Mountaineering can mean hiking, backpacking, walking, or climbing up mountains. It can be a hobby, profession, or sport. But no matter what it is, you should know that mountaineering can be a dangerous activity, especially if you are doing it during winter. That is why you need to prepare well before you go for your mountaineering trip.

To get yourself ready for your adventure in the mountains, you have to make sure that you are bringing the right equipment for the trip, which means the right clothing and outdoor gear that will ensure your safety. The basic equipment that you will need for mountaineering includes a backpack, mountaineering boots, helmet, harnesses, ropes, trekking poles, hydration pack, headlamp, and slings. However, if you intend to travel over steep glacial slopes, crampons, and ice, you will need to have axes, ice screws, pulleys and ascenders, crampons, carabiners, quickdraws, nuts and hexes, and belay devices as well. Make sure that you wear enough clothes to keep yourself warm.

Most mountaineering trips will involve camping, and as such, you have to bring the necessary camping equipment, which includes a tent, sleeping bag, lantern, cooking supplies, water purification tools campground directory, and fuel bottles. To prevent getting lost while you are mountaineering, you should also bring navigation tools such as maps, compasses, and GPS devices.

Since there is always the possibility of avalanches occurring, you should at least bring some items that you will need to keep yourself safe, such as an avalanche transceiver, avalanche probe, shovel, and first aid kit. Radio transmitters, cords, and other devices may also be useful. To perform hazard evaluation, you should find out about the land form of the mountain that you are scaling, as well as the angle of the slope, the slope’s exposure, and the weather conditions. It is also important that you conduct some tests on the snow pack. The hike should be planned very carefully, and you should take into consideration certain factors such as the terrain of the area that you are mountaineering in and the route that you will be taking.

Norway is a country that has an abundance of fjords, glaciers, and mountains. More than 90% of the country is mountainous. The Scandinavian mountain range runs through the Scandinavian Peninsula, and its western sides form the well-known fjords of Norway. Part of this mountain area is named Jotunheimen, where most of the mountains above 2000m are located. Galdhøpiggen, the highest mountain in Norway, is located in this area.

DNT, the Norwegian Trekking Association, organizes many mountaineering tours. For example, there is a tour that goes around the Jotunheimen area, and it starts at a traditional DNT lodge called Gjendesheim. Other tours will bring you to the Rondane National Park, the Hardangervidda Plateau, the Røros, and other great mountaineering places. The best camps in Jotunheimen are Leirvassbu, Juvasshytta, and Krossbu. There are also companies in Norway that organize very interesting fishing, kayaking, and glacier tours such as Nordic Experience, Fløibanen AS to the mountains of Bergen, and many others.

For more information, you can go to:

• Wikipedia - Mountaineering: Information about the history of climbing, traveling technique, shelters, different hazards, locations, and more
• UCD Mountaineering Club - Equipment List: List of necessary mountaineering equipment, including hiking and camping equipment list. Provides useful links as well as information about climbing, bouldering, hiking, mountaineering, camping tips, and alpinism
• Norwegian Trekking Association: Detailed information about DNT tours, routes, cabins, Norwegian mountain terrain, the Norwegian Mountain Code, summer and winter gear and equipment, and others.
• Nordic Experience: Information about Fjord sightseeing, fishing tours, kayak tours, glacier tours, adventure tours, sailing, and more
• Leirvassbu, Juvasshytta and Krossbu: Information about mountain lodges in Leirvassbu, Juvasshytta, and Krossbu, as well as glacier walks, courses, summit hikes, travel guides, and more
• Mountains on the Western Coastline: Information about the mountains in Hordaland, Sogn og Fjordane, and Møre og Romsdal

Norway is known as a haven for mountaineering enthusiasts because it has diverse mountainous settings that provide great mountaineering opportunities for both beginners and experts. Norway is also a very beautiful country, and it rewards mountaineers with the most spectacular views.