High mountain tour

Important historic milestones in the development of high mountain touring in the Alps were the first ascents of the Ankogel (3,262 m) in 1762, Mont Blanc (4,810 m) in 1786, the Großglockner (3,798 m) in 1800 and the Ortler (3,905 m) in 1804 as well as the conquest of many high western Alpine summits during the golden age of Alpinism around the middle of the 19th century.

[2] In glaciated terrain the risk of crevasses means that even technically easy walks require the use of rope, crampons, and ice axes as well as knowledge of safety and rescue techniques.

Techniques and equipment include crevasse rescue gear, the T-anchor, the ice screw, and snow protection.

[3] The dangers and problems presented by high mountain touring, are caused less by the actual technical difficulty of climbing than by the (often rapidly changing) external conditions.

As a result, such scales attempt to take into account to a greater extent the severity of a route or its fitness requirements.