I began mountain climbing when I was 15 with my dad and have followed it passionately ever since. For me, I fell in love with mountain climbing on a purely amateur level because it allowed my inner child to burst free. I am the kid that was constantly climbing trees, fences, and pretty much anything that was in anyway climbable.

As I gazed at the surrounding nature below me, I realized that climbing would quickly become my newest passion. Since the first successful summit, I have embarked on numerous other climbs.

Sure there are some aspects that will discourage a lot of people from joining the hobby, such as physical aspects. But for those that are physically able, mountain climbing is a great way to stay fit and stay active. Climbing strengthens the back and leg muscles because of the constant movement and carrying of the heavy packs. It is also a great mental workout because climbing involves long days of more than 12 hours under constant strenuous pressure. During the entire climb, constant thought and care must be given to every step because one mistake could be critical and very costly to both the individual climber as well as the team.

The best part is that with a pretty limited amount of equipment and a lot of motivation, dedication, and perseverance, you can have a really great time with friends and family.

Mountain climbing is a challenging sport that brings so much fun. With all of these aspects, although it looks tough at times, mountain climbing is a great hobby to get into. Once you start going, you’ll realize that it becomes one of your favorite things.