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Mountain Field Guide
Author's posts
Jul 07 2026
Mountains in Europe
Explore the Mountains of Europe Europe is home to some of the world’s most iconic mountain landscapes, from the snow-capped Alps and dramatic Dolomites to the rugged Scottish Highlands and the remote Scandinavian Mountains. Although Europe’s peaks are not as high as those in Asia, they are among the most visited, photographed, and climbed mountains …
Jul 07 2026
Mountains in Asia
Explore the Mountains of Asia Asia is home to the highest, most extensive, and arguably the most legendary mountain landscapes on Earth. Stretching from the rugged peaks of Turkey and the Caucasus to the snow-covered summits of Siberia and the tropical mountains of Southeast Asia, the continent contains an astonishing diversity of mountain ranges, climates, …
Jul 07 2026
Why Are Mountains Colder?
Mountain summits are often far colder than nearby valleys, even when both locations receive the same daylight and are only a few miles apart. A warm afternoon at the base of a mountain can become a chilly, windy, or even snowy experience near the summit. The main reason is altitude. Air pressure decreases with height, …
Jul 07 2026
The Ten Essentials for Hiking: What Every Hiker Should Carry
The Ten Essentials are the basic safety systems hikers carry to prepare for injuries, navigation mistakes, unexpected delays, sudden weather changes, equipment failures, and unplanned nights outdoors. You may complete dozens of hikes without needing several of them. Their value becomes apparent when a routine outing stops going according to plan. A trail may take …
Jul 07 2026
Yellow-Bellied Marmots: Life in the Mountains of Western North America
Yellow-bellied marmots are among the most recognizable mammals of western North America’s mountain landscapes. These large ground squirrels are often seen sitting upright on boulders, sunbathing beside hiking trails, or disappearing into rocky burrows after sounding a sharp alarm whistle. Despite their relaxed appearance, yellow-bellied marmots live according to a demanding seasonal schedule. They may …
Jul 07 2026
Ama Dablam
Ama Dablam Ama Dablam is one of the most recognizable mountains in the Himalayas. Rising above the valleys and villages of Nepal’s Khumbu region, the mountain is distinguished by sharply defined ridges, steep rock-and-ice faces, and a dramatic hanging glacier suspended beneath its summit. Although Ama Dablam is considerably lower than nearby giants such as …
Jul 06 2026
What Is a Parent Peak?
A parent peak is a higher mountain used to describe another summit’s position within a topographic hierarchy. The concept sounds simple: a smaller or lower summit belongs to a larger mountain nearby. That is often true for minor subsidiary summits, but parentage becomes much more complicated when prominent, geographically independent mountains are considered. A parent …
Jul 06 2026
How Mountains Affect Weather
Mountains do much more than create dramatic landscapes. They redirect winds, force air to rise, produce clouds, increase rain and snowfall, create dry rain shadows, and cause major temperature differences across relatively short distances. A single mountain range can separate a wet forest from an arid desert. One slope may receive deep winter snow while …
Jul 06 2026
Emergency Shelters: How to Stay Protected During an Unexpected Night Outdoors
An emergency shelter provides protection when a hike lasts longer than planned, weather makes continued travel unsafe, or an injury forces a group to remain outdoors while waiting for assistance. Shelter is one of the Ten Essentials recommended for outdoor travel. The National Park Service lists tents, tarps, bivy sacks, and emergency space blankets as …
Jul 06 2026
GPS Devices: How to Choose and Use a GPS for Hiking and Mountain Navigation
A GPS device can show your location, record your route, guide you toward a waypoint, and help you recognize when you have taken a wrong turn. Modern handheld navigators may also display topographic maps, elevation profiles, trails, roads, water features, and geographic coordinates. However, carrying a GPS does not automatically make a hiker a capable …
