Top 20 Mountaineering Safety Tips: Ensure Your Safe Return
Introduction
Mountaineering is a dangerous activity, sometimes separated from death by a thin line. The harsh natural environment and personal operational errors can both lead to accidents. Thus, we strive to avoid dangerous situations, strengthen our technical training, and improve our survival skills in harsh environments. While enjoying the joy of mountaineering, we must ensure our safe return. To ensure safety during mountaineering, climbers need to pay attention to the following aspects:
Preparation and Precautions Before Climbing
Warm-up Preparation: Before climbing, spend 10-20 minutes doing muscle stretching exercises to relax your entire body. When starting mountain climbing exercises, do not immediately increase the intensity; it should be gradual. Begin with simple warm-up exercises, then gradually increase intensity following a steady breathing rhythm to avoid sudden changes in breathing frequency during exercise. At the end of the exercise, relax to better maintain muscle capacity and allow blood to return from the limbs to the heart.
Carry Necessary Clothing, Food, and Equipment: A pair of mountain hiking shoes is essential. Buy a slightly larger size to allow space for your toes during descent to prevent frostbite from unexpected cold. During the climb, wear multiple layers of clothing as mountain temperatures vary dramatically. Lightweight layers like Gore-Tex are more useful than wool fabrics. Always carry a light down jacket, wear a hat to protect your head from the sun, and bring waterproof gloves (preferably down gloves) with a backup pair. Ensure your hat fits well with an oxygen mask and provides good facial coverage. Bring extra lightweight socks for replacement. Your sleeping bag should have at least 1000 grams (35 ounces) of down filling. A sleeping bag will absorb a kilogram of water from sweat in a few days, affecting insulation and weight. Dry the sleeping bag in the sun and secure it with rocks. Use a double-layer moisture pad to avoid discomfort from stones and keep spare gloves handy.
Health Check Before Departure: Especially for middle-aged and elderly people who rarely exercise, a health check is essential. You need a good cardiovascular system and overall health. Prepare for good health by ensuring low cholesterol levels to prevent fat from blocking blood vessels and causing frostbite quickly. Check for asthma, as cold, dry air can trigger it. Check your heart, lungs, and brain since blood thickens and stresses fragile vessels. A good circulatory system is crucial, and avoid tobacco as it causes arterial hardening. Lower your blood pressure if needed.
Walk, Don’t Jump: Jumping increases the burden on knees and ankles.
Maintain a Steady Pace: Walking at a consistent speed conserves energy and helps maintain a good attitude.
Use Steps When Ascending and Descending: Avoid slopes.
Hard Ground is Safer: Walking on cement or stone is less tiring and safer than grass, wetlands, or sand slopes.
Avoid Looking Up Constantly: Looking up at the start of a climb can cause fatigue. Keep your eyes focused three to five meters ahead.
Take it Slow on the Way Back: Walk faster on the way out but slower on the return to avoid injuring tired joints and tendons.
Form Roped Teams on Dangerous Sections: Ensure secure anchor points.
Stay Calm When Deciding Routes or Turning Back: Avoid impulsiveness.
Leave Your Return Route with Stay-Behind Personnel.
Follow Well-Established Principles from Reputable Guides.
Report Your Location Regularly: Inform stay-behind personnel, police, or family about your whereabouts.
Monitor Weather Data: Keep an eye on weather changes before and during mountain activities.
Never Underestimate Any Mountain.
Maintain Close Team Coordination: Avoid long, spread-out teams.
Retreat or Find Shelter in Danger: Conserve energy and await rescue. To avoid getting lost, conserve energy, and move quickly, follow paths when available. If no path, choose routes along ridges, spurs, rivers, sparse forests, or low vegetation. Avoid deep valleys and dense thickets, preferring ridges over valleys and longitudinal routes over horizontal ones.
Avoid Descending Streams Without Clear Paths: Inexperienced climbers are prone to slipping. Mark your route or follow previous markers for guidance.
Avoid Over-Drinking When Thirsty: Excessive drinking increases sweat and fatigue. Adjust your pace and breathing and refill your water bottle regularly.
Take Short, Frequent Breaks: Avoid long rests to prevent getting cold.
Stay Dry: Keeping yourself and your clothing dry prevents heat loss. In times of crisis, fatigue, or stress, maintaining body temperature is crucial. Monitor your and your teammates’ psychological states to keep emotions balanced.
