Tips for A PERFECT WINTER MOUNTAINEERING

WINTER MOUNTAINEERING IS GRADUALLY BECOMING A TOURISM TREND AMONGST MANY GROUPS OF PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE MANY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES TREKKING IN THE COLDEST SEASON. AS AN EXPERIENCED MOUNTAINEER, NHUNG PHUNG WILL SHARE YOU SOME TIPS FOR A PERFECT TREKKING.

prepared hot tea, coffee or cocoa bottle will help you stay warm and energized during the trip.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT MOUNTAIN ROUTE

Choosing the right mountain route with terrain suitable for your interests and health is extremely important. For example, Nepal has a lot of extremely beautiful mountains, but my boyfriend chose the very crowded Annapurna Base Camp with continuous climbing terraces. While we are all people who like desolate and deserted places, this choice made me feel our journey was really wasteful because of all of the support, tourists and supplies.

WEAR PROPER CLOTHES

Winter mountaineering, especially in the snow, you will face very severe weather conditions. I always carry a North Face jacket with a warm inner layer, a water- and a wind-resistant outer layer to take off when it’s too hot or sweaty. For undergarments and pants, you should choose something that is thin but thermal. You should choose outerwear pants which are water- and wind-resistant and dry quickly.

In addition, you need to pay special attention when choosing waterproof and comfortable shoes to go on a long journey without causing foot pain. Do not forget to prepare some thick socks, as high as half of the calf or to the knees, and a pair of anti-glare glasses to protect the eyes when being in the snowy area.

Mountaineering clothes and gear are very expensive, but you should choose good-quality products to ensure their durability and your safety. You can be sure that quality gear will last several seasons.

HIRE A GUIDE

Mountaineering in the snow season is not only laborious, but it also makes navigation difficult - it is easy to get lost in the snow! Therefore, hiring a guide is essential. You should also hire another person to help you carry your luggage so you can save all of your energy for climbing.

CHECK THE WEATHER FORECAST

Do not go mountaineering when the snow is heavy because it is difficult to walk in the snow and the freezing fog reduces visibility. Not to mention, it is very cold and many mountain routes can be blocked. Therefore, you should always check the weather forecast to make sure the weather is convenient for your mountaineering journey.

LEARN HOW TO USE CRAMPON

Crampons are traction devices that are attached to footwear to improve mobility on snow and ice during ice climbing. Wearing them can be dangerous if you are not used to them because when you fall and accidentally kick yourself with them, you can cause injury. But keep in mind that you should never climb up an ice mountain without crampons.

PACK YOUR LUGGAGE

Mountaineering is not the same as going on vacation. You should bring small amounts of luggage to carry easily. Do not forget to bring energy-boosting foods such as protein bars, chocolate, nuts... In addition, an insulated water bottle is extremely necessary when you go mountaineering in the winter, especially if it lasts many days. A

START GOING EARLY IN THE MORNING

You should start your journey early in the morning. Although you may have checked the length of the route, due to your health conditions or weather or because you are engrossed in photography you may take longer and mountaineering in the evening is not safe at all.

If you are taking public transport to the mountaineering point, be sure to carefully check the schedule because many trips are canceled or end earlier in the winter than other seasons.

Health tips for mountaineers

 Whether it is sunny or not, mountaineering can cause sunburn. So, always apply sunscreen and reapply every 4-5 hours if you sweat a lot.

 Use lip balm and moisturizer to soothe your skin every night.

 Drink enough water to avoid headaches when your body is dehydrated.

 Do not let snow fall into your body and shoes. Having frostbite is no less than being burnt, which will immediately numb your feet and may lead even to loss of limb.

 Be careful when stepping on the lake and frozen water, you should step one foot on the ice surface to check first though this alone does not ensure that a lake is safe to cross as the middle of a lake or moving river freezes after the shoreline.

 Always carry altitude sickness medication if your destination is the high mountains as in Nepal.