Mountain Climbing

Mountain climbing is also called mountaineering. Climbers use ropes, boots, and special gear to reach high peaks. It takes strength, courage, and careful planning. Reaching the top of a mountain can feel like a great victory.

Gear and Skills

Climbers wear warm clothes and sturdy boots with spikes. They carry ropes, helmets, and ice axes. They learn how to tie knots and work as a team. On tall mountains, they also need tanks of oxygen to breathe.

A famous mountain climber from long ago.
A famous mountain climber from long ago. (George Lance Calkin (22 June 1859 – 10 October 1936) / Wikimedia Commons)

Famous Mountains

Mount Everest is the tallest mountain on Earth. It stands in the Himalayas between Nepal and China. In 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first to reach its top. Other famous peaks include K2, Denali, and the Matterhorn.

Fun Facts

  • Mount Everest is more than 29,000 feet tall.
  • The air at the top of tall mountains has very little oxygen.
  • Climbers may take weeks to reach the top of the highest peaks.

Did You Know?

The area high up on Mount Everest is called the Death Zone because the air is so thin there!