Safety in the hills

The mountains of Snowdonia are an enjoyable place for walking, however to enjoy them safely takes care whilst out as well as some planning before hand.

Equipment

Whether you are walking alone or walking with a group you should always carry some basic equipment. I recommend that you take the following (most equipment can be bought from any good outdoor shop):
Map and compass (and know how to use them)pass (and know how to use them)
A waterproof coat and over-trousers
Warm clothes (several thin layers is better than one thick layer)
Packed lunch (remember small bits during the day is better than a lot at once)
Water, and possibly a hot drink
Survival bag (for use in an emergency)
Whistle (the international distress signal is 6 blasts repeated each minute. The reply is 3 blasts)
A torch with spare battery and bulb (particularly if attempting a long walk in winter)
Wooly hat and gloves (especially in winter)
Hat, suncream and sunglasses (in summer)
Camera
Small first aid kit

As far as trousers are concerned, jeans should be avoided, since these loose insulating properties when wet, and will quickly ruin the day.

Boots should be worn when walking in the hills, since these will give ankle protection. There is a wide range availible on the market ranging from leather boots to fabric boots and gore-tex waterproof fabric boots. A pair of light-weight fabric boots is best for walking in the Summer and Autumn, however the flexibility of these boots does not allow a crampon to be attached and thus limits winter activities. A good pair of boots can be bought for Ł50, however if you plan to do a large amount of walking it may be worth while investing in a more expensive pair. It is worth wearing a boot in before using it on the hill to minimize the risk of blisters.

Waterproofs again vary incredibly in price. A cheap one will not be breathable, but if you do not plan to do a lot of walking it will be quite adequate. If you intent to go out more often then it is likely to be worth investing in a more expensive one. These will usually be breatheable but will cost over Ł120.

If you intend to do any serious winter walking further equipment will be needed. This may include an ice-axe and crampons. Again outdoor shops should be able to advise on these.

Finally it is important to realise that the above list is from my experience, and you may want to adapt it to suit yourself.

Route planning

It is important to plan a walk before hand. This will ensure that you have the most enjoyable day possible. It is important not to underestimate the difficulty of a walk- do a short walk the first time, and build up to the longer walks.

Make sure that you leave a copy of your route with a friend, and that they know when to expect you back and that they should call the police if you are more than 2 hours overdue. Please make sure that you let your contact know when you return or if you are delayed so that mountain rescue are not called out un-necessarily.

Weather

The weather in the mountains if fickle. It can change very rapidly, and be the make or break factor in a day. I have started walks in heavy rain, and finished them in bright sunshine, and vice-versa. Just because there is cloud at the start of the day does not mean that it will be a poor day- you may get above it. Alternatly just because the start of the day is sunny doesn't mean that you won't need a waterproof.

There are several sources of information on the weather. There are link to the FHC weather station and 5-day forecast from the links page of this site. There is also the mountain call forecast. This gives a detailed forecast for the region, including wind speed, temperature, cloud base, and expected weather. Its number is 0891 500449, and calls are charged at 50 pence per minute. This forecast is also posted at Plas-y-Brenin, Cotswold in Betws y Coed and at the Pen y Pass car park. It is recommended to get a forecast before going out.

These photos are here to show the varied weather in the hills, and some of the spectacular effects which it can create.

	A rare site, which can only be found in the mountains is the Brockenspectre seen in the middle of this photo. It is formed when the walker is above the cloud, and the sun casts his shadow onto the cloud below. The rainbow around his head is called a glory, and can only be seen by the walker himself.
	Sunrise over Crib Goch from the summit of Snowdon. The phenomena is called a temperature inversion because the temperature gets lower as you go higher below the cloud, however when you get above it, it becomes warmer with height for a while.
	A field just above Bethesda. At the time when this was taken the A5 was closed from Bethesda because of the ammount of snow.

Disclaimer

All routes on this site are given in the best faith, and have all be done by the author, however the author will accept no liability for injury to persons, or loss or damage to equipment arising from use of this site, howsoever caused.