A summit bid (or summit push) is the attempt to reach the top of a mountain, typically the final, committing stage of an expedition launched from a high camp. Summit bids are timed for a weather window and good conditions, and require turnaround discipline — committing to descend if the climb runs late or conditions deteriorate.
An alpine start is beginning a climb very early — often well before dawn — to take advantage of cold, stable conditions and to leave a safety margin for the descent. Frozen snow is firmer and safer in the early hours, rockfall and avalanche risk is lower, and an early start means finishing before afternoon storms.
A moraine is a ridge or deposit of rock and debris left behind by a glacier. Lateral moraines run along a glacier's sides and terminal moraines mark its furthest advance. Mountaineers often follow or cross moraines to access glaciers, where the loose, rubbly ground can be unstable and tiring.
Talus is an accumulation of large rock blocks at the base of a cliff or steep slope, formed by rockfall. Bigger than scree, talus is crossed by hopping or picking a line between stable blocks. 'Talus hopping' is a common but ankle-testing part of approaching alpine peaks, and shifting blocks demand care.
Scree is an accumulation of small, loose rock fragments on a slope, formed by frost-shattering and erosion. Hikers and mountaineers cross scree on the way to peaks; loose scree can be tiring and treacherous to ascend but is sometimes descended quickly by 'scree skiing'. It contrasts with the larger blocks of talus.
A snow bridge is a span of snow that forms over a crevasse, sometimes hiding it completely. Snow bridges can be strong enough to cross or thin enough to collapse under a climber, which is why glacier travelers rope up, probe suspect bridges, and cross them carefully or avoid them.
A cornice is an overhanging lip of wind-blown snow that builds out horizontally from a ridge crest, like a frozen wave. Cornices can collapse under a climber's weight or break off naturally, so mountaineers stay well back from the edge and treat the slope below as avalanche-prone.
A couloir is a steep, narrow gully on a mountainside, often filled with snow or ice, that provides a natural line of ascent or descent. Couloirs are classic alpine and ski-mountaineering routes, but they channel rockfall, avalanches, and meltwater, so timing and hazard awareness are critical.
A col is the lowest point on a ridge between two peaks — a mountain pass or saddle. Cols are natural crossing points and route waypoints in mountaineering, often marking the gateway between two valleys or the start of a summit ridge. The term is especially common in alpine climbing.
Mountaineering boots are stiff, insulated, crampon-compatible boots built for snow, ice, and high-altitude climbing. Their rigid soles support precise cramponing and kicking steps, while insulation — and on the warmest models, double-boot construction — protects against frostbite. They're categorized by stiffness and warmth to match the objective.