Mountain Words or Terminologies related to Trekking or Climbing

A narrow, long, and elevated section forming the spine of a mountain range. It is not the highest point but a continuous line marking two sides of a mountain. Imagine petting a dragon or a snow leopard; their long, rigid backs are like a ridgeline. 

Example – Phulara Ridge

A smaller ridge like a tongue branching off from a main ridge or mountain.

Example – A spur in the Tatra Mountains

The lowest point between two peaks or ridges but is higher than a valley, forming a saddle-like shape. In higher altitudes and rougher terrains, it is known as “col.”

A gap between mountain ranges or ridges makes navigation in between easy, which is otherwise impossible. Passes are usually formed due to glacial movement or by stream erosion. Traditionally useful in trade, immigration, and wars. 

Example – Pir Panjal Pass

An elongated low area between mountains, usually formed by flowing rivers, streams, or a moving glacier. 

Example – The “Valley of Flowers” in Uttarakhand

A deeper valley that is narrower and has steep walls of mountains or hills. Usually formed by fast-flowing rivers cutting through rocks. 

A starting point of a valley often formed by glacial movement. Shaped like a deep sunken bowl with steep or concave-like walls. Also known as corrie. 

A flat elevated area that rises above the surrounding terrain. E.g., The Deccan Plateau of Central India.

Is a steep slope or cliff separating two areas of different elevations, more like a dividing line. For example, Western Ghats is one of the world’s largest escarpments, being approximately 15,000 km long.

Parallel deposition of moraines along the sides of a glacier as it scrapes out the rocks while moving. 

A ridge of moraine formed when two lateral glaciers are pushed together.

Note – Both lateral and medial moraines are known as “superglacial moraine.”

Made up of sediments underneath the glacier, often due to melting or moving. They usually occur as plains of rolling grasslands.

As the name suggests, it is formed at the glacier’s end.

Created by the collision of two or more tectonic plates, which leads to the bending and folding of rocks in an uprising form, creating mountains or hills. 

These mountains are created along the fault line of tectonic plates. Usually, when these plates move either horizontally or away from each other, they create tension in the earth’s crust. This activity leads some parts of the earth to rise above, creating “Horst Mountains,” and some to sunken, creating “Garben (rift valley).”

Examples: Horst – Satpuda Ranges in India | Narmada Garben dividing Malwa and Bundelkhand Plateau.

Built by the tectonic plate’s activity, like plates moving apart, making a divergent zone or one plate sinking in the earth’s mantle. Magma erupts as lava from the earth’s crust, which later cools down and creates these mountains. 

Examples – Mt. Fuji, Japan | Mount St. Helens, U.S

These are created when hot magma from the earth’s crust pushes hard rock upwards but not with great force to make a volcano. So, beneath the hard outer layer of rock, the magma cools down, creating a dome-like mountain. 

Example – Kedar Dome Peaks of Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand.

Vertical distance above the earth’s surface or sea level. This affects oxygen levels and temperatures. 

These are two sides of a mountain. The windward side faces most winds; hence more rain and moisture, making it a fertile side. Leeward is the opposite, more drier and arid region.

Example, the Himalayas faces windward, whereas the Tibetan Plateau is on the leeward side.

Montane Level – The area between 500 and 4000 m marks the tree line, with dense forests. 

Alpine Level – Starting from the tree line till the snow line. Here, you will find fewer trees but shrubs, alpine meadows, cold weather, etc. 

Nivel Level – The area of the mountains (peaks) which remains covered in snow throughout the year.

The rate at which temperature decreases by gaining altitude. Usually, with every 1000 m, 10 degrees decreases.

The area of land which remains completely frozen for two years straight.

Example – The high mountains of the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas.

The starting point of a trek, usually a village or town, providing necessities.

The act of climbing, walking, or hiking upwards towards a higher point or a peak.

The act of hiking downwards from a higher point.

Crossing a section horizontally or laterally instead of upward approach. Usually, a ridge or a pass. 

Ascending on steep terrains using your hands for hold and balancing. It is a difficult technique to use when hiking and rock climbing.

Descending a steep slope using ropes and harnesses. Also known as “abseiling.”

It is a climbing technique where one person, the belayer, remains at one point with a rope system in place. Belayer then ensures the climber has enough rope by adjusting it so the climber does not fall.

It is a climbing technique; here, the climber uses only natural holds. They use climbing equipment as a precaution, not an aid.

A climbing technique where climbers use equipment to help them climb and progress. 

A camp positioned close to a summit or highest point of the trek for final ascents.

The planned path to ascend or descend on any trek.

Spiked footwear attachments for walking on ice or hard snow.

A multi-purpose tool used for climbing and balancing on snow or hard frozen terrain.

It is a Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) used to secure ropes, carabiners, etc to prevent injuries and falls.

A essential for ascent, descent, rappelling, etc.

A metal loop with a spring-loaded gate used for securing ropes.

A device to locate individuals buried under snow.

A must-have essential kit of medicines, anti-septics, band-aids, etc, used in injuries.

A temporary shelter to protect from bad weather or rest for a while.

Species that cannot be found naturally in any other region of the world.

Example, the Orange Bullfinch, Kashmir Flycatcher, Red Panda, etc, are endemic to the Himalayas.

Seasonal movements of flora, fauna, and humans due to changes in weather.

In harsh winters, humans and animals move downwards, while some thrive in it like Snow Leopard, yaks, etc.

1. Sherpa is an ethnic group from Tibet, residing in many parts of the world, like Tibet, India, Nepal, China, etc,  but mostly near the Himalayas. 

2. “Sherpa” is a language that is mainly spoken in Nepal and is the official language of India’s state, Sikkim. In the language, the sherpa word translates to “easterners” or “east people.”

3. Sherpas are known as highly skilled mountaineers, guides/leaders. The term is now “generalised” for every guide, irrespective of ethnicity.

Yaks are domesticated animals or cattle commonly found in hilly regions like the Himalayas in India, the Altai range of Magolia, Tibet, etc. 

Yaks are well adapted to higher altitudes with larger lungs, which helps them with air and blood circulation. Yaks are mainly used for transport, milk, wool, cashmere like clothing, etc. 

Fact – In the Tibetan language, Yak is used only for the male gender, and “dri” is used for females.

Some mountains and peaks are considered holy and are revered in many religions, and they are also part of legends and mythology. 

For example, Mt. Kailash is considered sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon religions. 

It is a way of life by nomad community. They move from one place to another without the intention of staying in one place for a longer period of time.

Rock formed due to cooling and then solidification of the magma or lava.

• Intrusive rocks are made when magma cools down within the earth’s crust, forming crystalised blocks.
  Example – Granite.
• Extrusive rocks, also known as “volcanic rocks,” are formed when lava cools down on the earth’s surface, either on land or underwater.
  Example – Basalt.

These rocks are formed from the accumulation of pre-existing rocks, sediment,s, and one living organism through the process of lithification and weathering.

Example – Limestone & Shale.

Rocks are formed when different rocks, like igneous, sedimentary, and even older metamorphic rocks, go under pressure and temperature, changing the original rock’s characteristics.

Example – Sandstone to Quartzite, Shale to Schist.

The process of wearing down rocks by natural forces like wind, water, and ice.

Example-

Divergent: Plates move apart

Convergent: Plates move toward each other and collide

Transform: Plates slide past each other

The scientific study of earthquakes and the movement of waves through the earth.

It is a place of permanent accumulation of snow and ice.

When a portion of a glacier moves fast, it turns into conical, jaded points. This process makes crevasses that look like waterfalls.

Sudden snow slide down a mountain or hill, triggered by natural or human activity. A slab avalanche is when a whole block of ice moves because of a weak underlying snow sheet. When powdery snow is triggered, it is called a loose avalanche.

Also known as freezing depth, it is a point underground till underground water and soil get frozen.

Loose rock debris on slopes.

A slope with larger loose rocks and boulders.

Note – Scree and talus can be used interchangeably, but talus sometimes gets considered as the slope itself, while scree is debris.

It is a mountain peak emerging from a glacier. Derived from Inuit (Greenland), it means “lonely mountain.”

A sharp ridge created when two glaciers erode parallel to each other in a “U” shape. The ridge gets contoured with wind and time, looking like the back of a dragon.

These are wind-formed snow patterns, like dunes in desserts. 

It is a climbing down-the-slope technique for a more controlled yet fast descent.

A line marked in the deepest points of a river bed or valley to define the deepest channel.

Derived from the Scottish Gaelic “càrn,” which means a pile of stones is used to mark trails or landmarks on a trek.

When glaciers move away, they leave behind a deep bowl-shaped hallow, which is known as “corrie.”