Mountaineering

Mountaineering is a set of outdoor activities centered on ascending mountains. It takes in traditional outdoor climbing, skiing and traversing via ferratas, several of which have grown into sports of their own, and some people also count indoor climbing, sport climbing and bouldering as variants, though these belong to a wider group of mountain sports. In everyday speech the word is used interchangeably with mountain climbing and alpinism. Unlike most sports it has no widely applied formal rules, regulations or governance. Mountaineers follow many techniques and philosophies, including grading systems and guidebooks, and local alpine clubs support them with resources and social activities. The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), a federation of alpine clubs, is the International Olympic Committee-recognized world organization for mountaineering and climbing. The activity also affects the natural environment of the mountain zone and the economic, political, social and cultural life of mountain communities.