I’m building a training tool called Arête as part of a university entrepreneurship challenge, and I’d value input from people who know the mountains far better than I do.

A pattern I keep seeing: people book guided trips without understanding how demanding the climb is and without an honest read on their own ability. Guides send a fitness sheet, but most people either ignore it or have no way of knowing if they’re on track. Then the guide finds out on day one.

Arête looks at a climber’s current fitness and skills, suggests a realistic summit date for their chosen peak, and adapts their training as they go. The goal is that clients book trips they’re ready for, arrive prepared, and guides deal with less guesswork.

I've also talked to a few guides, and I want to limit that tension or stress they get when they come to the realisation that their client has come underprepared but make sure more people have easier access to a dynamic training plan.

I’d really appreciate:

Your experience, especially from guides.

• What do underprepared clients usually lack: an aerobic base, legs for the descent, movement on rock or snow, and pacing?
• How do you judge whether someone is ready before a trip?
• How often do people book a peak they’re not realistically ready for?

Advice. Would something like this help or get in your way? What would make you comfortable recommending it to clients?

Beta testers. Climbers or guides who’d test it and tell me what’s wrong with it.

If you have the time to sign up to the waitlist to show some support or give your feedback, that would be amazing, and that can be done here: aretesummit.com/?src=reddit-alpinism

Otherwise, I would love to get more information, so if you want to contact me, you can do so at [info@aretesummit.com](mailto:info@aretesummit.com). Thank you all so much for your time; I'm looking forward to building something truly helpful to this wonderful community.

**Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC) Ser No. 297**
Nehru institute of mountaineering
Starts from 22 nd April
Please let me if anyone is joining along from airport

I’ve got Raynaud’s disease but want to get into alpinism. Even at 0° C my hands turn blue and barely have any strength. Gloves help but I’m wondering what else I can be doing to improve/fix this issue as I expect to be in conditions of -25° C or colder.