Why People Climb: The Relationship of Participant Motives and Experience Level to Mountaineering

Abstract

This study utilized factor analytic techniques to identify six underlying motivational dimensions for participating in one type of outdoor adventure recreation activity—mountain climbing. Results indicated people climb mountains because of the challenge, catharsis, recognition, creative opportunities, locus of control, and for the physical setting. Further analysis revealed motivational differences between inexperienced and experienced climbers. The findings suggested that the greater the experience level the greater the tendency to adhere to more intrinsically related motivations such as challenge, personal testing, and locus of control. Similarly, the inexperienced climber was more motivated by factors such as recognition and socializing.