A guide to mountain safety in Snowdonia

Posted by The Popular News Today on Sunday, September 30, 2012

By Rhys Jones


The Snowdonia region is most likely one of the picturesque places in the United Kingdom. The area has some of the highest mountain ranges in Wales and England and it is the place to find the Snowdonia National Park. Being the largest national park in Wales, the Snowdonia region comes with an extremely strong tourism industry. Each year a large number of tourists visit the area to hike and revel in nature.

Nature can be extremely unpredictable so hikers need prepare to make certain they're ready for anything. Listed here are important guidelines to go by before venturing out on your next trek.

Let someone know where you are going when you're going to be back: This is the first thing every good hiker needs to don' matter where they're going no matter how big the group. If you're lost and hurt outside, time becomes key factor. If people don't know you are missing then they won't start to look for you. And if they are fully aware where you are hiking they are able to restrict the search to a specific area.

Never stray off the path: Though it could be exciting to explore off the path that concept can result in a great deal of problems pretty quickly. Not only do your foot prints damage sensitive areas, however when you're off the path it could be easier than you think to get turned around and not know where to go next. The terrain could also become unpredictable and cause increased risk if you decide to would like your hike to generally be problem free, stick to the designated paths.

Wear proper comfortable hiking shoes: Having comfortable shoes means that at the end of the day your feet won't be sore or have blisters and you will enjoy your journey a whole lot of more. Having solid shoes or hiking boots will likely help limit the prospect of injuring your ankle and foot. Under no circumstance are flip-flops good for hiking even if you are using a well-used trail. These must only be used at the end of your day when you're relaxing at home or in front of a campfire with a bottle of beer.

Plenty of water for the entire trip: Regardless of what you are doing, your entire body is always losing moisture; this takes place even in cooler weather so regardless of what the physical conditions are always have a bottle water. The consequences of dehydration can be very subtle but could severely impair your judgement and judgements abilities. Dehydration begins with a dry mouth and will result in fatigue, dizziness and nausea so stay hydrated. Don't hike with alcohol; this could be a little a disappointment; however alcohol will dehydrate you faster as well as impair your judgement.

Bring a snack: You don't have to pack a complete course meal; if however you are out hiking for the complete day you need to pack a sandwich and other foods. We always recommend eating natural-sugary foods like fruits. Apples and oranges are great. They will help keep you hydrated and provide you a boost of long-lasting energy. Trail mix, (Our favourite bag is a combination of sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, cashews, pecans, raisons and chocolate chips) can be another great snack as it will provide you the necessary protein and sugar.

Wear different layers of clothing: Weather in the Snowdonia area can be quite unpredictable, however, it is wise to get ready for rain. The region is among wettest in the UK so your last layer needs to be something that is breathable and waterproof. Gortex is often a fantastic waterproof layer. You need to plan for no less than 3 or 4 layers, including: an inner layer, middle layer, outer layer and a waterproof covering. Try to avoid cotton because it holds in moisture and may sap your body temperature away from you. If you like natural products, a great outer layer is wool; it may be lightweight or heavy and it doesn't absorb moisture.

Stretch before you begin: At the end of the day the goal is to enjoy it and not be sore everywhere. Hiking is incredibly demanding therefore you need to make certain that your muscles are warmed up. Stretching your legs, back and arms will also help alleviate problems with any injuries like cramps when out on the trail.

Hiking is certainly a fun activity and if you want to stay safe, you have to make smart decisions and be prepared. Unfortunately accidents do happen however it is good to know that if something does happen you can rely on groups including the South Snowdonia Mountain Rescue Team. Rescue teams such as the SSMRT are comprised of hard working and dedicated individuals who take their responsibilities seriously. If something does go wrong you know that they will will perform their utmost to be sure everybody is safe.




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