TOUCHING THE VOID

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Most students should be able to:

•Appreciate that mountain climbing is a hazardous occupation that requires careful planning;•Apply the lessons of mountain climbing in the Andes to climbing a mountain in Britain in the winter;•Recognise that some people climb mountains in spite of the risks.

Enquiry Question:What do we know about mountain environments and how do people respond to them?

MOUNTAIN AREAS IN BRITAIN

A

FE

D

C

B

I

H

G

Mountain Range Letter

Pennines

Cambrian Mountain

Southern Uplands

North-west Highlands

Dartmoor

Brecon Beacons

North York Moors

Cumbrian Mountains

Grampian Mountains

Match up the mountain range with the correct letter from the map.

What do you think was Joe and Simon’s biggest mistake? (Circle one answer)•Cutting the rope•Carrying too much equipment•Going too slowly•Not bringing a tent•Not bringing enough gas

Justify your answer below

Imagine that you were in either Joe’s or Simon’s situation after the rope was cut.a.How would you feel?

b.What would you have done?

c.How would the experience change your life?

Would you want to climb Snowdon in winter? Why, or why not?

What challenges would you face? Would they be similar to or different from those faced by Joe and Simon?

What preparations would you make to be safe on your climb?

YOUR MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE

HOMEWORK

Research the first people to officially climb to the summit of Mount Everest (Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay), who reached the summit on 29th May 1953.

Write a diary entry (on your blog) to describe their journey to the summit. Describe the challenges they faced, the route they took, the equipment they needed, the preparation they needed to conquer the mountain.

Completion date: 18th December 2009

HOMEWORK

Research the first people to officially climb to the summit of Mount Everest (Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay), who reached the summit on 29th May 1953.

Write a diary entry (on your blog) to describe their journey to the summit. Describe the challenges they faced, the route they took, the equipment they needed, the preparation they needed to conquer the mountain.

Completion date: 18th December 2009