Peak Climbing in Nepal tends to require a bit more effort and a higher level of physical fitness than regular trekking journeys. If you are thinking about Peak Climbing in Nepal any time soon in the future, then you might want to make sure that you have enough preparations for this adventure. Along with good physical fitness and a strong physical capability, essential requirements and correct peak climbing equipments are a must. From travel itineraries, your to-do list and the right gears are important before undergoing Peak Climbing in Nepal. The right Peak Climbing equipments are very important and it is also necessary that you familiarize yourself with them for a good and safe peak climbing journey.
In this article, we are going to be elaborating on some of the essential peak climbing equipments for a mountaineering quest. If you are an experienced alpinist or a mountaineer, then you are likely familiar with the gears. For beginners however, have a look at some of the essential peak climbing equipments…
Crampons
Crampons are mainly used for ice climbing. They can also be used for other situations when dealing with snow and ice like walking on ice-fields, climbing on glaciers or crossing snow-fields. Crampons are also used for scaling ice-smeared rocks. Crampons are essential peak climbing equipments and for Nepal- crampons with semi-rigid construction with horizontal frames are a suitable choice.
Tape Slings
Tape slings are designed to attach climbers to anchors and for creating equalized anchor systems. Tape slings are also used for clipping into the rope and gear to reduce drag. Being an important Peak Climbing equipment, Tape Slings made from nylon or dyneema are preferred.
Ice Axe
Ice Axe is one of the most important Peak Climbing equipment among your tools for mountaineering. The Ice Axe is used primarily during ascending and descending with snow and ice conditions. It can also be used as an improvised anchor that involves steep climbing self-arresting tool in case of an unexpected downhill slip. Ice Axe can be used simply as a walking stick as well during an uphill ascends
Harness
Harness is used for securing the climber to the rope or to an anchor. Needless to say, Harness is an essential peak climbing equipment that is required for a well-fitted sit to avoid discomfort in the upper thigh and groin area. There are different types of harness as well. For peak climbing, a full body harness is generally used, although a sit harness or a chest harness is also used on occasions.
Ice Hammer
Although Ice hammers are necessary for peak climbing, they still can be added to the equipments for safety. Ice hammer is used as an alternate to an Ice Axe. It is especially useful in terrains that have softer snow. Ice hammer is also sometimes used to strike the snow bar into hard ice.
Ice Screw
Ice screw is a peak climbing equipment that is used to tackle steep surfaces. It can be employed as a running belay or as an anchor in the ice. Not all peaks in Nepal require Ice screws, however it is still advised to use depending on the peak of choice.
Screw-gate Karabiners
Another must-have as an important peak climbing equipment, the screw-gate karabiners are widely used in safety-critical systems like mountain climbing. Karabiners go hand in hand with anything that involves rope-intensive ascends. Four karabiners, two locking and two unlocking, are recommended for peak climbing
Descender
Descenders act like friction brakes and allow steady and controlled descend on a rope. Eight figure descenders are effective in dissipating excess heat caused by frictions and can also be sometimes deployed as belay devices.
Plastic Mountaineering Boots
The Peak climbing equipment arsenal isn’t complete until you get plastic mountaineering boots. They are deigned to be used with crampons. The boots not only allow one to move over difficult snowy terrains but also protects the wearer’s feet from the elements and helps avoid any kind of feet complications such as frostbites
Ascender
Ascenders are used by mountaineers to ascend on fixed ropes. “Jumar” is a type of mechanical ascender made out of metal it is usually used during peak climbing. During an ascend- ascenders perform the task of braking the components within the rope-hauling system.
Rope
Broadly speaking, climbing ropes are classified as either static or dynamic. Being an essential peak climbing equipment, static rope stretches very little and is mainly used for abseiling. Static ropes can also be used as fixed ropes for ascenders. Dynamic ropes on the other hand, are stretchable and are used as belaying ropes to absorb the impact of a falling climber. Carrying both is recommended.
Snow-bar
Snow bars hold ropes in place for a secured weight support of the climber. They are useful devices used as fall protections and for holding static loads in the mountains.
