https://altavianature.com/en/ Everything for walking in the mountains: technique, planning, gear and safety. en © Altavia Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:00:00 GMT https://altavianature.com/brand/logo-512.pnghttps://altavianature.com/ https://altavianature.com/en/gear/mountain-outfits/ https://altavianature.com/en/gear/mountain-outfits/ Dressing for the mountains is not about fashion, but you do not need to look like you are in costume either. Six practical combinations by type of route and time of year, item by item, with ideas on where to buy them. Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:00:00 GMT Gear https://altavianature.com/en/gear/where-to-buy-cheap-outdoor-gear/ https://altavianature.com/en/gear/where-to-buy-cheap-outdoor-gear/ The mountains do not have to be expensive. We go through the options for kitting yourself out on a budget —big sports chains, online shops, sales, second-hand and rental— and the items where saving money can cost you dearly. Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:30:00 GMT Gear https://altavianature.com/en/gear/basic-hiking-gear-on-a-budget/ https://altavianature.com/en/gear/basic-hiking-gear-on-a-budget/ You do not need everything in the shop window to get started. We suggest three kits —minimal, comfortable and complete— with the buying order we recommend and what each item brings. Thu, 22 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT Gear https://altavianature.com/en/routes/spectacular-hikes-no-experience-needed/ https://altavianature.com/en/routes/spectacular-hikes-no-experience-needed/ You do not need to be a mountaineer to walk beside glaciers, peer into a fjord or circle the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Ten routes any hiker with reasonable fitness and common sense can do. Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Routes https://altavianature.com/en/guides/what-to-do-if-you-meet-a-wolf/ https://altavianature.com/en/guides/what-to-do-if-you-meet-a-wolf/ 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. Fri, 02 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Guides https://altavianature.com/en/guides/what-to-do-if-you-meet-a-bear/ https://altavianature.com/en/guides/what-to-do-if-you-meet-a-bear/ 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. Fri, 25 Sep 2026 06:00:00 GMT Guides https://altavianature.com/en/routes/laugavegur-trek-iceland/ https://altavianature.com/en/routes/laugavegur-trek-iceland/ Rhyolite mountains in every colour, obsidian fields, fumaroles and glacial rivers to ford. The Laugavegur is short in kilometres and huge in scenery, with a climate that does not forgive improvisation. Sun, 20 Sep 2026 06:00:00 GMT Routes https://altavianature.com/en/guides/navigate-without-gps/ https://altavianature.com/en/guides/navigate-without-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. Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 GMT Guides https://altavianature.com/en/routes/torres-del-paine-w-trek/ https://altavianature.com/en/routes/torres-del-paine-w-trek/ Glaciers, turquoise lakes and the three granite towers at sunrise. The W is one of the most spectacular treks in the world, but you need to book well in advance and respect the Patagonian wind. Sat, 12 Sep 2026 06:00:00 GMT Routes https://altavianature.com/en/guides/how-to-layer-clothing-for-hiking/ https://altavianature.com/en/guides/how-to-layer-clothing-for-hiking/ 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. Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:00:00 GMT Guides https://altavianature.com/en/gear/how-to-choose-hiking-boots/ https://altavianature.com/en/gear/how-to-choose-hiking-boots/ There is no such thing as the best mountain boot: there is the best one for your foot and the kind of routes you do. We explain what to look for, how to try them on and the most common buying mistakes. Sun, 06 Sep 2026 06:00:00 GMT Gear https://altavianature.com/en/routes/tour-du-mont-blanc/ https://altavianature.com/en/routes/tour-du-mont-blanc/ Three countries, a dozen passes and Mont Blanc always on the horizon. The TMB is probably Europe's most famous trek: demanding for its total ascent, but with no technical sections on its classic route. Sat, 05 Sep 2026 06:00:00 GMT Routes https://altavianature.com/en/guides/your-first-mountain-hike/ https://altavianature.com/en/guides/your-first-mountain-hike/ 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. Thu, 03 Sep 2026 06:00:00 GMT Guides https://altavianature.com/en/routes/cares-gorge-trail/ https://altavianature.com/en/routes/cares-gorge-trail/ It is one of Spain's most popular hikes and looks like a stroll, but the path runs beside unprotected drops, with rockfall and a return that doubles the distance. Here is how to do it right. Sun, 30 Aug 2026 06:00:00 GMT Routes https://altavianature.com/en/guides/what-to-pack-for-a-night-in-the-mountains/ https://altavianature.com/en/guides/what-to-pack-for-a-night-in-the-mountains/ 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. Fri, 28 Aug 2026 06:00:00 GMT Guides https://altavianature.com/en/gear/sleeping-bag-temperature-ratings/ https://altavianature.com/en/gear/sleeping-bag-temperature-ratings/ A '-5 °C' bag can leave you shivering at 2 °C if you misread the label. We explain the European temperature standard, down versus synthetic, and why your mat matters as much as your bag. Sun, 23 Aug 2026 06:00:00 GMT Gear https://altavianature.com/en/guides/mountain-storm-warning-signs/ https://altavianature.com/en/guides/mountain-storm-warning-signs/ 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. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:00:00 GMT Guides https://altavianature.com/en/guides/caught-in-a-wildfire-while-hiking/ https://altavianature.com/en/guides/caught-in-a-wildfire-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. Wed, 12 Aug 2026 06:00:00 GMT Guides https://altavianature.com/en/guides/what-to-do-if-you-get-lost-in-the-mountains/ https://altavianature.com/en/guides/what-to-do-if-you-get-lost-in-the-mountains/ 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. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 06:00:00 GMT Guides https://altavianature.com/en/guides/how-much-water-to-carry-hiking/ https://altavianature.com/en/guides/how-much-water-to-carry-hiking/ 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. Sat, 01 Aug 2026 06:00:00 GMT Guides