Mountaineering Terminology

noun A steep-walled semicircular basin in a mountain, sometimes containing a lake

• The cwm at the base of the mountain is a glacially formed valley.
• Let's hike down to the cwm and have a picnic by the stream.
• The cwm is the perfect spot for some chill time away from the city.
• Her mind was like a deep cwm, filled with hidden thoughts and emotions.

noun the highest point or level

verb to reach a highest point or level

• The hikers finally reached the peak of the mountain after a long and arduous climb.
• We made it to the peak of the hill just in time to catch the sunset.
• I feel like I'm on top of the world when I reach the peak of a challenging hike.
• Her career was at its peak when she landed the lead role in a blockbuster movie.

adjective showing signs of sickness or exhaustion; having a sharp point or tip

• The mountain range peaked at over 14,000 feet above sea level.
• Her interest in photography peaked when she got her first DSLR camera.
• His popularity peaked in high school, but now no one really remembers him.
• The tension in the room peaked when they started arguing about politics.

noun A snowy peak syndrome is a term used to describe a psychological phenomenon where individuals become obsessed with achieving a particular goal or reaching a certain level of success, often to the detriment of their overall well-being.

• Snowy peak syndrome is a term used to describe the phenomenon where climbers become obsessed with reaching the summit of a mountain at any cost.
• I think John has a case of snowy peak syndrome because he won't stop talking about climbing Mount Everest.
• Don't let snowy peak syndrome get to you - it's not worth risking your life just to reach the top.
• In the business world, some people suffer from snowy peak syndrome, always striving for the highest position without considering the consequences.

noun A member of a Himalayan people living on the borders of Nepal and Tibet, renowned for their skill in mountaineering.

• The sherpa guided the climbers up the treacherous mountain.
• I heard the sherpa is really experienced in leading mountain expeditions.
• That sherpa is a total rockstar when it comes to climbing!
• She's like the sherpa of our group, always leading us through tough situations.