Are you a true mountaineer?

I talked about the commoditizing of mountains a couple of days ago. Here’s more!

The true mountaineer is something like a free roving spirit, sometimes flaunting the rules and management strategies to remain closer to the ideals of historical explorers. They reject the notion of hiring guides, and use their accumulation of skills to avoid danger and to survive in the wilderness. Adventure tourists on the other hand, depend very much on guides, and rely on the information about mountains in travel brochures and books. They also rely on the protection by equipment and availability of rescue.

According to the book, Doug Scott (An international respected mountaineer) with first account of summits all over the world condemns “high mountain tourists”. He would rather have severe constraints for trekking in Nepal, because “commoditizing causes harm to land and culture”. He feels that mountaineering in Nepal should be accessible only to the people who have been through a thorough mountaineering apprenticeship.

I feel that it is so true that treks are getting so easy to climb now, with all the guidebooks and all the travel brochures and everything. But, what can we do? The commoditizing has taken place until the extent that in some areas you MUST employ trekking guides – and that is the regulation set down for some national parks.

Okay, I admit! I’m one of the condemned “high mountain tourist”! I wish I have the opportunity to be a “true mountaineer” though! Let me slowly work towards that!

Tags: attitude, hiking spirit