Looking back on the last 10 years of climbing and skiing, I realize how much I have learned and how much I have grown during that time. Sometimes it’s hard to find mentors, and while I don’t claim to have all the answers, I’ve made my share of mistakes, for better or worse. Here are 10 things I would have said to my younger self 10 years ago that I hope might help some young aspiring mountaineers and dudettes in their quests in the mountains. I hope to do even better than me with their mountain career!
- Get your money right. This is perhaps the crux of most young people who really want to go to the mountains. I would have told a 19 year old to go into half-decent jobs like rope access, sports massage or construction engineering. Something you can easily dip in and out of also gives you a good amount of money for a short period of time. Something quite relaxing is also ideal because you can relax while still making money. This is something I just achieved. Something I regret not achieving sooner because I missed opportunities. I would say it’s more about having a positive attitude towards getting money rather than worrying about the next time you get it. Having to work to pay for my activities makes me appreciate them much more.
- A positive mental attitude paves the way for everything. There will be hard times, there will be times when you want to give up. There will always be obstacles to overcome, but the spirit leads the way in everything. Adopt a positive mental attitude and success in everything will be easier.
- Set goals. Although I have always had goals, I have never been as good as some people at setting short, medium and long term goals and sticking to them. This is a tricky skill to master and cannot be learned overnight. Setting achievable goals within a specific time frame is actually difficult, but achieving them and returning to them is more difficult. Not having to worry about cash flow helps a lot with goal setting because you can prevent money from getting in the way of achieving what you want to achieve. Have a way to write down your goals, either on a piece of paper or on your computer so you can see them every day. Go back, review them, and create new ones every few weeks or months. Master this and you’ll be well on your way to a successful career in the mountains.
- Take an avalanche course. And I’m not talking about a free conference or a cheap conference. I certainly hadn’t learned much about avalanches during my first ski seasons in Chamonix. However, if I can say to the young people who spoke to me, one piece of advice before going to the Alps for the first time, it would be to take avalanche training (and crevasse rescue) immediately. This seems pretty obvious, but you wouldn’t believe how many people go backcountry skiing and winter climbing without knowing the dangers of avalanches and how to deal with them. Ask your loved ones to pay for it, I’m pretty sure they will!
- Don’t let your ambition blind you. Decision making in the mountains is one of the hardest things to learn when you are young or new to the big mountain environment. You don’t know the risks and you think or feel invincible. First learn your trade in the small mountains. Make a few mistakes in a relatively safe environment, but above all don’t let immediate or short-term goals keep you from coming home safe every day. Don’t fall for heuristic traps (if you don’t know what it is, look it up). Mountain, snow, ice and rock will be there in the future. YOU must be ready for it, not the other way around.
- Every day is a school day. Strive to learn something every day, whatever the flavor. Belay construction, Snow science, History, New fields, Techniques, Weather, Languages, Equipment… the list could be long. There is so much to learn that there is no excuse not to learn something new every day.
- Be honest and open about what you did. Mountaineering and big mountain skiing are based on honesty and trust. This means that you should never lie or bullshit anyone. I’ve always tried to be clear about what I did and how, it’s in my nature. Every time I mess up, it comes back to bite me.
- Actively seek help and advice. Many people have come to tour the neighborhood several times and I’m sure if you send an email you will receive an answer to a question or query you have. Even if you don’t, what’s the harm in trying? Try to surround yourself with more knowledgeable and experienced people and listen to what they have to say. they are your most valuable resource. Surprise, surprise you don’t know anything.
- Take care of your body. It’s your best tool. Feed him well, stretch him well and keep him hydrated. Treat chronic injuries and do everything you can to recover more quickly from acute injuries. More often than not, those who go to the mountains tend to be too hard on their bodies. Learn to rest and learn to listen when you feel exhausted. A stuffy nose or sore throat can quickly turn into a lung infection or worse if you don’t take the time to properly recover. Better a few days of rest than weeks of not being able to get off the couch.
- Don’t take yourself too seriously. Above all, make sure you have fun and don’t take yourself or what you did on the mountain too seriously. Obviously, skiing and climbing are dangerous activities, so caution and caution should be exercised when practicing them. However, relationships, friends and fun should be the most important things in your life in the mountains.