At its core, an alpinist is a climber who ascends mountains, typically in the style known as "Alpine style." This distinction is crucial. In the mid-20th century, high-altitude mountaineering was often conducted in "Expedition style," involving fixed ropes, massive stocks of supplies, Sherpa support, and a siege mentality where the summit was conquered by sheer weight of numbers and logistics.
Here is what defines the modern alpinist’s loadout: alpinist