What the mountains teach: IT choice
Whatever they say about us, many IT people love outdoor activities and sports. Most often it is running, bicycle, rollers. Sometimes something is individual and extreme: skydiving, diving, parkour. But there is another way to unload and at the same time acquire useful skills for work - this is mountain climbing.
It's hard to visit the mountains and not fall in love with them. This type of relaxation is very capacious: in just a week you can completely switch, experience “positive stress”, clear your head and try yourself. Anyone who was able to ascend to a real peak will look at working troubles in a completely different way, work in a group and approach problem solving. Mountains accustom responsibility. At the same time, to do mountain climbing, some extraordinary abilities are not required.
There are two types of ascents: commercial and sports. The former, as a rule, do not require much effort: a person is brought to the top almost on the ropes and snowmobiles, they are not loaded with equipment and supplies, instructors monitor every step. Climbing is another matter. It will already require stamina, ingenuity and the ability to work in a team. But the impressions are much stronger.
It seems that hiking in the mountains is long, expensive, difficult, requires special equipment and constant training. In fact, everything is not so complicated.
Climbing into the mountains is a certain physical activity, therefore it is worth trying yourself. Walking up the stairs to the top floor of a high-rise building, running a 10-kilometer cross - if it’s on the shoulder, then hiking in the mountains will most likely seem like a pleasant walk.
If everything is clearly planned, in a week of vacation you can climb a couple of peaks, and in two - even to conquer Elbrus. What might a beginner's route look like? On New Year's holidays, you can go to Ingushetia and climb Mount Canteen, it is considered an ideal option for the first ascent, then try something more complicated. In March and May, take small vacations and take off for a week to a height, conquering a couple of peaks.
It is also useful to devote some time to climbing, so as to learn not to be afraid of heights and gain basic lifting skills. For this, low cliffs, such as in the Crimea, are ideal. And already on a summer long vacation, you can plan a serious ascent, for example, the conquest of the highest mountain in Europe - Elbrus.
Elbrus seems very affordable and not at all scary, especially from the south. Streams flow, the slope is even and easy to climb. Commercial ascents are organized on this side of the mountain. On the cable car you can climb to a height of 3600 meters, then up to 5 km - on the snowcat. But it is on Elbrus that more people die than on all the other Russian mountains combined. The fact is that the flow of people interested is huge, and not everyone understands the dangers of the height and extremely loose slopes. Altitude acclimatization is vital, otherwise it is easy to pick up a mountain sickness.
The optimal option is considered when 2 weeks are spent on acclimatization, and it is carried out with “teeth”. During this time, you can conquer several low peaks, spend the night at an altitude of several thousand meters. Then you can go on the assault on the five thousandth. If there is no time, acclimatization should be laid down for at least a week, so that everything is in order.
A popular sports route is called "north-south Elbrus traverse." The climbing group comes from the north, rises to the eastern peak, descends to the saddle. There, at an altitude of 5300 meters, sleeps and rises to the western peak. Then descends to the south. This path really go in 3 days.
Nothing very large and extremely expensive for hiking in the mountains is required. For example, going to Elbrus, in addition to suitable clothing you need to take: cats, an ice ax, ice drills, harness, insurance. Well, the usual tourist supplies: a backpack, a sleeping bag, water, a first-aid kit, supplies.
Indeed, motivation is very important, you must immediately set yourself a clear goal. It is worth maximizing the ascent with meaning. Warn everyone that you are going to conquer the summit. Create a group in the messenger and sign colleagues to your travel notes and photos. Finally, take your favorite company’s flag with you to take a photo with him on top. If you give someone a promise, there is an additional incentive to bring the matter to an end.
Climbing is an extreme sport, both team and contemplative. The skills you get in the mountains are very similar to those that are highly valued in Agile teams. For example, a lot of time is spent on building internal communications in a team so that this is not the case: I mean one thing, the developer does the other, and the tester does not understand what it is about.
In the mountains, teammates must unambiguously and absolutely correctly understand what they want from each other. Moreover, they may not see or hear each other at all. For example, when insurance using a natural relief, it is quite possible that the partner is on the other side of the ridge, the rope is thrown over the relief. It is not visible, the wind blows the words, and only the tension of the rope and intuition are used. After just a few hours of such teamwork, the team becomes one.
It is especially difficult to go in a triple bundle in the center, here it is necessary to take into account the behavior of both the one in front and the one in the back. You will have to fill a lot of cones before you manage to go synchronously and feel each other.
The climbing process itself is similar to working on a project: there is also a distant goal, many difficulties and surprises, overcoming oneself, constant self-education and a steady movement towards the result.
There is another indispensable skill that brings mountaineering. This is an indisputable, deep sense of responsibility. When you insure a partner, in your hands in the literal sense of the word is his life and health. No matter how instructed the instructor, you can not give in to panic and do something in a hurry. This skill then helps a lot in work.
Everyone who starts climbing is faced with a fear of heights. At first, even on the simplest routes, it will be scary, legs and arms will tremble treacherously. Fear is born from the fact that a person does not know how to act and what to do: there is no proven technique, no confidence in oneself. So the fear itself will go away with the advent of skills. The main thing is not to stop.
In our country there are enough places where you can go mountain climbing. This is the Caucasus, the Urals, Dombay, Sayan Mountains, Altai Mountains.
The most famous peaks in Russia except Elbrus (5642 meters) are:
In general, there is where to go.
Climbers among IT specialists are much fewer than runners or tennis players. But it may well turn out that somewhere in the same company there is a colleague who is individually fond of climbing. It makes sense to declare yourself, look for like-minded people, create an internal team and begin to jointly build routes.
I invite all mountain climbing enthusiasts to write in the comments where you managed to visit, which routes you liked the most, when and where you are going to go next time. More interesting together!
The charm of the mountains
It's hard to visit the mountains and not fall in love with them. This type of relaxation is very capacious: in just a week you can completely switch, experience “positive stress”, clear your head and try yourself. Anyone who was able to ascend to a real peak will look at working troubles in a completely different way, work in a group and approach problem solving. Mountains accustom responsibility. At the same time, to do mountain climbing, some extraordinary abilities are not required.
There are two types of ascents: commercial and sports. The former, as a rule, do not require much effort: a person is brought to the top almost on the ropes and snowmobiles, they are not loaded with equipment and supplies, instructors monitor every step. Climbing is another matter. It will already require stamina, ingenuity and the ability to work in a team. But the impressions are much stronger.
It seems that hiking in the mountains is long, expensive, difficult, requires special equipment and constant training. In fact, everything is not so complicated.
How to evaluate your strength?
Climbing into the mountains is a certain physical activity, therefore it is worth trying yourself. Walking up the stairs to the top floor of a high-rise building, running a 10-kilometer cross - if it’s on the shoulder, then hiking in the mountains will most likely seem like a pleasant walk.
Where to get time to the mountains?
If everything is clearly planned, in a week of vacation you can climb a couple of peaks, and in two - even to conquer Elbrus. What might a beginner's route look like? On New Year's holidays, you can go to Ingushetia and climb Mount Canteen, it is considered an ideal option for the first ascent, then try something more complicated. In March and May, take small vacations and take off for a week to a height, conquering a couple of peaks.
It is also useful to devote some time to climbing, so as to learn not to be afraid of heights and gain basic lifting skills. For this, low cliffs, such as in the Crimea, are ideal. And already on a summer long vacation, you can plan a serious ascent, for example, the conquest of the highest mountain in Europe - Elbrus.
Is it dangerous to climb Mount Elbrus?
Elbrus seems very affordable and not at all scary, especially from the south. Streams flow, the slope is even and easy to climb. Commercial ascents are organized on this side of the mountain. On the cable car you can climb to a height of 3600 meters, then up to 5 km - on the snowcat. But it is on Elbrus that more people die than on all the other Russian mountains combined. The fact is that the flow of people interested is huge, and not everyone understands the dangers of the height and extremely loose slopes. Altitude acclimatization is vital, otherwise it is easy to pick up a mountain sickness.
The optimal option is considered when 2 weeks are spent on acclimatization, and it is carried out with “teeth”. During this time, you can conquer several low peaks, spend the night at an altitude of several thousand meters. Then you can go on the assault on the five thousandth. If there is no time, acclimatization should be laid down for at least a week, so that everything is in order.
A popular sports route is called "north-south Elbrus traverse." The climbing group comes from the north, rises to the eastern peak, descends to the saddle. There, at an altitude of 5300 meters, sleeps and rises to the western peak. Then descends to the south. This path really go in 3 days.
What equipment will be needed?
Nothing very large and extremely expensive for hiking in the mountains is required. For example, going to Elbrus, in addition to suitable clothing you need to take: cats, an ice ax, ice drills, harness, insurance. Well, the usual tourist supplies: a backpack, a sleeping bag, water, a first-aid kit, supplies.
Why go to such tests?
Indeed, motivation is very important, you must immediately set yourself a clear goal. It is worth maximizing the ascent with meaning. Warn everyone that you are going to conquer the summit. Create a group in the messenger and sign colleagues to your travel notes and photos. Finally, take your favorite company’s flag with you to take a photo with him on top. If you give someone a promise, there is an additional incentive to bring the matter to an end.
What can an IT specialist learn in the mountains?
Climbing is an extreme sport, both team and contemplative. The skills you get in the mountains are very similar to those that are highly valued in Agile teams. For example, a lot of time is spent on building internal communications in a team so that this is not the case: I mean one thing, the developer does the other, and the tester does not understand what it is about.
In the mountains, teammates must unambiguously and absolutely correctly understand what they want from each other. Moreover, they may not see or hear each other at all. For example, when insurance using a natural relief, it is quite possible that the partner is on the other side of the ridge, the rope is thrown over the relief. It is not visible, the wind blows the words, and only the tension of the rope and intuition are used. After just a few hours of such teamwork, the team becomes one.
It is especially difficult to go in a triple bundle in the center, here it is necessary to take into account the behavior of both the one in front and the one in the back. You will have to fill a lot of cones before you manage to go synchronously and feel each other.
The climbing process itself is similar to working on a project: there is also a distant goal, many difficulties and surprises, overcoming oneself, constant self-education and a steady movement towards the result.
There is another indispensable skill that brings mountaineering. This is an indisputable, deep sense of responsibility. When you insure a partner, in your hands in the literal sense of the word is his life and health. No matter how instructed the instructor, you can not give in to panic and do something in a hurry. This skill then helps a lot in work.
How to overcome fear?
Everyone who starts climbing is faced with a fear of heights. At first, even on the simplest routes, it will be scary, legs and arms will tremble treacherously. Fear is born from the fact that a person does not know how to act and what to do: there is no proven technique, no confidence in oneself. So the fear itself will go away with the advent of skills. The main thing is not to stop.
What peaks are worth climbing?
In our country there are enough places where you can go mountain climbing. This is the Caucasus, the Urals, Dombay, Sayan Mountains, Altai Mountains.
The most famous peaks in Russia except Elbrus (5642 meters) are:
- Kazbek - a majestic mountain with a height of 5033 meters, located on the border of Russia and Georgia;
- Klyuchevskaya Sopka is the highest active volcano (4835 meters) on our continent, located near the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky;
- Belukha - a mountain with two peaks 4432 and 4509 meters, the highest in the Altai Mountains;
- Munku-Sardyk - a mountain on the border with Mongolia, the highest in Eastern Siberia - 3491 meters;
- Kyzyl-Taiga - the sacred mountain of Tuvans 3121 meters high.
In general, there is where to go.
Where to find like-minded people?
Climbers among IT specialists are much fewer than runners or tennis players. But it may well turn out that somewhere in the same company there is a colleague who is individually fond of climbing. It makes sense to declare yourself, look for like-minded people, create an internal team and begin to jointly build routes.
I invite all mountain climbing enthusiasts to write in the comments where you managed to visit, which routes you liked the most, when and where you are going to go next time. More interesting together!
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