Who doesn’t love to go on long hikes with the bone-crushing confidence of Ed Viesturs, Reinhold Messner, or Junko Tabei? That control, balance, and ability come from years of training, mileage, and experience—qualities that magnify through decades of mountaineering.

Now, post-pandemic, many people are looking to nature as a way to ease into a new normal and try out new experiences, such as mountaineering. See "The Benefits of Mountaineering in a Post-COVID World", by Michael Graw.

The bad news is that there’re no shortcuts to becoming a successful mountaineer, even if you are genetically blessed. However, it’s not all storms and hail, as you develop those traits further every time you take a step forward. There are some tips that can help you become a successful mountaineer as well, even while you’re sleeping. Let’s take a look.

Confidence is the Key

Think about standing at the starting point of the most challenging hiking trail you’ve ever tried. You have your lightweight backpack for hiking, ultralight hiking pants, and ultralight backpacking gear. However, still, you’re still scared of the unknown.

With mountaineering, confidence is the key. Top mountaineers never think if something is possible or not, they keep putting one foot in front of the other until they reach the top.

Improve Your Climbing Skills

Part of becoming a successful mountaineer is to learn the climbing fundamentals. While you don’t need to master rock climbing initially, you still need to know how to use a harness, tie a rope, belay, etc. A novice mountaineer can learn these skills in a climbing gym or a mountaineering class. However, nothing can prepare you better than the experience itself.

To be a successful mountaineer, you need to develop your climbing skills. These focus on improving your movement and technique and stimulating and engaging the brain.

Pick a Suitable Partner

Having a partner who is as motivated as you or even more so is a boon. It would help if you found a trustworthy partner and you know that they’ve got your back. This way, you’ll be more motivated to try harder and push yourself. The right kind of motivation is vital to your climbing style. At times, no matter how good you are, you need to be open about accepting help and encouragement.

In short, to be a better mountaineer, you need someone who believes in you and encourages you. You also need our ultralight backpacking gear to become a better climber and succeed.

Contact us at Light Hiking Gear, to learn more about our compact, durable, and lightweight backpacking gear and how we can help with your mountaineering journey.