Guides Guide
What should you do if you meet a wolf on a hike?
Seeing a wild wolf is a rare privilege. Wolves avoid people, but it is worth knowing how to behave: stay calm, do not run away and never try to get closer.
Guides
Practical, evergreen guides to head into the mountains more safely: planning, navigation, weather, wildlife encounters, emergencies and gear.
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Guides Guide
What should you do if you meet a bear on a hike?
Most bear encounters end with the animal walking away. But knowing what to do —and what not to do— makes all the difference. We explain it for the European brown bear and for North American species.
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Guides Guide
How to navigate in the mountains when you have no signal and no GPS
Your phone runs out of battery, the signal disappears or the GPS goes haywire in a deep valley. These are the navigation techniques that really work when technology fails.
Guides Guide
How to dress in layers for the mountains: the system that keeps you dry and warm
It is not about wearing lots of clothes, but the right clothes, and knowing when to take them off or put them on. This is how the layering system used by mountaineers all over the world works.
Guides Guide
How to prepare your first mountain hike without making the most common mistakes
Choosing a route that suits you, estimating times properly, checking the forecast and knowing when to turn back. Everything you need so your first mountain outing is the start of something, not a bad memory.
Guides Guide
What to pack for a night in the mountains: the checklist that actually works
Sleeping in the mountains completely changes the experience of a route. We tell you which gear is essential, what you can leave at home and how to pack it so your backpack weighs no more than it needs to.
Guides Guide
How to tell if a storm is coming while you are on a hike (and what to do)
Summer storms in the mountains form quickly, but they give warning. We show you how to read the clouds, calculate the distance of lightning and get to the least exposed spot if it reaches you.
Guides Guide
What to do if a wildfire catches you while hiking
A wildfire can move faster than you can walk, especially uphill. Reading the wind and the terrain, raising the alarm early and choosing the right escape route can save lives.
Guides Guide
What to do if you get lost in the mountains: the steps that can save you
Getting lost is not an emergency; what you do in the next few minutes can turn it into one. Stop, think, observe and plan. And do not be afraid to ask for help in time.
Guides Guide
How much water to carry on a mountain hike: how to calculate it by duration, heat and effort
Running out of water ruins a hike; carrying twice what you need does too. Here is a practical guideline, how to adjust it to your situation and when you can trust natural water sources.
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