agile able to move quickly and easily
altitude sickness illness caused by the lack of oxygen when at high altitude
avalanche rapid fall of snow down a sloping surface
canopy cover formed by a tree’s branches
carabiner a metal ring and clip used for fastening ropes when climbing
carrion dead animals
cerebral oedema build-up of fluid around the brain
chinchilla type of rodent with a very soft, grey coat
condor type of vulture; one of the largest flying birds
contaminated unclean
crampons plates with spikes that attach to your shoes so you can walk on ice
crevasse deep, open crack in a glacier or ice sheet
destabilise weaken
dysentery an infection causing diarrhoea
extinct no longer existing
geyser hot spring that sends spouts of hot water and steam into the air
glacier large body of thick ice that is constantly moving
granite grainy type of rock
guanaco animal similar to a llama or alpaca
hypothermia having an abnormally low body temperature
incubate keep eggs warm until they hatch, usually by sitting on them
kindling small, dry twigs used for lighting a fire that will burn quickly and easily
meltwater water released by the melting of snow or ice
oedema swelling in the body caused by build-up of fluid
opportunistic taking advantage of opportunities as they arise
parasite creature that lives in or on another creature
plain broad expanse of flat land
precipice very steep rock face or cliff
pulmonary oedema build-up of fluid around the lungs
puma large, powerful cat
salvaged rescued
scavenge feeding on dead animals or plants
sheer very steep
southern hemisphere parts of the Earth that lie south of the Equator
tectonic plates large slabs of rock that make up the Earth’s surface
temperate mild climate
terminus end of an area of ice
terrain physical features of land
tinder very dry material that is easy to set on fire
transceiver device that gives out a signal to indicate where someone is
vicuna animal similar to a llama or alpaca
volcanic fissure crack or vent through which lava erupts