December 11: International Mountain Day ("conservation of mountains")

Every year on December 11th, International Mountain Day aims to increase awareness about the importance of mountains. The conservation of mountains is a key factor in sustainable development.

Mountains cover 27% of the earth’s landmass. According to the United Nations, 15% of the world’s population lives in the mountains. The mountains are also home to one-quarter of the world’s land animals and plants. Additionally, across the globe mountains provide freshwater to half of the world’s population. Another role mountains play is providing food resources. Six of the world’s most important food crops grow in the mountains.

As you can see, mountains are extremely important. Sadly, however, climate change and over-exploitation threaten our majestic mountains. As a result, the livelihood of those who live in the mountains is also under threat. Mountain people are among the poorest in the world. These threats to their home make it even more challenging to survive.

One of the best things you can do to help conserve mountains is reduce your carbon footprint.

Mountains are found in many countries around the world. Countries relying on their mountains for food, water, tourism, and habitats host various events on this day.

The Albanian Alps Alliance chairperson has given an interview discussing the importance of mountains in his country. Researchers at the University of British Columbia in Canada convene each year on this day to discuss mountain ecosystems and the need to preserve these environments. Hiking excursions, film festivals, bonfires, and photo concerts are also held.

•If you live near the mountains, go camping or hiking. Reflect on a trip you took to the mountains. What impact did it have on you?
•Challenge your friends and family to name as many mountains as possible.
•Learn about the importance of mountains and the threats they face.
•Set a goal of climbing one of the world’s most climbed mountains including Mt. Fuji, Mt. Hood, and Mt. Kilimanjaro.
•Listen to songs about mountains including "High on a Mountain Top" (Loretta Lynn), "The Mountain Song" (Jerry Garcia), "One Tree Hill" (U2), "Mountain Music" (Alabama).
•Share a beautiful picture of a mountain on social media with #InternationalMountainDay.

Awesome! How many mountains have you scaled?

Not sure. I have climbed 47 of the 54 14,000 peaks in Colorado plus numerous 13K and 12K and rock cliffs. Many I have climbed many more than once (sometimes both in summer and winter) and as a Basic Mountaineering Instructor for many years with the Colorado Mountain Club. I have also climbed MtWhitney, Mt Hood, Mt Ranier and more I have forgotten in North America. Mexico - Popocatepetl, Ixtachuhatl, Orazaba. Ecuador - Cayambe, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi. France - Aguille du Midi, Mt Blanc Du Tacul, Switzerland - Eiger. Japan - Fuji. Indonesia - Mt Gede.

What’s the highest?

Cerro Aconcagua in Argentina - 22,841 ft.

I am standing at the left. It was 4 p.m. and we had been climbing for 13 hours from camp 2. And we still had to make it back to Camp 2

The highest I attempted was Cho Oyu in the Himalayas on the Nepal, Tibet border. We were doing the climb with no oxygen and only one tank in case of medical emergency. No one used the oxygen so that was an accomplishment. Cho Oyu is the 6th highest peak (26,864 ft) and is just west of Mt Everest. A cold was going around our group and I was the last to catch it as we were leaving base camp at 16,000 ft for advanced base camp at 19,000 ft. It turned into pneumonia and I had to go back down to recover. Half of our team made it to the summit which is always a fortunate thing on peaks this high and with such bad weather. Two sherpas for a South Korean team were killed just ahead of us when high wind came up and blew them off the side of the mountain.

The most exciting? Well the most frightening was the Eiger in Switzerland. For a climb like that I was the least experienced of our team of four and it was earlier in my climbing experience. It was in July, but winter had continued late and no one had made the climb that year. All of the rock was covered in ice so we did the whole climb with crampons on our boots. Often that was like fingernails on a chalk board when climbing rock that did not have ice covering. But it was pretty much vertical and the risk of losing a crampon by taking them off and putting back on was too great. If you lost a crampon you were stuck with no hope of rescue. But we made it to the top and on the descent route on the West Ridge I was clipped by a rock that fell from far above. It just hit the fabric on the right shoulder of my parka, but did not hit me. Then lower down there was a hanging glacier on the ridge between the Eiger and the Monch what avalanched with tons and tons of ice that just missed us with railroad car-sized blocks of ice. That is a mountain I would never attempt again.

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