Definition of the word mountain climber

The term "mountain climber" initially gained popularity in the 1800s, during the Golden Age of Mountaineering. This era witnessed a surge in the pursuit of climbing as a recreational activity, particularly in the Alps. The literal definition of climbing a mountain comprises ascending steep cliffs, rock faces, or snow-covered slopes using basic techniques such as handholds, footholds, and pitons. Early mountaineers recognized this activity's physical and mental demands, which required an elite level of fitness, dexterity, and endurance. In 1923, Colonel Ernest Helmut Thoman, an Austrian photographer and mountaineering enthusiast, published a collection of mountain climbing images in a book named "Die Erste im Alpenstaat: Ein Steigbilder" (The First in the Alpine State: A Climbing Picture Book). In this book, Thoman introduced a new exercise routine that he called "steigtraining" (climbing training), featuring exercises that simulated the movements involved in mountain climbing. The routine primarily consisted of a series of movements such as combining an arm movement with each step taken, removing the hands from the floor or rock surface, and rising to a standing position by straightening the body. Thoman referred to these movements as Kletterübungen (climbing exercises) and Klettertraining (mountain climbing training). The term "mountain climber" in its current usage traces its origins to Thoman's 'steigtraining' exercises, which became popular as a form of physical fitness training in the 1930s and 1940s. Evidently, the original connotation of the term "mountain climber" defined individuals who ascended peaks as a recreational or sports activity. However, with the evolution of exercise science and the popularity of functional fitness, mountain climber has become an exercise routine rather than just a sporting moniker.