Tips & Advice from the 4Adventurers
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We hiked up Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in the Brecon Beacons (886m) in January 2017. Unsurprisingly for the time of year, the paths were icy, the peak was snow covered and it was cold. We have done a far bit of hiking in the past but rarely in the winter and never up a snowy mountain so, if I'm honest, we were a little bit naive. There was no snow at the bottom of the mountain and, even though we could see it was snow capped, we didn't actually anticipate how much snow there would be (i.e. knee-deep in places). Fortunately, I like to be prepared so we were relatively well equipped. This is what we would recommend packing for a snowy hike based on what we brought - and didn't bring! NB. I should emphasise that this is not intended as expert advice, just advice based on our own experiences, and I am talking about a family day hike up a well trodden route here, not hardcore mountaineering in a remote location! Our packing list:1. Warm, waterproof, windproof coat, hat, scarf, gloves and sturdy hiking boots. We also love thermal underwear and fleece-lined trousers, as they really help to keep us warm. If you are heading out on a snowy, mountain walk, I assume you are wearing all of this, not packing it, but I like to state the obvious, just in case. Sometimes it's the really obvious stuff that gets forgotten. (Someone - who shall remain nameless - turned up at an archery competition without his bow!) 2. Disposable hand warmers. I am not generally keen on disposable items as they are bad for the environment and expensive. However, I have not found a decent reusable hand warmer that will stay warm for an entire day hike. We use Coleman hand warmers or Aptonia ones from Decathlon and love how toasty warm they get: perfect for sliding into your gloves or keeping in your pocket. They heat up when they come in contact with the air, so keep them in their plastic wrapping until you are ready to use them. However, we have found that they take a while (around 45 mins) to warm up, so try to anticipate the cold and get them out before you get too cold. Once hot, we have found them to last a good 7 hours at the very least. 3. Sunglasses. This might sound odd for a snowy, winter hike but snow is surprisingly bright on a clear, sunny day and a large expanse of white snow can be a strain on your eyes. 4. A pair of walking poles are really helpful when walking on icy ground and useful for poking snow to test how deep it is. Deep snow can disguise dips and holes in the ground, which might trip you up. 5. Ice grips to attach to your boots when walking on icy ground. They are pretty good for helping you to stay upright! 6. Map, compass and instructions for your planned route, all inside a waterproof map case, even if you are planning to use a GPS. And make sure you know how to navigate with a compass or there will be no point in bringing it! I like to follow our route on the map even if we are using a GPS as it helps me keep track of where we are and if we go wrong, I always have a rough idea of where we might be and/or where we definitely aren't. 7. Whistle for emergencies. I keep mine on a retractable cord on the shoulder strap of my bag for easy access. Six blasts followed by a one minute interval (repeated) is the international distress signal. If help is coming, they will respond with three blows every minute. Keep blowing until you've been found, even if you hear a response, as the sound will help the rescuers locate you. 8. First aid kit. I'll write about what goes in our kit another time but it's worth saying that for a hike, I always bring a tubigrip and bandages, in case of sprains. 9. Food and water. The quantity depends on how long you plan to be out, obviously, and we always bring additional snacks, just in case we are out longer than planned. 10. Antibacterial wet wipes for cleaning your hands before you eat. This is a must for us when we are out and about with our kids as they touch everything! 12. Plastic bag for rubbish. Always carry out all your rubbish, even your banana skins. Things don't decompose as quickly as you might expect. At sea level a banana skin takes about 2 years and at the top of a mountain it is much longer. 13. Mobile phone and spare battery pack. Useful for all manner of things, although it depends very much on your phone! 14. Torch, in case you get lost and are not back before dark (or in case you find an exciting dark hole to explore!). Make sure the batteries are new enough to last the night. 15. A bothy, which is an emergency shelter for use in bad weather. We eat lunch under ours if it's windy and aren't fussed about missing out on the view. We have a Terra Nova 4, which is a shelter for four adults but we find it rather cosy even though we are two adults and two children. It's a good size until you add four backpacks into the equation, at which point it starts to feels little bit cramped but it's not too bad as long as you are happy to get cosy with the other people in the group. Don't use one that is too big or the excess fabric will make it ineffective. 17. Seat pad. You can buy foam, fold up pads for sitting on cold, wet ground or improvise with a folded travel towel inside a large food bag. 18. Pen, pencil and paper. This is a staple of my handbag, not just my hiking kit, but I mention it here because I keep a waterproof pad in our hiking kit for making notes in an emergency. I have written important phone numbers in it, in case I can't access the contacts in my phone. 19. Camera to take photos of the lovely mountain scenery and to prove you made it to the top, of course! 20. Waterproof bag for my camera and other things that I don't want to get wet, should I get caught in a heavy rain shower. In fact, persistent light rain can be just as bad, as it soaks through eventually. Alternative, you can line your backpack with a plastic bin bag to keep all the contents dry. 21. Penknife/multi tool. I like to have a knife, scissors and pliers handy. I don't think I've ever actually needed them on a hike but I'm sure I will one day. That is what being prepared it all about, right? Some final advice...1. Check the weather, including conditions on the mountain if possible, and decide whether you are still happy to head out. Try the Mountain Weather Information Service (http://www.mwis.org.uk/) or other similar websites if your mountain isn't listed there. If you are staying in a hotel or YHA hostel, you might be able to ask about local weather conditions at reception.
Be aware that temperature and wind speeds can vary a lot between the top and the bottom of a mountain and that conditions can worsen very quickly. 2. Tell someone your planned route and expected time of return, and make sure you let them know when you have returned safely so that they don't raise the alarm unnecessarily! 3. Know when to turn back. As far as I'm concerned, being sure that the kids will have the stamina to complete the return journey and keeping them safe is more important than reaching the summit.
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