Mountaineering, often called alpinism when done in the Alps,[2] is the set of activities that involves ascending MOUNTAINS. Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing, and traversing via ferratas.[3][4][5][6] Indoor climbing, sport climbing and bouldering are also considered mountaineering by some.[7]Mountain climbers ascending Mount Rainier looking at Little Tahoma PeakA CLIMBER taking the final few steps onto the 6,160 m (20,210 ft)[1] summit of Imja Tse (ISLAND Peak) in Nepal, 2004"Mountaineer" redirects here. For other uses, see Mountaineer (disambiguation).Unlike most sports, mountaineering lacks widely-applied formal rules, regulations, and governance; mountaineers adhere to a large variety of techniques and philosophies when climbing mountains.[8] Numerous local alpine clubs support mountaineers by HOSTING resources and social activities. A federation of alpine clubs, the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), is the International OLYMPIC Committee-recognized world organization for mountaineering and climbing.[9]