Friday, 23 October 2026
International edition · English
Editorial desk
Editorial team covering mountaineering, hiking, routes and safety. Our guides are based on recommendations from mountain federations, rescue services and official bodies, and always flag which figures are indicative and must be checked before heading out.
20 articles
At sea level water boils at 100 °C, but not in the mountains. With less pressure, molecules escape sooner and water boils at a lower temperature. That is why pasta takes longer in a mountain hut.
Hidesuke Taneishi and Tetsu Hashimoto were attempting the first ascent of Gangapurna West (7,140 m), next to the Annapurna massif. Their last contact was on 15 October. A helicopter and a drone made it possible to find them on the south face.
Three Russian climbers are attempting one of Everest's hardest and least repeated routes this autumn. After two days of struggle above the Lho La, coughing, fatigue and harder terrain than expected have forced them back down to Base Camp.
His best so far is 7,537 metres. This autumn he is acclimatising in the Annapurna region, wants to reach 8,000 m before winter and plans to start on Everest on 22 December. He puts his own chances at 20%.
Not all dangerous mountains are dangerous for the same reason. Some kill with avalanches, others with altitude, unpredictable weather or because they look easier than they are. Fifteen summits and their reasons.
You do not need to be a mountaineer to walk beside glaciers, peer into a fjord or circle the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Ten routes any hiker with reasonable fitness and common sense can do.
At 3,000 metres every breath carries around 30% less oxygen than at sea level. Your body reacts within minutes, adapts within days… and sometimes fails. This is what happens and what to do.
Running on trails is not road running with a different view: technique, pace and training all change. This is how to get into trail running without getting injured and enjoy it from day one.
Rhyolite mountains in every colour, obsidian fields, fumaroles and glacial rivers to ford. The Laugavegur is short in kilometres and huge in scenery, with a climate that does not forgive improvisation.
Your phone runs out of battery, the signal disappears or the GPS goes haywire in a deep valley. These are the navigation techniques that really work when technology fails.
Glaciers, turquoise lakes and the three granite towers at sunrise. The W is one of the most spectacular treks in the world, but you need to book well in advance and respect the Patagonian wind.
Three countries, a dozen passes and Mont Blanc always on the horizon. The TMB is probably Europe's most famous trek: demanding for its total ascent, but with no technical sections on its classic route.
Choosing a route that suits you, estimating times properly, checking the forecast and knowing when to turn back. Everything you need so your first mountain outing is the start of something, not a bad memory.
It is one of Spain's most popular hikes and looks like a stroll, but the path runs beside unprotected drops, with rockfall and a return that doubles the distance. Here is how to do it right.
Sleeping in the mountains completely changes the experience of a route. We tell you which gear is essential, what you can leave at home and how to pack it so your backpack weighs no more than it needs to.
Summer storms in the mountains form quickly, but they give warning. We show you how to read the clouds, calculate the distance of lightning and get to the least exposed spot if it reaches you.
6a, VII, 5.11d, V5... Every country and every type of climbing has its own difficulty system. We explain how they work, how they compare and why a grade is never an exact science.
A wildfire can move faster than you can walk, especially uphill. Reading the wind and the terrain, raising the alarm early and choosing the right escape route can save lives.
Getting lost is not an emergency; what you do in the next few minutes can turn it into one. Stop, think, observe and plan. And do not be afraid to ask for help in time.
Running out of water ruins a hike; carrying twice what you need does too. Here is a practical guideline, how to adjust it to your situation and when you can trust natural water sources.
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