climbing

Alpine climbing offers a fantastic physical challenge to people who want to climb the world’s beautiful, ice-capped mountain peaks. Alpine climbing is a self-sufficient way to tackle a mountain—climbers hike for a few days in a row and carry their own food, shelter, and other equipment the whole way. Sure, some of these cliffs have names like Death Face, but conquering them offers climbers a cosmic view of the world. If you want to join in this challenge and surmount the summits of these grandiose cliffs, you’ll need some specific gear.

Canyoneering is a hybrid sport that demands versatility and may include hiking, scrambling, climbing, jumping, rappelling, and swimming through spectacular, rugged canyons. Before you leave, do some homework to find out the features of your route so you can prepare with the right skill set and gear. Although every canyoneering trip offers a different set of adventures, here are some of the essentials you’ll need for any basic excursion.

Miquel Riera, “the Godfather” of psicobloc, hangs out above the Mediterranean Sea. Photo by Rasmus Kaessman