There’s something about mountaineering that humbles you fast. One minute, you’re feeling strong, pushing toward the summit. The next? The altitude, the cold, and the sheer scale of the mountain remind you who's really in charge.
Take my climb up Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador—one of the highest peaks in the world when measured from the Earth's center. With its 6,263-meter (20,548 ft) summit, it was no joke. The climb started at midnight, headlamps cutting through the darkness as we trudged up the glacier. The wind was relentless, every step draining more energy than it should have.
By 5,500 meters, I felt the altitude hard. My breathing was labored, my head throbbed, and my legs felt like lead. One of my teammates, clearly worse off, was swaying slightly—early signs of altitude sickness. This is where mountaineering isn’t about ego. It’s about making the right call.
We checked in with each other. Our guide made the tough decision: turn around now, or risk real danger. The summit was tempting, just a few hundred meters more—but the mountain wasn’t going anywhere. We descended, exhausted but safe, and by the time we reached base camp, the dizziness had passed.
Mountaineering Safety: Lessons Learned
✔️ Acclimatize properly. Rushing high-altitude climbs leads to altitude sickness fast.
✔️ Hydration is key. The cold tricks you into drinking less, but dehydration worsens altitude effects.
✔️ Gear matters. Crampons, an ice axe, and layering right make all the difference.
✔️ Know when to turn around. The best climbers are the ones who come back to climb another day.
Was it disappointing? A little. But standing at a summit isn’t worth it if you don’t make it down. The mountains will always be there—your job is to climb them wisely.