That is very good information that I personally did not think about... We are wanting to learn mountaineering skills and techniques so we can begin to do some beginner/moderate mountaineering... what would be the reccomendation for learning the basics of mountaineering? (we are not going to be self taught lol) Find a school that teaches the basics or be-friend an experianced mountaineer and learn as you go? are there any good mountaineering schools in the Denver area that you might suggest we check out to learn the basics from? Thank you all for your very informed posts!!