1. Late Descending Mountain
When registering at the climbing basecamp, we will be given a form to fill out for climber data and usually, there are some rules that are there. Where one of them is the one that regulates the time to go down the mountain. Usually, there are mountains that apply a 2 day 1 night or 2 Day 1 Night system for the length of the climbing time and are expected to report or check out at the climbing basecamp on the last day before night.
Of course, we must obey this rule for mutual convenience, even though it is a few hours late it can still be tolerated as long as it is not far past the final check-out time agreed on the form. Maybe for the climbers, it is not so much a problem. But for the climbing basecamp, this will be a problem if you are late coming down the mountain, especially if you stay overnight again.
Because surely the basecamp and hiking trail managers will be worried and will definitely take anticipatory actions by following you or even preparing for emergency SAR operations. So try not to be late going down the mountain, so that everything is comfortable, both you and your climbing friends and the officers at the climbing basecamp.
2. Not Calculating Estimated Downhill Time
Now, this is the importance of determining the schedule in mountain climbing, especially if the next day you have to go to the office and work again. Or catch up on the train schedule home and something important after climbing the mountain. Therefore, determining the schedule and estimation of going down the mountain is very important for you to calculate and plan in advance.
Usually, the time needed to go down the mountain is 2/3 of the time up the mountain. And this depends on the length of the hiking track on the mountain that we are climbing. So the calculation of the estimated hours will be different. And we must be able to measure and determine the time during climbing and descending the mountain in order to be able to catch up with something important after coming down from the mountain.
But remember, don't because the view at the top is good, you'll end up at the top of the mountain taking selfies and even making TikTok and boomerang videos so many times that you forget and don't want to go down. Even though you have to go to work the next day and also go down the mountain to catch the train schedule home or public transportation. And because you're at the top for a long time, you might even miss out and not be able to catch up with the train schedule or other public transportation. The address is being scolded by the boss if you don't come to work even though you have important work, such as a meeting with the boss.
3. Hurry Down
Well, this is what is usually the beginning of a big risk when climbing a mountain, whether it's slipping, falling, tripping, falling, and not being able to get up again. I'm drowning in the song of the wound (eh even sing).
But indeed rushing when going down the mountain is not good and will only make it difficult for you. This is because when we go down the mountain our energy is running low, it will be wasted so that which makes you not focus on the climbing route and you may fall and can't get up again. Or you might even forget to break and end up falling into the abyss at the edge of the climbing route, it's scary if that's the case.
Because I have also experienced this in my first climb on Mount Ciremai. At that time my friend was desperate to urinate and finally, my friend went down the mountain in a hurry from post five to post one to go to the toilet because he was desperate. And finally, he had to fall twice because he was in a hurry to go down the mountain even by running even though there were many tree roots along the hiking trail. So get off without rushing and relax but hurry so that you are both delicious and safe until you get home.
4. Start Down At Night
This is a danger both technically and environmental conditions, namely starting to fall at night. Because at night there is very little lighting and of course the cold air is very dangerous, especially if we are physically unfit and run out of energy after going to the top of the mountain.
In addition, a night trip when climbing or a summit attack is indeed very different from a trip down the mountain at night. Because at the summit attack, our bodies are still fresh and we still have plenty of supplies to recharge. Now when you go down the mountain, especially at night, you will have a little trouble because of the energy that has been drained. Plus the logistics are getting thinner and the air is also thinning because at night the trees and plants on the mountain also breathe oxygen.
You may lose focus on the way down. And not only that but mostly looking down to illuminate the path with a headlamp also makes our breathing more difficult and can also lead to lack of focus and even headaches due to lack of oxygen. This is because when we bend down our esophageal cavity will bend and only open slightly. It's different when the summit attack where we always look up so that the airflow in the esophagus is smooth and victorious.
5. Leaving Climbing Friends
Remember that mountaineering groups have always been known to have a strong level of solidarity. But now, not a few have lost their sense of solidarity, not with other groups or groups of climbers, even their climbing groups, sometimes even leaving their group of friends.
It seems that today's climbers, especially beginners, often leave their group of friends to get to basecamp quickly. Not infrequently they even run so they can get there quickly and don't care about their climbing friends behind them who are struggling to keep going with their energy and logistics running low.
Shouldn't mountain climbers always go up together and we go down together? Because the true meaning of mountain climbing lies in solidarity and not leaving each other. I'm sure it hurts to be left behind, especially when he's left when he's back, unfortunately, after that, he met up in the mountains again and he peaked with his new crush and they were overtaken again, eh.
6. Drop off without any spare/snacks
Well, maybe a lot of people have experienced this because they are so relaxed and want to go down with a lighter pebble. So the rest of the logistics are sometimes given to other groups of climbers. There's nothing wrong with sharing with other groups, but remember you have to leave a spare stock, be it snacks and drinking water to go down the mountain. Only then if it turns out that there are still leftovers and want to share can be given to other groups of climbers.
Because if you go down the mountain without spare supplies, especially water, you can become dehydrated because you don't have enough drinking water. In addition, sometimes the biggest risk when going up the mountain is more when going down the mountain. Because physically already getting tired so less focus. And unexpected events may happen to us when we go down the mountain, such as falling into a ravine due to taking the wrong path and slipping. Or at worst separated from the group and lost in the mountains.
Or some friends have cramps and sprains that force your group to return to spend the night on the hiking trail while waiting for the condition of the climbing friend to get a little better.
7. Forgot to Bring Down the Trash
If you are not ready to take care of nature or mountains by not polluting them with garbage, then you shouldn't climb mountains. Because mountains are not trash bins and don't expect the trash you generate during your ascent. So bring down all your trash when climbing a mountain because even mountains don't expect trash from you.
Remember we climb the mountain as guests so never leave anything but footprints on the mountain. Never take anything but photos and never kill anything but time.
Also, remember if you don't bring your trash down from the mountain, then get ready to get heavy sanctions from the manager by being blacklisted and not being allowed to climb the mountain for a long time. So don't forget to bring down your trash again when climbing. If you can't bring trash from other climbers, at least you bring your trash.
Those are 7 things to avoid when you go down the mountain so that your climb is smooth and safe until you return home.
Best regards!
Bring down your trash, don't bring down edelweiss flowers from the mountain, let alone take away village flowers from basecamp, you can beat the villagers, hehehe.