page_title: Mountaineering
section_title: Styles of mountaineering
hierarchical_section_title: Mountaineering / Styles of mountaineering
context_page_description: Mountaineering is the set of activities that involves ascending mountains. Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing, and traversing via ferratas. Indoor climbing, sport climbing and bouldering are also considered mountaineering by some.
  Unlike most sports, mountaineering lacks widely-applied formal rules, regulations, and governance; mountaineers adhere to a large variety of techniques and philosophies when climbing mountains. Numerous local alpine clubs support mountaineers by hosting resources and social activities. A federation of alpine clubs, the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation, is the International Olympic Committee-recognized world organization for mountaineering and climbing.
context_section_description: There are two main styles of mountaineering: expedition style and alpine style.
  Alpine style, or informal variations of it, is the most common form of mountaineering today. It involves a single, straightforward climb of the mountain, with no backtracking. This style is most suited for medium-sized mountain areas close to civilization with elevations of 2,000–5,000 m (6,600–16,400 ft), such as the Alps or the Rocky Mountains. Alpine style ascents have been done throughout history on extreme altitude (above 5,000 m) peaks also, albeit in lower volume to expedition style ascents. Climbers generally carry their loads between camps without backtracking, in a single push for the summit. If the summit is reachable from the base camp or trailhead within one day, then alpine-style mountaineers will not change camps at all, and only carry the slightest of loads (necessary nourishment and equipment) up to the summit. "Light and fast" is the mantra of the alpine mountaineer.
  The alpine style contrasts with "expedition style". With this style, climbers will carry large amounts of equipment and provisions up and down the mountain, slowing making upward progress. Climbing in an expedition style is preferred if the summit is very high or distant from civilization. Mountaineers who utilize this style are usually, but not always, part of a large team of climbers and support staff (such as porters and guides). To cover large distances with their massive of amount of gear, sleds and pack animals are commonly used. Climbers will set up multiple camps along the mountain, and will haul their gear up the mountain multiple times, returning to a lower camp after each haul until all the gear is at a higher camp; and repeating this procedure until they reach the summit. This technique is also helpful for acclimatization. While it is the original style in which high mountains were climbed, expedition style is rare these days as more mountains have become accessible to the general public with air travel and the accuses of highways into mountainous regions. But it is still common in ranges such as the Alaska Range and the Himalayas.
  The differences between, and advantages and disadvantages of, the two kinds of climbing are as follows:
caption: Fixed lines and ladders are distinguishing characteristics of expedition style mountaineering
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