"To climb a mountain"

Question

Would it be escalar una montaña or subir una montaña? Could anybody explain the difference please?? thanks.

Answer 1

Escalar necessarily implies subir, but subir doesn't necessarily imply escalar. You can subir a mountain by helicopter, but you can't escalarla by helicopter.

yes, I think escalar is often used for more technically demanding climbs, rock-climbing, in English. - annierats, Oct 21, 2012

Good, 'cause you're right. - diagonx, Oct 21, 2012

Answer 2

I think either will do - "escalar" means "to scale" while "subir" actually means "to climb".

Good explanation! - francobollo, Oct 21, 2012