98th Gebirgsjager Regiment Military Mountaineering and Training

This is where a new rekruit can find helpful information about mountain climbing techniques used by the German Mountain Infantry Forces.  Additionally it will provide information on terms, definitions, and equipment used during the early days of mountain climbing.  The mountain climbing era of 1890 to 1950 was vastly different to the techniques and equipment used today.  This time period saw many new innovations and discoveries by adventurers and explorers seeking better, easier ways to ascend rock cliffs, snow capped peaks, and how to safely guide large teams through the mountains.  Military mountaineering is not about "1st Ascents" and "Peak Bagging".  It is a way to safely and efficiently move military forces over mountainous terrain while achieving the goal of tactical superiority/overwhelming force combined with sufficient supply and reinforcement.  In short; it is about surprising your enemy where he least expects it and winning battles in dangerous hostile terrain. WEBPAGE is being updated, check back soon!

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Mountaineering Equipment

Adze: a thin perpendicular part of the blade of an ice ax used for cutting steps in the ice. Ascender / Jumar: mechanical tool used for climbing up a single rope. Piton: Hammer: Wedge: Block: Bergschuhe: Specially made boots for mountain climbing. Bergseil: Mountain Rope. Cam: a half-moon shaped piece of protective anchor that is springloaded into position. Carabiner: spring-gated snaplink used as a connector between the rope and an anchor/belay - slang term is "beener". Chalk: a magnesium carbonate compound used to enhance a climber's grip. Chock: a mechanical or angular/hexagonal wedge used to slip behind a crack or between two rocks to use as an anchor.

Mountaineering Terms and Definitions

Ablation Zone: area of a glacier where the ice melt meets or exceeds the annual snow fall. Abseil / Rappel: to descend using rope and equipment. Aid or Aid Climbing: climbing techniques where the use of anchors and ropes are integrated into the climb and exclusively used to "aid" a climber in the ascent (see Ascender/Jumar & Rope Ladder/Steps). Alpine Start: to make an efficient/early start on a long climb by packing all your gear the evening before and starting out early, usually before sunrise. Altitude Sickness: a medical condition occurring at high altitudes also known as "Acute Mountain Sickness" (AMS) similar to H.A.P.E. Anchor: an arrangement of one or more pieces of equipment to support the weight of a belay or top rope (for safety). Approach: the path or route to the start of a technical climb; though generally a walk or boulder scramble, it can be potentially as dangerous as the climb. Arete: a small ridge-like feature on a rock face. Ascent: to climb or go up. ie - Ascending the crest. Barn-Door: to climb with only one hand and foot causing a climber to uncontrollably swing outwards away from the rock like a barn-door Bail: to retreat or quit a climb without achieving the summit. Belay: to protect a climber by tying in to the safety rope. Bergschrund: a crevasse that forms on the upper portion of a glacier where the moving section pulls away from the headwall. Buttress: a prominent feature that juts out from a rock or mountain. Cairn: a distinctive pile of stones to designate a trail or climb. Chimney: a rock cleft with vertical sides, mostly parallel that a climber can wedge his body into and using isometric force climb up through. Choss: loose or rotten rock. Clawing: use of the front points of crampons (ice shoes), ice ax and ice hammer to climb an icy slope. Clean: to remove protective anchors while as 2nd man in lead climbing or to complete a climb without falling or using the rope as aid (see aid climbing/free climbing). Clipping In: the process of connecting to the safety rope - "On Belay". Col: a small pass or saddle between two peaks.