High Altitude Trekking Tips in Bad Weathers 

High altitude trekking entails several grueling challenges and inhospitable conditions like thinner air pressure, acute cold temperatures, unpredictable snowfall, severe wind speeds, and extreme sunlight exposing the hiker to life-threatening situations. Thus, before embarking on a strenuous mission to climb the mountains, you need to follow some high-altitude trekking tips for confronting adverse weather.

Professional trekkers around the world are aware of the fact that these alpine treks require optimal training and exposure, and do not depend only on the passion of the hiker.

Now, the actual preparation to conquer the high altitude zones is experiencing those heights in real-time, which is not always possible for persons coming from the plains. However, if some tricks are applied during an actual hiking scenario, the hiker might avert any untoward incidents.

High altitude trekking tips

Psychologically prepared

The hikers should be prepared mentally to cope with several high-altitude issues like an increased rate of breathing. In alpine heights, the body automatically increases the breathing rate to survive, as more fresh air goes into the blood to remove the dissolved carbon dioxide.

Besides, the trekker faces problems of insomnia, occurring due to the lower levels of carbon dioxide in the blood creating breathing problems during sleep. This can be resolved by taking prescribed medicines like acetazolamide and sleeping pills before going to bed. Moreover, during unexpected dangers, you need to keep a cool head, analyze the adverse situations, and take justified decisions to avert the peril. Thus, you should imbibe qualities like self-confidence, and determination, and enhance your motivation to tackle any unforeseen events during hiking.

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Be alert to risks

The trekker has to face many hazardous situations while hiking on alpine heights, like high altitude sickness, consisting primarily of three types, namely acute mountain sickness (AMS), high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), and high altitude cerebral edema (HACE). The last two prove to be fatal, so to mitigate the occurrence of alpine sickness, follow high altitude trekking tips and ascend slowly, thereby acclimatizing to the surrounding environment.

Besides, there are other perils like avalanches, rock falls, fissures in the snowfields, and glaciers, which can be averted by calculating each step and moving forward. Again, hypothermia and frostbite affect hikers mostly, so you should take necessary precautions of proper alpine gear and clothes to avert such situations. Among other untoward incidents are heatstroke, heat cramps, sunburn, thunderstorms, and lightning. Following, high-altitude trekking tips, you need to apply appropriate sunscreen lotions, and adequate sunglasses, while drinking enough water and electrolytes to cope with such dangers. The trekkers are advised not to intake any drink made from alcohol, which may prove to be unhealthy at these heights. Now, for lightning strikes, you should take proper shelter as precautionary measures, while staying away from water to mitigate any chances of electrocution. Besides, you should avoid open fields, valleys, and tall trees to reduce the chances of lightning strikes.

Further, hikers should avert insect stings and snake bites, which can be sometimes life-threatening, as, in alpine heights, it is not always possible to take help from a doctor. Species like Himalayan pit viper can render swelling effects, with convulsions and nausea, so it is better to watch out your step while hiking.

Always remain focused

The hiker needs to focus his mind while diverting any distractions while trekking. He should remove any careless attitude and overconfidence, justifying every move and situation with alertness and logical thinking. Thus, with self-confidence and determination, he will be able to remove anxiousness and the effects of fatigue.

Thus, following these steps will assist hikers to be better prepared for challenging adverse situations at these incredible heights.