Compass the mountaineer may be familiar with (5)
I believe the answer is:
range
'compass' is the definition.
(I know that compass can be written as range)
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for range that I've seen before include "Place to practise driving" , "Aga or mountain, perhaps?" , "Variety; scope" , "Scope; chain" , "Amplitude" .)