Climbing mountains is not for everyone. You need courage, strength of character and determination to reach the top of the mountain. But if you decide that being a mountain climber is for you, here are 10 ways it will enrich your life.
1. The physical health and fitness benefits are huge
You will build strength and endurance from climbing mountains. The altitude trains your lungs to become stronger and the struggle becomes less and less every time you hike. Plus, there’s a lot to learn from exercising in nature. You will also find that unhealthy food will not fuel you properly. The work involved in hiking and climbing demands a proper nutritious diet.
2. You will see places very few get to see
We’ve all seen pictures of places where we long to go but actually doing the work to get to these places cuts many out of the crowd. The time and effort required to climb a mountain, can be too much of a task for many. When you do make it to the peak you can rest assure that you are only one of the few who make it up there and can revel in the beauty and rarity of such a view.
3. You will meet the most amazing people who will become friends
Hikers and climbers are an awesome breed of people. You will find there are a few similarities between them: they’re all positive, strong and confident and happy. The great thing about hiking people is that we all have similar goals, to get to the top of the mountain and to enjoy a day of exercise and nature’s beauty. You also get to take in the most beautiful places with these people, which can bring people together in special ways.
4. You will finally understand why the mountains are calling
Mountains are so special; they have such magic to them. Maybe it is the fact they are can be so dangerous or maybe it is because they make us feel so small. You might find that all the problems in your life dissolve when you are around them or that life slows down a bit. All I can tell you is that after spending time surrounded by them or climbing them you will feel the urge to come back.
5. Climbing mountains will teach you patience, persistence and gratitude
Climbing a mountain isn’t easy. Long stretches of constant incline can be the most exhausting and hardest thing you will ever do. Not only the physical difficulties but also the mental difficulties will also test you. The saying “don’t look at the whole mountain take it one piece at a time”, will suddenly make sense. You will learn to never give up; to know that the reward will be worth the work it takes. Once you make it you will realize what all the
fuss is about. It’s like reaching a goal, achieving a dream and figuring out that you can do anything that you set your mind to. It’s an addictive feeling that no one can properly explain and one that you have to experience.
6. Mountains teach you to protect the environment
After seeing what untouched places look like you will want to protect them. Human interference in any beautiful place will be the worst thing imaginable to you. Beautiful places can become hotspots for people and the protection of them is the single best step to let everyone enjoy these places. After climbing mountains, you can’t help but respect nature all the more.
7. They will teach you how to have a Positive Mental Attitude
If you have negative thoughts about climbing a mountain it is probably your one-way ticket to failure. Telling yourself you can’t or that it is impossible won’t help you in any way. If you are positive, even if the climb is impossible at that moment, you will continue to try. With a little bit of PMA, before you know it you’ll be standing on the peak.
8. You’ll learn to enjoy the small luxuries in life
A gruelling six hours of climbing in the heat and you stop for water break. It will probably be the best water you have ever tasted in your life. We overlook the small things in life that we take for granted, like water. When you reach the peak but forgot to bring your extra coat you will realize how cold the wind can make you and how important the little things are when they’re not there. We learn to become more prepared and to respect comfortable things, like not sleeping on hard rocks in the cold for instance.
9. You’ll always be prepared for change
If you have ever spent time in the mountains, you’ll know that the weather changes in a heartbeat, so being prepared is key. Every mountain is different, so much of the time you also have to change your route. There is never just one way up a mountain, sometimes the route is many other ways or something is blocking your way. Mountains will teach you that things are always changing and you just need to find another tactic to overcome the change.
10. Every mountain will teach you something
Every mountain I’ve climbed has taught me at least one important lesson, you always learn something every time.
Mountain climbing can be the greatest and the worst thing you ever do in life but in the end of it you usually end up wanting more of it no matter what.
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