experience in backpacking but have no climbing experience. I am trying to learn how to camp on top of mountains after class 2 or 3 climbing. My motive is to take sunrise and sunset photos. ...
Sanjeev Nanda's user avatar
26 votes
3 answers
7k views

Can you get permanent brain damage by spending a day at 10,000ft (~3000m) altitude?

I read some articles that suggested that even moderately high altitudes can lead to some irreversible brain damage. Thus, I was wondering whether that is actually possible and what is its likelihood? ...
Todor Petrov's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
129 views

Hiking in France in August - Grenoble

I know that in the mountains around Grenoble there are some huts. I would like to go on a two-day hike and spend a night in such hut. I mean how much snow there is? How low can a temperature drop ...
user46147's user avatar
  • 575
11 votes
2 answers
2k views

Why can I hear such long distances in the mountains?

The other week me and my wife climbed into a Cwm/Corrie/Cirque in the lake district on the side of St Sunday Crag in the UK. I could distinctly hear someone talking. I could basically hear every word. ...
user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
414 views

Can overexertion cause AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness)?

Recently I did a trek in the Himalayan region and one of the group members was affected by what we believed was AMS at around 4600m. We had to evacuate the person from there and get to around 4100m ...
Ricketyship's user avatar
  • 7,785
11 votes
5 answers
285 views

How to begin trail / fell running?

I'm looking to challenge myself more than just running and wanted to know if there were any specifics in how to begin trail / fell running (In this case running up hills / mountains). Is there ...
Aravona's user avatar
  • 15.4k
54 votes
7 answers
11k views

Is it dangerous to rope together on an ascent of hard packed ice?

This image has recently come under considerable criticism on social media for dangerous mountaineering practices. The location is unknown as the qualified mountain guide observer wanted to maintain ...
Venture2099's user avatar
  • 2,889
19 votes
5 answers
13k views

What is the difference between a Pass and a Col?

Are there any specifics about how to differentiate a Pass and a Col in terms of mountaineering? For non-mountaineering and non-geographical interests it's all the same.
WedaPashi's user avatar
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18 votes
2 answers
36k views

Terms for different parts of a mountain

Is there a graphic representation of the terms used in mountaineering literature which narrates different aspects/parts of a mountain? While reading any expedition report, climbing detail we come ...
WedaPashi's user avatar
  • 31.7k
8 votes
3 answers
3k views

Would it be warmer to sleep at the bottom or on the side of a valley?

Given that temperature decreases with altitude, and yet inversions happen where cold air is below warmer air, as a general rule of thumb, where would the warmest place to sleep be? Here is one place ...
Charlie Brumbaugh's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
2k views

Are there fish in lakes with a lots of glacial flour?

Often times in high alpine lakes you will see lakes like this, where the color comes from the rock/glacial flour suspended in the water. The lakes and sometimes even streams are very pretty, but if ...
Charlie Brumbaugh's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
426 views

Mountain guide leading towards a thunderstorm - does his explanation make sense?

I just got back from a guided walking trip to high mountains. There was one day when we encountered a thunderstorm - and the guide advised we are OK to proceed with the day's walking, instead of ...
Bennet's user avatar
  • 223
5 votes
2 answers
325 views

Training to Circumambulate Around Mount Kailash

I wish to circumambulate around Mount Kailash on foot. This is roughly 33 miles of mountaineous terrain. Many people do this for spiritual reasons, i.e circumambulate once to wash away your sins, ...
Rhonda's user avatar
  • 151
3 votes
3 answers
148 views

Marked trail off the Beartooth Highway to a peak

I'm looking for a marked trail off the Beartooth highway that leads to a peak with a nice overview about the region. I googled for the last couple of hours, but couldn't find a lot of information. Is ...
RoflcoptrException's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
1k views

Is it feasible to use Zakopane as a base to climb the Tatra mountains?

I'm planning a trip climbing in the Tatras this summer. I was planning on basing myself at Zakopane (seem's the be a good availability of accommodation, etc.). I mentioned this on a climbing forum I ...
user avatar
19 votes
4 answers
3k views

What easy 6,500m peaks would serve as easy qualifiers for Everest?

So there's been talk of this for a while, but it seems like the Nepalese government is finally committing and closing Everest to inexperienced climbers. So from now on, as a safety measure, if you ...
ShemSeger's user avatar
  • 53.5k
9 votes
6 answers
928 views

How can I survive multiple days in cold environment?

What can I do to survive multiple (2-4) days in a cold environment (like in mountains in winter)? As resources I've normal Skitouring gear with me for a single day, no sleeping bag or bivy bag. What ...
ibex's user avatar
  • 2,662