Mountains are some of the most interesting geological features that our world has to offer. Clear proof of the massive changes that happen beneath the surface of our planet, mountains have also served as playgrounds and places of worship for countless generations of humans. Anything that’s been such a mainstay for so many people and cultures through millennia is worth commemorating. So on December 11, we celebrate International Mountain Day!
International Mountain Day timeline
One tradition surrounding mountains starts in the United States when students ditch classes and head to the mountains or a park.
The United Nations General Assembly declares 2002 as the International Year of Mountains.
The U.N. establishes December 11 as International Mountain Day each year for the protection and sustainability of mountains.
Mountain Day is established and celebrated in Japan as a national holiday for people to have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with and appreciate mountains.
International Mountain Day Activities
Climb a mountain higher than you've ever climbed
If you've climbed Everest, find a new route. For everyone else, you've got work to do! You might have climbed some high mountains, but there's always another one worth scaling. In the States, Colorado is your best bet. According to one of the top Denver PR Firms, Colorado contains 75% of the land area of the United States with an altitude over 10,000 feet.
Clean up your local natural preserves
Mountain or not, International Mountain Day is the perfect opportunity to get out and help clean up the places that make your nature locale interesting and worthwhile. Those trails don't clear themselves, after all!
Introduce someone else to the wonders of mountains
You might have hiked Monadnock a dozen times, but you've likely got a friend who hasn't. Use International Mountain Day as an opportunity to spread your love for the outdoors with your closest friends.
Why We Love International Mountain Day
They're ever-changing
While mountains don't move much in the course of human lifetimes, their nature dictates that they're always changing, and there's something intangibly intriguing about things that are in a constant state of flux.
They offer an escape
While bird's-eye views are reserved for... well... birds, mountains give people the ability to get closer to the sky without ever leaving the ground. Until the creation of aircrafts, the highest elevations ever reached by humans were made possible by mountains. Even though they've now been surpassed, they still offer an incomparable escape from the doldrums of everyday life.
They're pretty much playgrounds for adults
The kids can keep their jungle gyms — we've got mountains. Between the various rivers, rock faces, and viewing points, mountains are like playgrounds for grown ups!
International Mountain Day dates
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2024 | December 11 | Wednesday |
2025 | December 11 | Thursday |
2026 | December 11 | Friday |
2027 | December 11 | Saturday |
2028 | December 11 | Monday |