Trekking in the Alps. Kev Reynolds
frequency of accommodation and provision of meals makes backpacking unnecessary. A light daypack is all that’s required to contain the essentials for a two-week walking tour, but ensure it has a waterproof cover, and take a large polythene bag in which to pack your gear.
Comfortable, lightweight boots are of prime importance.
Make sure the socks you choose meet your needs, and change them daily to avoid discomfort or blisters.
Waterproofs are essential; not only for rain protection, but also to double as windproofs. Lightweight jacket and overtrousers made from ‘breathable’ fabric are recommended, as is a small collapsible umbrella (indispensable for those who wear glasses).
A fleece or pile jacket ought to be included, plus a warm hat and gloves – for even in midsummer wintry conditions may be experienced.
Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and high-factor suncream should be carried – the intensity of UV rays increases by ten per cent with every 1000m of altitude gained.
Carry a first aid kit, water bottle (1 litre minimum capacity), map, guidebook, whistle, compass (or GPS) and a headtorch with a spare bulb. Also a small penknife and emergency food.
Take a lightweight towel and basic personal toiletries (plus toilet paper and a lighter to burn it in case of being caught short during the day), and a sheet sleeping bag for use in huts and gîtes.
Telescopic trekking poles give assistance when crossing streams, help maintain balance over rough ground, and ease the strain on legs during steep descents.
Other items you may consider taking include a camera (essential to some), an altimeter and a mobile phone and charger – but note that it may not always be possible to get a signal, and you may have difficulty recharging it.
WHEN TO GO
As a general rule the midsummer months of late June to mid-September offer the best and safest opportunities for trekking in the Alps, although in some years snow remains on the highest passes well into July. Of course, there are occasions when snow falls even in July or August, so be prepared for the worst but hope for the best. Typical summer conditions enable you to walk in T-shirt, shorts and sunhat, but long periods of mist, rain or storm should never be discounted. At altitude even a mild breeze can lower the temperature by several degrees. The moral is clear – keep warm, weather-proof clothing handy.
Depending on altitude, wild flowers are at their best from June until late July, and huts are usually staffed from mid-June until late September, with the busiest period running from mid-July until late August.
SAFETY IN THE MOUNTAINS
Trekking should be a safe and healthy pursuit, but all mountain regions contain a variety of objective dangers for the unwary. Without overstating the risk factor, it should be borne in mind that with narrow and exposed paths, stream crossings, high passes, and steep ascents and descents to negotiate, a high degree of concentration will be called for, even under good conditions. A moment’s carelessness could have serious repercussions.
SAFETY DOS AND DON’TS
Ensure you are both physically and mentally prepared for the challenge of your chosen route.
Plan each stage carefully; study the route outline, the amount of height gain and loss, and the estimated time it will take to reach your destination.
Phone ahead to book your next night’s accommodation.
Check the weather forecast before setting out.
Carry liquid refreshment, a few emergency rations and a first aid kit.
Watch for signs of deteriorating weather, and never be too proud to turn back should it be safer to do so than continue in the face of an oncoming storm, or on a trail that has become unjustifiably dangerous.
If your plans change and you decide against continuing to the hut where you’ve booked accommodation, telephone at the earliest opportunity to inform them.
Do not venture onto exposed ridges if a storm is imminent. In the event of being caught by one, avoid isolated trees, prominent rocks or metallic objects (temporarily discard trekking poles), and refrain from taking shelter in caves, beneath overhanging rocks or in gullies. Instead, kneel or squat on your rucksack with head down and hands on knees.
In the unhappy event of an accident, stay calm. Move yourself and, if possible, the injured person (taking care not to aggravate the injury) away from any imminent danger and apply first aid. Keep the victim warm, using any spare clothing available. Make a written note of the precise location where the victim can be found, and either telephone for assistance using a mobile phone (emergency numbers are given in the individual guidebooks), or if you cannot get a signal, send for help. If a mountain hut is nearby seek assistance there. Failing this, give the international mountain distress signal: six blasts on a whistle (and flashes with a torch after dark) spaced evenly for one minute, followed by a minute’s pause. Repeat for as long as is necessary. The response is three signals per minute followed by a minute’s pause.
Remember: although mountain rescue in the Alps is highly efficient, it is not a free service. The cost of rescue and subsequent hospital treatment can be extremely high; it is therefore essential to be adequately insured. Specialist companies offering insurance for trekking in the Alps include the BMC (www.thebmc.co.uk) – members only – and Snowcard Insurance Services (www.snowcard.co.uk). As mentioned earlier, membership of the Austrian Alpine Club (UK branch) gives automatic mountain rescue cover.
WORDS OF GREETING
Trekking in the Alps is a sociable activity. Whether you trek alone, with friends or with a group, you’ll find that meeting or passing others on the trail will inevitably inspire a word or two of greeting – a recognition of shared experience. So, what do you say in response? It depends where you are:
| France | bonjour |
| Italy | buon giorno |
| Switzerland | grüetzi |
| Austria & Germany | grüss Gott |
| Slovenia | dober dan |
The unmistakable Matterhorn (Tour of the Matterhorn) (photo: Hilary Sharp)
THE TREKS
TREK 1
Grande Traversata delle Alpi: GTA by Gillian Price
| Start | Viozene near Ormea |
| Finish | Molini di Calasca in Val Anzasca near Monte Rosa |
| Distance | 633km |
| Grade | Strenuous |
| Time | 47 days |
| Terrain | Western Alps, Piemonte, Italy |
| Max Altitude | 2804m |
| Guidebooks | Through the Italian Alps: GTA by Gillian Price (Cicerone Press, 2005) |
| Accommodation | Walkers’ hostels, village guesthouses and mountain huts |
For many who go trekking