Physical Features of Mountains You Should Know as a Trekker

Mountains are marvels of nature. Each one is different from the others. With diverse terrains and biodiversity, these geographical monuments harbor the ecosystem in pristine condition. However, for mountaineers limiting the knowledge only up to the beauty is not enough. There are many technical terms that should be known by a mountaineer to assess every mountain. We, at Kashti Adventures, emphasize more on knowledge as it gives a trekker the understanding to carry out an otherwise-tricky trek. So here is a list of such words that will help you to get a bird’s eye view of the literary and technical aspects of mountaineering.

Range

A range is nothing but a chain of mountains that are connected to each other through high-altitude grounds. These are also referred to as belts or systems. The mountains under a range have the same origin. It means that all of them were formed as a result of the same geographical event. Not only earth but ranges have been found on other planets like Mars as well. The most well-known mountain ranges in India include the mighty Himalayas, Karakoram Range, Zanskar Range, Western Ghats, Satpura range, etc.

Ridge

A ridge acts like a natural connection between mountains. These are elevated and pointed lands with steep slopes called ridgelines. The most commonly found ridges are the Dendritic ones which are found along streams or river basins. With more or less erosion-resistant slopes, these ridges provide a direction to the lower brooks. Other ridges include stratigraphic ridge (Long and straight), Crater ridge (Circular edge due to meteor impact), Dune ridge (where loose sand particles form elevated ridges called dunes), etc. Ridges can also be found on hills depending upon their geographical stratification, soil particles, and size of the natural structure.

Summit

Summit is the highest point of a mountain that has maximum elevation. It should not be confused with the mountain top, which is located nearby to the summit. Smaller elevations near the summit are called sub-summits and can be differentiated from each other. Basically, any geographical elevation with a prominence of above 30 m is a peak and above 300 m is a mountain summit. Any value lower than this range is a sub-peak or sub-summit. Mount Everest has the highest summit at an elevation of 8848.86m.

Valley

A valley is a natural cradle whose brims are made up of enormous walls of mountains. These are elongated areas and may house glacial lakes or rivers. They are formed due to erosion or movement of the layers of the earth. From icy cold glaciers to scorching deserts, valleys are found cosmopolitan. Due to habitable conditions, valleys are usually a site to behold with many biodiversity and abiotic resources. Human settlements and agriculture are often successful in and around valleys due to these preferable natural conditions. The Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand is a notable name to take while talking about valleys.

Meadow

Meadow is a vast and open expanse of land amidst mountains. The vegetation types mostly found here, consist of Grasses and small herbs. Trees and shrubs are usually not found in the meadows. Like valleys, meadows also harbor beautiful floral diversity and are used by shepherds for grazing cattle. In the local Pahari dialect, a meadow is referred to as a ‘Bugyal’. Dayara Bugyal is one such heavenly natural abode, that can make your next trip a tad bit better!

Plateau

A plateau in layman’s language can be explained as a ‘Table-top’ due to its uncanny resemblance. Therefore, a plateau is a flat-topped structure with elevated edges that sets it higher than the rest of the surroundings. It is just the opposite of a valley that formed due to a depression in the natural terrain. One or more sides of a plateau have steep hills and some may have wider tops as well. the Deccan plateau of Southern India is rich with its biodiversity resources and the ecosystem services it provides.

Col

As already mentioned, mountain ridges connect adjacent peaks. These ridges have uneven structures as well and the lowest point of it is called a col. In other words, col is a more-or-less ‘U’-shaped depression that is formed in a ridge and is highly visible from far distances. Col has different terminologies like Saddle, wid gaps, etc as per the region or part of the world, that is talked about.

Glacier

A glacier is a compactified mass of snow or ice that has accumulated over millions of years. It is formed when the rate of formation of ice exceeds the ablation or melting. It is characterized by the seracs and crevasses that form as a result of its free flow. Glaciers, as an effect of their ginormous weights, move under themselves and gradually drown over centuries. Climate change has contributed negatively to the melting of glaciers. It has significantly increased water levels. The need of the hour is to combat climate change and use greener and cleaner energy alternatives in society.

Conclusion

Mountaineering is an admixture of skills and knowledge. One is incomplete without the other which is why this aforementioned glossary will help you deal with the latter aspect and hone your mountaineering skills.

Blog by Chandrajita Chakraborty