How to survive in the mountains

Mountainous terrain hosts more immediate dangers than any other terrain type. Sure getting stuck in a blizzard or being baked in midday desert sun can pose more immediate threats, but in terms of the amount of things that can go wrong, mountains are the most dangerous. Weather can change faster at the top of a mountain than it can in any other type of terrain, and when you add this to the avalanches, rock slides, enormous vertical drops, and a billion things to trip over you have one hell of a dangerous place.

(One of the faces of the world-famous Mount Everest, which has claimed the lives of over 300 climbers in the last hundred years)

On a planned trip, most of these dangers can usually be avoided, and a worst-case scenario would probably be nothing more than a sprained ankle, but in a survival situation, even a minor injury could mean the difference between life and death. Should you ever find yourself stranded in a mountain range then here are a few things to remember to help you get back to safety.

Don’t always take the shortest route

Getting off a mountain is all about heading down the slope, but the quickest way probably isn’t the safest one. Finding a slope that would save you time that you “think” you can get down would probably see you either lost, stuck, or falling to your doom. Angles can be deceiving up a mountain and it’s much safer to spend the night in a safe place and take the long route down the next day than trying to make it down a sketchy-looking slope because you think you’ll get to the bottom before dark.

(A good example of the fastest way down you shouldn’t take)

If possible try and find a path and follow it down, and if there isn’t one available then properly assess just how steep things are before trying to get down them. The general rule for whether a slope is too steep or not is that you can easily stop yourself from rolling down it if you fall over. One of the worst mistakes you can make when heading down a slope is doing so without being able to see the bottom, because if it’s hidden in mist or clouds, then you might be heading towards nothing more than a cliff.

Watch the weather

High mountain peaks have faster weather changes than anywhere else on Earth. A sunny day can turn into a blizzard in a matter of minutes, and it’s these weather changes that are responsible for causing the situations for the majority of deaths for mountain climbers. The sudden loss of visibility or temperature can make people go off course or walk over a ledge, often forcing people to do so by making them wander off to find shelter, only to realize they are completely lost by the time they can see again.

(Blizzards can for in minutes and drop visibility down to just a few feet, which is especially dangerous in cliff territory)

If you’re hiking and see the weather start to change, then assume that it’s going to get as bad as it possibly can and prepare accordingly. As soon as you see it start to snow assume there’s going to be a blizzard and stay close to shelter, the second it begins to get worse then hide somewhere safe and wait till it passes. It only takes one blizzard to lose a few fingers, or being trapped outside in a single downpour could make you wet enough to develop hypothermia. The weather often won’t get as bad as it can and a light snowfall might not develop into something worse, but if you’re prepared for it then you won’t have to suffer from it.

Watch out for cold wells

Hot air rises and cold air sinks, remember that if you’re ever looking at a deep mountain valley that looks like a good place to make a shelter. It may look protected from the wind but all the cold air that collects on the mountainsides will fall into that valley during the night, making the morning hours very cold and misty, which is right about the same time your campfire would be at its lowest or even going out completely while you’re asleep.

(At night, all the cold air will collect at the lowest point, which is also where the best shelter from the wind happens to be)

If it’s possible try and make camp above the top of the trees that are at the lowest point in the valley which should allow you to escape the majority of the cold well. This is easier if you have a tent but if you need to make a shelter or there’s extreme wind, you’ll have to weigh up having the additional shelter the valley floor provides from the weather against how cold it will get in the morning.

Follow water

Even mountains in hot countries receive huge amounts of water. Snow can form on top and melt each day, along with the numerous natural springs and frequent rainfall, mountains are no strangers to water sources. If you find some flowing water, no matter how small it is, then follow it because there will most likely be someone living along it at some point. Apart from having something to drink it will lead to a lake or meet up with a river somewhere, and people in every single country on earth have always loved to visit and build next to water.

The only problem with following water is if you come across a waterfall which will require a huge detour to get around. Don’t try and climb down close to it and whatever you do make sure you don’t jump into the fall pool at the bottom, because I promise it won’t go as well as it does in the movies. If you are lucky enough to find a fall pool that doesn’t have a ton of rocks you can smash your skull on, then the cycling effect of the water will probably pull you under and knock you out on the bottom.

Eat well

Walking up a slope all day is very hard work and requires a much higher calorie intake to provide the necessary amount of energy. Unfortunately, mountains are normally quite bare when it comes to wild food unless you’re lucky enough to be on one covered in forest or have a hunting rifle with you. You can sometimes find a few bill berries and mushrooms along with a selection of wild birds and small mammals you won’t be able to catch, but when it comes to finding enough wild food to keep you going it’s next to impossible without the ability to hunt.

(Ration blocks may not be tasty or filling, but they are light and provide all the nutrients you need. This type of ration is normally found on the kind of lifeboats used on large vessels or airplane emergency kits)

If you are prepared then you have the option to take high-calorie and high-energy foods with you, but always remember to pack enough food for at least one day extra than you plan to be there for. The number of calories expended from a day of hiking across the mountains on an empty stomach could be enough to stop you from making it to safety in time, with many people having to “stay put” and wait for rescue because they didn’t have the energy to carry on after their food ran out.

Prepare for the journey

The golden rule of survival is the be prepared. Make sure you have a strong tent that can withstand the high winds and pack for all types of weather. It doesn’t matter if it’s the middle of summer and roasting hot, take a rain jacket and expect it to rain. Ration blocks weigh less than 500 grams each and provide enough calories and nutrients to last for 24 hours, with the number of people who could have made it to safety sooner if only they had one more day’s worth of food is much higher than you’d think.

(This item is known as a flint and fire steel, and can be used to start hundreds of fires and it doesn’t matter if it gets wet. It weighs next to nothing and costs very little. There is no excuse not to take things like this when going into the wilderness for a length of time)

If you plan to go somewhere then check the local weather and website of the mountain you’re going to in order to find accident hot spots and anything that could go wrong. If you find yourself trapped in a blizzard wearing nothing but a hoody because you thought the weather would stay nice then you only have yourself to blame. Have a look at some of these mountain survival stories if you’d like a few examples of how people can get stranded in this type of terrain.