1. Climbing Fundamentals

Cairn is about resource management on a vertical wall. Every move costs stamina. Rest on ledges whenever your stamina drops below 30%. Plan your route upward before committing to a pitch — you cannot descend the same path you climbed. The yellow chalk marks safe holds; red marks are unstable.

2. Gear Progression

Start with basic pitons and a 30m rope. Upgrade your harness first (more stamina efficiency), then your shoes (better grip on wet rock). The ice axe unlocks at Cairn 2 and is essential for frozen sections. The drone camera (Cairn 3) lets you scout routes ahead without committing.

3. Weather and Time Management

Start each climb at dawn — you have 12 hours of daylight. Rain reduces grip by 40% and makes all holds riskier. Fog obscures route markers. If a storm approaches, find a bivouac ledge and wait it out. Pushing through bad weather is the #1 cause of fatal falls.

4. Route Planning

Before climbing, study the mountain face with binoculars. Identify rest ledges every 15-20 meters. Mark bail-out routes in case of emergency. The left face of Cairn 1 is easier but slower; the right face is steeper but faster. Choose based on your skill level and daylight remaining.

5. Stamina Economy

Every action costs stamina: climbing (3/sec), piton placement (8), resting (+5/sec on ledges), hanging (-2/sec). Always climb with at least 40% stamina buffer for emergencies. Eat energy bars when stamina is below 50% — they restore 30% instantly but take 5 seconds to consume.

Quick Tips

• Place pitons every 5 meters on difficult sections — it saves your life if you fall
• Energy bars are your most valuable consumable — never sell them
• The drone camera can mark holds from a distance — use it before every pitch
• Bivouac ledges appear every 40-50 meters — plan your stops around them
• Rockfall zones are marked with red warning signs — traverse them quickly