Whether you are a dedicated skiier, or prefer taking a stroll in snowshoes, the mountains are the place to be. Combing physical exercise with elevated views of some of the world’s most picturesque landscapes, scaling a challenging peak can have multiple benefits for those who reach the top. Why do the mountains make us feel so good?
1. The physical health and fitness benefits are huge
Not only will you built incredible strength and endurance from climbing mountains but you will also find that your diet becomes better. McDonalds are not readily available in the alpine so you find that you will have to pack lunches and snacks. You are also going to find that unhealthy food will not fuel you properly. The work involved in hiking and climbing demands a proper diet. 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.
2. There’s a comradery like no other amongst climbers
All serious climbers know that when they’re out on a mountain they have a responsibility to themselves and the people they’re with to maintain a certain code of conduct and ethics. That being said, because of the risks involved when mountain climbing the activity bonds groups of people who tackle challenging peaks whether they fail or succeed.
3. A fountain of youth
As we rise in altitude, oxygen levels in the air lower. Our bodies compensate by boosting our hematocrit levels (quantity of red blood cells.) It is the same effect which is created artificially when athletes use performance-enhancing drugs. In this way, the mountain air gives our bodies a natural “boost,” without any risks to our health. Just the opposite, in fact: when we rediscover the natural beauty of the mountains, sensations dating back to our childhoods are reawakened. The mountain air is a fountain of youth, perpetually renewed through the rediscovery of the wonders of the natural world, the flora and fauna…going to the mountains means conforming to the rhythms of mother nature, and to the rules she imposes. It means taking a break, skis or snowshoes on our feet, and acknowledging our smallness in relation to an infinite landscape. A trip to the mountains allows us to put things into perspective. It is a healing and regenerating experience, too rarely accessible during the rest of the year.
4. You can see places very few get to see
We all can see pictures of these places and we all can long to go to these places 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, and I’m talking a good high altitude daylong trek of 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 of the few who make it up there and can revel in the beauty and rarity of such a view. The good thing is you’re 100% guaranteed to get an amazing view from the top of a mountain (unless it’s a foggy day or smoky day).
5. You’ll learn patience and perseverance
As you’ll no doubt have guessed, mountain climbing isn’t always as simple as starting at the bottom and hiking to the top. Much like day to day life, on route there are often challenges that may make it difficult to reach the summit as planned. However, by working as a team and overcoming the obstacles you face you can find a new path to success, learning the value of patience and perseverance along the way.
6. You will finally understand why the mountains are calling and you must go
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. Even if you don’t even climb them, they call to you. You might find that all the problems in your life dissolve when you are around them or that life slows down a bit. All that I can tell you is that after spending time surrounded by them or climbing them you will feel the urge to come back.
