The Ultimate Guide to Mountaineering and Ice Climbing Insurance

With the wind in your hair and fresh air in your lungs, mountaineering and ice climbing are some of the most exhilarating sports on earth.

For some, preparing for the worst-case scenario might seem pessimistic, but it's just common sense and when it comes to health and safety, getting the right extreme sports insurance is an absolute must. With so many insurance options these days, it's difficult to sort out those with very little coverage from those that provide support for all your mountain-related emergencies. While it's difficult, it's something that needs to be done and the more research you do, the better chance you'll find the perfect insurance option just for you!

In addition to your insurance covering things like flight or accommodation cancellations, or loss or damage to your expensive mountaineering gear, your health is vital. So here are a few things to look out for when considering what mountaineering or ice climbing insurance to go for.

Things worth knowing about taking out ice climbing insurance

General insurance does not include “Sport”.

Your "everyday" travel insurance doesn't cover sports like mountaineering and hiking, so you'll need to look for that or speak to your insurance agent. Sports insurance can cost up to three times the price of general travel insurance, but it's worth every penny. The reason it is more expensive is that there are more risks and therefore a higher risk that you will have to make a claim.

Make sure accidents are accounted for

Although accidents are a key feature of most insurance terms, it is extremely important to check if your insurance covers them. The term 'accidents' is the umbrella term for injury, ill health and even death and is a separate term for medical expenses; So watch out for both.

Name all countries where you will be mountaineering

The price of insurance changes depending on which countries you visit, usually due to the variations in medical care prices between different countries, as well as general living conditions. Also, some insurance companies don't operate in every country, so it's important to include all the countries where you plan to go mountaineering to avoid the risk of not complying with the terms of your contract should something go wrong.

Although it may be more expensive, some companies offer worldwide insurance that meets the needs of backpackers who don't know what their next destination might be.

altitude sickness

Unfortunately, altitude sickness is very common when you fall to magnificent mountain heights, which inevitably means that many insurance companies refrain from insuring you above 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) above sea level. Insurance that covers 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) and over is hard to find, so make sure you plan your hikes according to the insurance you have, or vice versa.

emergency transport

Even the most experienced hikers are not immune to accidents and can experience avalanches, thunderstorms, altitude sickness and other emergencies. Benign health conditions like a sprain or a muscle strain can create an emergency situation high up in the mountains, and descending with either of these can have frightening consequences.

Because situations like these are both unpredictable and frequent, it's extremely important to make sure your insurance covers accident transportation so that a minor accident doesn't turn into a disaster.

While finding the right insurance is extremely important, you should also try to do your best to reduce the risk of a claim. This involves intensive training to build your physical skills before setting off on your journey. So how should you train for a mountaineering or ice climbing expedition?

Successfully completing a long hike with the weight of a heavy backpack can be extremely tiring for even the fittest of people. As such, preparing for a major expedition requires a significant amount of physical preparation. Regular participation in running, cycling and swimming is extremely beneficial for the cardiovascular system, while a gym's stairclimber machine is great for leg muscles and strength training in preparation for backpacking.

That being said, the best exercise for climbing with a backpack is climbing with a backpack. Try going to nearby hikes where you can gain height with a significant amount of weight on your shoulders. Not only does this increase your endurance for long climbs, but it also adds much more to your hiking experience than running or weight training and significantly boosts your confidence in the mountains.

Another way to feel prepared is to make sure you have the right gear with you. Depending on the type of climb you're going to undertake, your choice of gear will vary, but some must-have suggestions include:

• mountain boots – Stiffer and more supportive than traditional hiking boots
• harness – Strive for a light and comfortable
• climbing helmet – including clips for your headlamp
• crampon – to increase traction in snow
• Ice pick - for climbing steep slopes
• Windproof and water-repellent clothing – to keep you warm and prepared for different weather conditions

So after you have purchased appropriate extreme sports insurance, participated in the physical preparation and packed all your mountaineering essentials, you are ready for your trip! Now you can experience a mountain rush like no other, truly worry-free.

By: The Ultimate Guide to Mountaineering and Ice Climbing Insurance