Winter travel can be great for morale – but seriously bad for the health of the poorly equipped
It was my first attempt at downhill skiing and I was high up on the piste with a bunch of friends who were fellow incompetents. The morning had been bright and warm so most of us were wearing the minimum for fear of over-heating. But then the wind started to get up and clouds rolled in. It suddenly changed from warm to overcast and distinctly chilly. When the wet snow started hitting our faces, we were a long way from the ski lodge and I started to feel quite cold.
The stinging sensation upset two of my friends, who had already lost confidence in their abilities to turn and get down off the mountain. They didn’t seem to be able to go on, and stood shivering and anxious. It wasn’t long before sunset; I was dressed for activity – I wasn’t wearing waterproofs – and I was getting seriously cold. Fortunately I talked my friends down from the mountain and soon after sundown we were in the bar laughing again, revived by glasses of hot glühwein.
The incident could have ended differently and reminded me how easy it is to be misled by mountain conditions and how vulnerable the inexperienced are in cold weather.
It is common for conditions to alter rapidly in the mountains, and unexpected change has been the death of many experienced climbers and skiers. When the sun is shining, delicious radiation feels as if it is warming you to the very core; you are comfortable in temperatures as low as -10°C. But when clouds roll in, the cold suddenly becomes ferocious. In the high mountains you can walk around in shorts and T-shirt, concerned about sunburn but not the chill; then, as soon as the sun drops behind the mountain ridges the temperature also plummets. Sundown is the time to get dressed.
In bright sunshine at altitude it is hard to imagine there is any risk of frostbite, but time and again people do get caught out. Perhaps the most important tip about survival in cold places is to do lots of careful preparation – read up on the subject and plan what clothes to take to keep you warm and dry. This sounds obvious but if you are venturing into extreme environments for the first time, you’ll need to take expert advice to get it right. Remember, too, that at altitude and in glary environments you need to apply sunscreen and wear sunglasses to protect against snow blindness.
Some of the worst disasters occur when people climb without the right equipment, proper footwear or even a map, so that when the weather closes in they are vulnerable and exposed in evil conditions. Ideally, before setting out you should have some knowledge about where and how to shelter. Flick though a survival manual so that you know about building yourself a snow hole.
Venturers who are heading onto the pistes to ski or snowboard need to do some preparation too. Although anyone can book a trip, it will be most enjoyable – and you are less likely to sustain an injury – if you are fit before you travel. Thigh-strengthening exercises are wise. You can go to the gym or simply step up onto a dining chair: 50 times leading with one leg, then 50 times leading with the other. Doing that daily for even just a few days before departure will do a great deal to firm up muscles essential to enjoyable skiing and mountain walking. For those over 40, getting fit before a trip is more important still, while those who have had injuries in the past may need specialist advice. There are also a variety of joint supports available.
When disaster strikes in cold conditions, many different factors come into play. Above an altitude of 3,000m (10,000ft), the reduced oxygen content of the air slows thinking and decision-making processes, making mistakes and accidents even more likely. Indeed, although altitude sickness is a risk in the Himalaya, many more deaths are due to falls and other accidents. A study published by American doctors working at the CIWEC clinic in Kathmandu reported that of 148,000 trekkers who visited Nepal over three-and-a-half years, 23 died, mostly by falling off cliff paths; and there were 111 helicopter rescues, many for cases of simple exhaustion. Fortunately, the rescuees had insurance to cover the cost of evacuation to Kathmandu.
Often those who got into trouble may have been less than fit, and a slight accident rendered them even less able to cope. Exhaustion leads to further risk of accident and as soon as you slow down, or injury brings you to a halt, chilling starts to happen. With this there is the risk of exposure (also called hypothermia) and frostbite.
Anyone who plans to venture above 3,000m must read about altitude sickness, since recognising the early signs is life-saving. Many of the symptoms of cerebral oedema caused by significant altitude sickness are similar to those of hypothermia and exhaustion. Indeed, the three problems are often present in one victim and each makes the others worse.
The likelihood of getting dangerously cold on your trip will depend upon the conditions. Wind velocity significantly adds to the chilling capability of the environment – as well as perhaps making progress more energy-sapping. Cold, wet conditions are also more dangerous than cold, dry conditions, and frostbite is much more likely in those whose extremities are wet, with smokers being particularly at risk.
Ill-fitting boots can precipitate frostbite, especially if socks get wet or soaked in sweat. Feet often get cold on skiing and mountaineering trips and, unfortunately, extremities that are getting frostbitten feel no worse than numb digits. This makes the condition difficult to recognise and thus quite dangerous.
Frostbite means that living tissue has become frozen and thus deprived of a blood supply. Usually it starts as frost nip in exposed parts such as the ear lobes, tip of the nose, chin, fingers and toes. The body-part feels numb and the skin looks very pale or white. If rewarmed, the skin becomes red and tingly; no harm has been done. If the part remains cold, though, the tissues suffer superficial frostbite – the surface layer of skin is actually frozen, looks yellow-grey and is leathery to the touch. Rewarming now produces mottled skin: purple with white patches.
