09/10/2024
‘Winter is coming’… 🌚🌨
Weather conditions can quickly worsen & darkness falls earlier. It’s easier to get lost & lose time. Venturing into the hills in bad weather without a waterproof map, compass, & knowing how to navigate is risky. Reliance on mobile phones is a recurring issue for teams across the country, especially as phone signals in mountains are unreliable. Traditional navigation with a paper map & compass is essential & can be backed up with GPS.
If you’re planning a trip to the mountains this winter, here’s our advice:
🥾Plan your day. Check the weather forecast & get a mountain forecast if available. If a storm is brewing, stick to a valley route or rethink.
🥾Wear warm, windproof, waterproof clothing (with spares) – hat & gloves essential! Remember, it's colder & windier on the tops (often damper if you're in cloud).
🥾A head torch, handheld torch, & spare batteries are essential.
🥾Set off earlier. Pitching up at 3.00pm might seem fine, but it gets dark quickly in the mountains – pitch black. No street lamps, often no moonlight either.
🥾Don’t rely solely on smartphones for navigation – carry a map & compass & practice before heading into the dark.
🥾Charge all phones in the party before setting off & keep one for emergencies only. Consider a portable charger.
🥾Stay together. Let the slowest person set the pace.
🥾Take plenty of food & water to stay hydrated & keep your energy up if stuck.
Know your limits. Navigating in the dark can be extremely disorienting. Teams spend hours training for this.
Sometimes the bravest decision is to turn back. Those peaks will be there another day. Your sponsors might still support you, proud that you recognised changing conditions could put your party at risk.
Enjoy the hills, but stay safe & be .
📸 Keswick Mountain Rescue Team
