Mountains can be dangerous places. It’s not just the cold and snow, the chance of getting lost, or falling off a cliff. There are bigger dangers. You definitely don’t want to get in the way of a hurtling avalanche, or a flash flood. Mountains command our respect! But, with proper planning and training, you can be prepared and aware of the dangers in the mountains, which can avert possible tragedy and ensure that your time is enjoyable.
In a survival situation, the very first preoccupation should be to retain self-control, as well as sufficient self-confidence to effectively engage in any situation. Our subconscious possesses surprising resources to aid us and reinforce our will to survive. Without it survival is unlikely, which is why it is essential to focus on positive thinking.
Ray Mears / Mountain Survival Part ¼
Ray Mears / Mountain Survival Part 2/4
Ray Mears / Mountain Survival Part ¾
Ray Mears / Mountain Survival Part 4/4
Ray Mears / Mountain Survival Part 2/4
Ray Mears / Mountain Survival Part ¾
Ray Mears / Mountain Survival Part 4/4
Snow and C.O.L.D
Mountain temperatures can be dangerously cold. Wear insulating clothes and different layers in order to retain body heat. To avoid snow blindness, use sunglasses; they can help absorb the sun's UV rays.
There are 4 basic rules to follow to keep warm. An easy way to remember these basic principles is to use the word C.O.L.D: Clean, Overheating, Layers, Dry
There are 4 basic rules to follow to keep warm. An easy way to remember these basic principles is to use the word C.O.L.D: Clean, Overheating, Layers, Dry
C: Keep clothing clean. This principle is always important for hygiene and comfort. In winter, it is also important from the perspective of warmth. Clothes covered with dirt and grease lose much of their insulation value. Heat can escape more easily from the body through the clothing's crushed or filled up air pockets.
O: Avoid overheating. When you get too hot, you sweat and your clothing absorbs the humidity. This affects your warmth in two ways: wetness decreases the insulation quality of clothing, and as sweat evaporates, your body cools down. Adjust your clothing so that you do not sweat. Do this by partially opening your parka or jacket, by removing an inner layer of clothing or changing to lighter headgear. The head and hands act as efficient heat dissipaters when overheated.
L: Wear your clothing loose and in layers. Wearing tight clothing and boots restricts blood circulation and invites cold injury. It also decreases the volume of air between the layers, reducing its insulating value. Several layers of clothing are better than one equally thick layer of clothing, because the layers have air space between them. The air space provides extra insulation. Also, layers of clothing allow you to take off or add clothing layers to prevent excessive sweating or to increase warmth.
D: Keep clothing dry. In cold temperatures, your inner layers of clothing can become wet from sweat and your outer layer, if not water repellent, can become wet from snow and frost melted by body heat. Wear water repellent outer clothing, if available. It will get rid of most of the water collected from melting snow and frost. Before entering in a shelter, brush off the snow and frost. Despite the precautions you take, there will be times when you cannot keep from getting wet. On the way, hang your wet gloves and socks on your bag back. Sometimes in freezing temperatures, the wind and sun will dry it. You can also place wet socks or gloves, widely open, near your body so that your body heat can dry them.
Avalanches
Avalanches are a particular threat since the situation that can bring on an avalanche can change quickly. Therefore, vigilance is required when in snowy mountain areas.
Every year dozens of people are killed by avalanches. These sliding masses of snow and ice can let loose with little warning. They can reach speeds of more than 2 kilometres per minute and carry rocks, trees and people with them. Many avalanches are natural, but some are triggered by skiers, snowboarders, hikers and snowmobilers.
Anatomy of an avalanche See an animated diagram of an avalanche (USA Today)
Landslides
During the monsoon in the Himalayas landslides can wash out roads and destroy homes and fields. Mountain habitants cut down the forest – for heating, cooking and tourism - that used to cover these steep mountains. But, without the forest to catch and soak up rainfall, and without a strong network of roots to hold the soil in place, the soil can be washed away in huge landslides.
Weather
Most people subconsciously forecast the weather. If they look outside and see dark clouds they may decide to take raincoat. If wind strikes, people look to the sky for other bad signs. But a conscious effort to follow weather changes will lead to a better forecast.
The terrain affects mountain weather and patterns are less obvious than in other areas. Conditions change a lot with altitude, latitude, and exposure to atmospheric winds and air masses. Mountain weather can be extremely unpredictable. It varies from stormy winds to calm, and from extreme cold to warmth within a short time or with a minor shift in locality.
Blizzards
Blizzards are intense storms and especially hazardous in mountains, where the wind blows snow which can make visibility very poor and cause "whiteout" conditions.
Cloud formation
Clouds are indicators of weather conditions. By reading cloud shapes and patterns, we can anticipate weather with little need for additional equipment such as a barometer and thermometer.
Reading Clouds to Predict the Weather
Himalayas climate effect
The Himalayas have a profound effect on the climate of the Indian subcontinent and the Tibetan plateau. They prevent frigid, dry artic winds blowing south into the subcontinent, which keeps South Asia much warmer than corresponding temperate regions in the other continents. It also forms a barrier for the monsoon winds, keeping them from traveling northwards, and causing heavy rainfall in the Teraï region. The Himalayas are also believed to play an important part in the formation of Central Asain deserts, such as the the Taklamakan and Gobi.
How Mountains Affect Our Atmosphere
Altitude sickness
The high altitude combined with the sometimes drier conditions make it very easy to dehydrate so drink lots of water. Also make sure you eat well to give you the energy required for the physical activity you do. Do not drink water from the streams or lakes as they can cause sickness.
If hiking in the backcountry give someone your itinerary so they can report to the someone if you do not return as scheduled.
If you are not used to the altitude be aware of altitude sickness. If you begin to feel sick from the altitude, get to a lower level.
Altitude Sickness Medical Minute with Dr. Katie Bannerman
It is really difficult to determine who may be affected by altitude sickness because there are no specific factors such as age, sex, or physical condition that correlate with this weakness.
Most people can ascend to 2,500 metres with little or no effect. If you have been at that altitude before with no problem, you can probably return to that altitude without problems as long as you are properly acclimatised.
The percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere at sea level is about 21% and the barometric pressure is around 760 mmHg. As altitude increases, the percentage remains the same but the number of oxygen molecules per breath is reduced. At 3,600 metres the barometric pressure is only about 480 mmHg, so there are roughly 40% fewer oxygen molecules per breath so the body must adjust to having less oxygen.
In addition, high altitude and lower air pressure causes fluid to leak from the capillaries in both the lungs and the brain which can lead to fluid build-up. Continuing on to higher altitude without proper acclimatisation can lead to the potentially serious, even life-threatening altitude sickness.
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A winning mindset
Ignorance or lack of experience may lead to a dangerous lack of self-confidence. In a perilous situation during a mountain expedition, this lack of self-confidence could trigger a panic attack, which is one of the most dangerous and fatal reactions. Panic dispels all rational thought, thereby provoking illogical and irresponsible actions.
Even a limited knowledge of the field may be a great help in preventing panic.
In a survival situation, our very first preoccupation should therefore be to retain self-control, as well as sufficient self-confidence to effectively engage in the situation. Our subconscious possesses surprising resources to aid us and reinforce our will to survive. Without it survival is unlikely, which is why it is essential to focus on positive thinking.
Our will to survive is our first defence against the wind, the cold, the humidity and the heat, since it is against ourselves that we must fight, our physical condition, our lack of knowledge and confidence, our fear, and the urge to give in to panic. Once we have secured the will to survive, our principal allies will be our inner strength, our knowledge, our equipment and a positive mindset.
Matthew Childs' 9 life lessons from rock climbing
Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action
Tim Ferriss: Smash fear, learn anything
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