surviving - Armenian Geographic - ArmGeo.am https://www.armgeo.am/en/category/surviving-en-2/ Armenian Geographic Thu, 15 Feb 2024 11:34:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://i0.wp.com/www.armgeo.am/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/cropped-logo.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 surviving - Armenian Geographic - ArmGeo.am https://www.armgeo.am/en/category/surviving-en-2/ 32 32 166115904 How to prepare for winter hiking https://www.armgeo.am/en/winter-hikes/ Wed, 28 Dec 2022 14:10:43 +0000 https://www.armgeo.am/winter-hikes/ Winter hiking is a great opportunity to find something new in familiar routes. There is a common misconception that hiking tours are not organized in winter, and some special training and extensive experience are required for it. Many mountaineers go hiking in wintertime to enjoy the indescribably beautiful landscapes.

Winter hiking

Winter hiking

It is known that the success of any enterprise depends not so much on the season, but on the degree of training of its participants, as well as the availability of the necessary equipment.

In addition, winter hiking has a number of advantages.

Advantages of winter hiking

The first and most obvious advantage of winter hiking is the weather conditions. Another common misconception people still believe is that it is always very cold in the mountains. 

Winter hiking

Winter hiking

Winter hiking Winter hiking Winter hiking

In fact, it may be so warm during winter mountain hikes (especially if it snowed the day before) that a person who is wearing light clothes (thermal underwear, fleece and a T-shirt) feels comfortable.

Fewer people

There are a lot of tourist groups in summer, but everything changes in winter.  There are fewer people during the winter season and it is the main advantage of winter hiking.

Winter hiking

Winter hiking

In addition, the chance to see wild animals in their natural habitat is higher. And footprints in the snow immediately attract your attention.

Landscapes

Landscapes are especially picturesque in the winter season.

winter hiking

View of Ararat

Winter hiking Winter hiking Winter hiking

Whatever you choose, a regular hike or an ascent to the top of the mountain, you are guaranteed an unforgettable experience and great photos.

Calmness

Nature seems to freeze and many animals hibernate during the winter. So there is a peaceful silence all around.

Winter hiking

Frozen Trchkan

You hardly meet some people from other groups but your friends only. Thus winter hiking is a great way to take a break from the hustle and bustle of a big city and put your thoughts in order.

Physical activity

Any hike gives you the opportunity to get new impressions and train your body muscles at the same time.

Winter hiking

Winter hiking

Winter hiking Winter hiking Winter hiking

Physical activity is even more intense in winter, especially if you walk in the snow.

Two main rules for winter hiking

In addition to the basic rules (follow the formation, keep up with the group and go along with other participants), there are two main rules for winter hiking. Please, remember that the rules exist to make your hike more comfortable and relaxing.

Choose the appropriate clothes

Before going on a hike, you need to take care of the clothes for the winter season. The perfect clothes for winter hiking protect you from wet and wind and keep your body warm.

Dress in layers

To avoid wet and hypothermia, it is important to adhere to the following rule: dress in “layers”. There are three main layers of clothes for winter hiking:

  • The main (thermal layer)

Thermal underwear is the first layer that effectively dries sweat and maintains an optimal temperature of your body.

Thermal underwear

Thermal underwear

  • Medium (fleece)

Fleece and a light jacket should be worn over thermal underwear. The middle layer retains heat for a long time.

Winter hiking

Fleece

  • Waterproof (windproof)

The third layer is designed to protect against wind, rain and snow. It is recommended to choose a jacket made of waterproof material.

Hiking jacket

Hiking jacket

To summarize, let’s notice that hiking in winter is as pleasant as in summer. However, it is important to take care of your safety. When choosing clothes for winter hiking, follow simple rules. Remember that each layer of clothes should maintain dryness and the body heat and provide reliable protection against frostbite and hypothermia.

Winter hiking gear

Do not forget about such items of equipment as hiking boots, a warm hat, etc.

Hiking boots

Hiking boots are a mandatory element of hiking equipment, which we recommend purchasing first.

Mountain hiking boots come in a variety of styles: from simple but functional to “fashionable” and rather expensive. Read more about how to choose boots for mountain hiking in our article.

Click on the image to read the article

Hiking Boots

Hiking Boots

Travel gaiters

Gaiters are designed to protect against snow and moisture and prevent your feet from getting wet.

Gaiters should be selected for hiking boots.

Click on the image to read the article

Hiking Gaiters

Hiking Gaiters

Thermal socks

Thermal socks perform the same task as thermal underwear: they effectively remove sweat and keep your foot dry.

Click on the image to read the article

Hiking socks

Hiking socks

Hiking trousers

When choosing hiking trousers, it is recommended to adhere to the same “principle of three layers”. However, if you are going for an ordinary hike  (not in the high mountains), wearing thermal underwear and ordinary waterproof trousers is enough.

Click on the image to read the article

Hiking pants

How to choose hiking pants?

Thermal underwear

Wearing thermal underwear during a winter hike is vital. No other clothes remove moisture and retain your body heat so effectively.

Click on the image to read the article

Thermal underwear

Thermal underwear

Fleece

It is recommended to give preference to fleece made of synthetic material, as it retains the body heat more effectively. It still keeps you warm for some time even after getting wet.

Click on the image to read the article

What is fleece

What is fleece

Hiking jacket

It is the third and the last layer. Wearing your hiking jacket is extremely important. It performs several functions at the same time – prevents your body from getting wet and provides warmth and wind protection.

Click on the image to read the article

hiking jacket

How to choose hiking jaket?

Besides the clothes mentioned above, you need some additional items of equipment for winter hiking.

Gloves

The cold is felt in the extremities, so it is important to protect not only your feet, but also your hands. So, in addition to thermal socks and hiking boots, you need hiking gloves. It is recommended to buy two–layer gloves, the inner layer of which is made of fleece, and the outer layer is made of any waterproof material. The fleece layer provides warmth, and the outer layer protects from moisture.

Click on the image to read the article

Hiking gloves

Hiking gloves

Buff

The buff is a multifunctional scarf made of lightweight fabric to protect you from the sun and dust in summer, or of thick fleece to protect you against wind and snow in winter.

Click on the image to read the article

what is a buff

what is a buff

Hat

The most suitable models for winter hiking are lined with fleece, which provides additional protection for your head and forehead.

Click on the image to read the article

Hiking hat

Hiking hat

Sunglasses

Contrary to a popular misconception, sunglasses are needed not only in summer but in any season. Ultraviolet radiation in mountainous areas is so intense in winter that it may even cause snow blindness.

Click on the image to read the article

Hiking sunglasses

Hiking sunglasses

The copyright of this article is owned by armgeo.am. The content of the article may be cited or used on other websites only with an active link to the source.

Hiking and trekking tours in Armenia

Vahagn and Astghik waterfalls

Vahagn and Astghik waterfalls

Mets Parakhadem

Hike to Mount Mets Parakhadem

Three Hawks Trail

Three Hawks Trail

Hike to Mount Dimats

Hike to Mount Dimats

Climbing Mountain Aragats

Lakes of Aragats

One-day hike to the Lakes of Aragats

Ascent to the Northern summit of Mt Aragats

Ascent to the Northern summit of Mt Aragats

Climbing Volcano Azhdahak

Climbing Volcano Azhdahak

Yeranos Mountains

Yeranos Mountains

]]> 85506 How to protect yourself from venomous snakes? https://www.armgeo.am/en/venomous-snakes-in-armenia/ Mon, 23 Mar 2020 13:14:27 +0000 https://www.armgeo.am/venomous-snakes-in-armenia/ The law of nature says that the strong beats the weak, the fast reaches the slow, the big frightens the small. However, every law has its exceptions. Exceptions to this law are venomous animals. Mostly amphibians and invertebrates are venomous, but some mammals can also be venomous: platypus, some species of moles. Thanks to the venom a small spider can defeat a huge mammal. Snakes are probably the first animals that come to the mind when we talk about venomous animals. And venomous snakes of Armenia are no exception.

Since ancient times snakes have taken their special place in the culture of people. They had their permanent significant role in myths, legends, and different religious stories. The snake was the object of worship, also the embodiment of demonic forces, a “beast” whom the hero must defeat. Of course, all legends and folklore originated for a reason, but in this article let’s talk about the scientific side of the issue.

Every year on our planet about half a million people are attacked by a venomous snake, and about 30-40 thousand of them die.

Armenian viper - Montivipera raddei

Venomous snakes of Armenia / Armenian viper

Snakes never attack people first. In fact, they avoid people. Snakes bite only for self-defense when people accidentally step on them or simply when they get too close. This especially happens when a snake mom protects her eggs.

Often during hot hours, snakes hide under the bushes, stones, between rocks. A hiker or a farmer can walk very close to a snake and not notice it. In this case, the bite is the natural response of the snake, so it is mostly a human’s fault. Usually, snakes warn of their presence by reproducing a distinctive hissing sound. They make this sound with the help of their scales. There is a species of vipers called rattlesnakes, which have a modified bell on the edge of the tail, consisting of scales. The rattlesnake wags its tail and makes a characteristic rattle sound, due to which the snake got its name.

Snake venom and its action

Snake venom is a yellowish, clear liquid produced by the glands of poisonous snakes. In the dried state, snake venom retains its toxic properties for decades.

Snake venom is divided into three main groups:

Neurotoxin

Affects the nervous system of the victim. Nerve impulses from the brain and spinal cord stop to reach the heart, lungs, muscles. The victim is paralyzed and can’t move. Usually, the victim dies from suffocation or cardiac arrest. Snakes armed with neurotoxin are most of the cobras, led by a king cobra, and most of the sea snakes.

Snake venom

Snake venom

Hemotoxin

Affects red blood cells, destroying them. As a result, blood coagulates in the vessels, hemolysis occurs, hemoglobin is separated from the blood plasma, which is why the body’s nutrition is disturbed. All this leads to death. Snakes with hemotoxic venom are the majority of vipers, including four types of vipers found in Armenia, some cobras, and a tropical rattlesnake.

Cytotoxin

Cytotoxic poison is probably the worst of all three. Cytotoxin kills the affected cells, the victim begins the process of necrosis. In other words, the venom helps the victim to “digest” before the snake swallows it. In the end, the victim turns into a jelly mass, which helps the snake to swallow and already digest it inside. Snakes with cytotoxic poison – black mamba (one of the most dangerous snakes in the world) and some cobras.

However, the snake can often be armed with several types of venom at once, which makes it more deadly.

All four venomous snakes of Armenia belong to the viper family. Venomous snakes of Armenia are Armenian viper, Armenian steppe viper, Darevsky’s viper, and blunt-nosed viper.

Fauna of Armenia

Venomous snakes of Armenia / Darevsky’s viper

Despite the fact that all four snakes are venomous, the blunt-nosed viper is the most dangerous for humans. It is armed with strong hemotoxic venom, which kills even an adult. The blunt-nosed viper can be found almost in every region in Armenia, except the Gegharkunik region. It is common in foothill and low mountain regions, in steppes, semi-steppes, semi-deserts, and woodland.

Local poisoning

Right after the snakebite, the pain is still not severe, but in 10-15 minutes a strong burning pain begins. The affected area swells, venom begins to spread. The volume of the limb can double in size.

The most dangerous are bites in the neck and head, since edema can block airways, and a person may suffocate.

These were local poisonings.

General poisoning

Viper venom acts on red blood cells, destroying them. The victim begins to feel dizziness, nausea, vomiting, thirst, dry mouth, diarrhea, general weakness, drowsiness, nosebleeds, sometimes even temporary blindness. The victim is in a very serious condition called shock.

First aid

If a nonvenomous snake bit you, wash the wound and treat it with iodine, then bandage the wound. In 99.9% of cases, everything ends without any complications.

If a venomous snake bit you, then you need to do the following:

  • First, you need to retreat, as the snake can try to re-attack and bite again.
  • Keep calm and do not panic. This applies to both the victim and the first aid provider. Remember, no one dies of a snake bite immediately. In the case of the venomous snakes of Armenia, you will have several hours until the venom begins to act. It means you will have enough time to help the victim and take them to the hospital.
Venomous snakes of Armenia

How to protect yourself from venomous snakes?

  • If there are other people nearby, ask someone to call for help. Be sure to note the time of the bite.
  • Start to suck out the venom immediately. This is a difficult task, but remember, that in 5 minutes of extraction you can get rid of half the poison.

How to suck out the venom?

To suck out the venom, fold the affected area and press on it so that drops of blood appear from two bitten wounds. Then suck out as much blood as you can within 10-15 minutes. Constantly spit out accumulated blood. Finally, rinse your mouth with water. Keep in mind that through the blood of a victim various diseases can be transmitted to you: hepatitis, AIDS and so on. Also keep in mind that if there is an open wound or damaged tooth in your oral cavity, then venom can harm you too. But do not panic, since the poison acts only when it enters the bloodstream. So, if you accidentally swallowed part of the sucked venom, your stomach will not be in danger.

Venomous snakes of Armenia

How to protect yourself from venomous snakes?

If for some reason it is impossible to suck out the venom, then press on the area around the wound within 5 minutes, to make the blood flow out of the wound. Do not press directly on the wound! This method will also allow us to remove some of the venom. Stop pressing when the blood stops flowing from the wound.

Lay the victim

  • Place the victim in a safe, lateral, embryonic position.
  • Do not let the victim move a lot, or make sudden movements, or shake the affected limb. Also, do not let the victim try to catch and kill the snake.
  • The affected limb must be placed below the level of the heart so that it is more difficult for the blood to flow to the heart.
  • Disinfect the affected area with hydrogen peroxide.
  • After the disinfection dress the wound with a sterile bandage. Do not ever try to tourniquet the area above the bite, this will only harm the victim.

The victim must not move

  • The victim must make a minimum of movements, otherwise, the venom will spread faster throughout the body. If the victim is forced to move, he has to do it as carefully as possible, without panic and sudden movements, not to expose himself to additional stress.
  • Try to calm the victim, because, in a nervous, irritable state, the heart beats faster and helps the venom spread faster throughout the body.
Venomous snakes of Armenia

How to protect yourself from venomous snakes?

  • Remove all tight clothing and jewelry: watch, rings, bracelets, tight clothes, as the edema can quickly develop and spread.
  • Give the victim a lot of liquid: water, natural juice, mineral water.
  • Keep an eye on the victim’s consciousness, breathing, heart function, or pulse.

How to perform first aid?

During a snake attack, people mostly die not from the bite itself, but from improperly performed first aid.

Therefore, when performing first aid, remember the following:

  • Do not put the tourniquet above the bitten area.
  • The tourniquet is useless in this situation. It also can worsen the condition of the victim. A tourniquet can force doctors to amputate a leg or arm to save the victim.
  • Do not cover or try to cut the wound open. This leads to bleeding, which worsens the victim’s condition. In addition, nerves, arteries, tendons can be damaged, and the wound can begin to fester.
  • Do not burn the area around the wound with hot metal or match. This method does not help and creates wounds that heal very slowly.
Venomous snakes of Armenia

How to protect yourself from venomous snakes?

  • Do not put ice on the wound. This can lead to frostbite, and in general, will be a waste of time. And in such cases, time is the most important resource.
  • Do not offer alcohol to the victim.
  • Do not give strong medicine to the victim. They will not allow to correctly assess the situation when doctors will examine the victim in the hospital.
  • The only analgesics that can be given to the victim are Analgin and Paracetamol.

How to avoid snake bites?

  1. Snake bites are more likely to occur in spring, when, after waking up from hibernation, snakes are hungry and actively hunt.
  2. Venomous snakes are nocturnal. On a hot day, they hide in the crevices of rocks, in the nests of rodents, in abandoned buildings. In the evening they go hunting. Nonvenomous snakes are active during the day.

What if you saw a snake first?

  • First of all, do not be afraid. You can look at the snake, but don’t touch it and don’t try to kill it. Give the snake an opportunity to leave. If the snake doesn’t move, retreat yourself. You need to go in the opposite direction, with slow steps. Do not run.
  • As we have said, the snake hears the vibrations and fluctuation of the earth. So, if you walk in places where there are snakes, take a heavy piece of wood and with each step hit it on the ground.
Mount Tsrasar

Venomous snakes of Armenia / Beware of snakes during hiking

  • Most often, snake bites happen during the berry or mushroom picking, collecting firewood, cutting the grass, during the overnight by the fire, and so on. Therefore, before you start picking berries or mushrooms, hit the grass several times with a wood stick.
  • During hiking, you must wear high hiking boots made of thick leather, hiking pants with protective layers, and gaiters. This combination of clothing should provide good protection against vipers.
  • Be careful when you walk in rocky areas, through bushes, tall grass; be careful when you stand on a fallen tree or stump. On hot days snakes hide in these places.
  • One more advice – do not touch the head of the newly killed snake, even if it is separated from the body. Nerve impulses remain in the separated head for a long time, so a bite can still happen.

Almost all large medical institutions in Armenia have the serum, which is a sufficient antidote to blunt-nosed viper, Darevsky’s viper, and steppe viper. The venom of the Armenian viper is different in composition. This can cause complications because before you enter the appropriate antidote, you need to find out which snake has bitten you?

Venomous snakes of Armenia

How to protect yourself from venomous snakes?

That’s why, if possible, it is important to describe to doctors what kind of snake it was. You cannot kill a snake, because all snakes play an important role in ecology and most of them are listed in the Red Book. Darevsky’s viper is critically endangered.

Do not kill snakes! To avoid accidents, simply warning the snake about your approach is enough. If you walk in a big group, in one line, you will almost completely protect yourself from a collision with a snake.

The copyright of this article is owned by armgeo.am. The content of the article may be cited or used on other websites only with an active link to the source.

Blog about Armenia

The Volcanic Seven Summits Project

The Volcanic Seven Summits Project

One week in Armenia

One Week in Armenia

Water in Armenia

Water as a landmark of Armenia

]]> 52141 Water Sources in the Mountains https://www.armgeo.am/en/sources-of-water/ Tue, 10 Mar 2020 12:56:18 +0000 https://www.armgeo.am/sources-of-water/ Water is life. If a person can live without food for a month, then without water he will not survive even three days. And that’s just in urban conditions. In the mountains, during hikes, dehydration can develop much faster and lead to serious consequences. We have already talked about dehydration many times, since it has its effect on almost all problems, be it hypothermia, mountain sickness, or sunstroke. If during a one-day hike we can take the necessary amount of water with us, then on multi-day trekkings we will need to figure out how to find water sources in the mountains.

The main problem is choosing a place of overnight. Because we will need a large supply of water for preparing dinner, washing dishes and replenishing supplies for the next day. There are two main ways to find water, which are the most sensible and practical. That is, we will not consider exotic methods shown in survival films, where water is extracted from the trunk of an elephant or from the bark of a tree.

How to Find Water Sources in the Mountains 

You can:

  • find a natural source of water: lake, river, mountain spring
  • melt snow or ice (if any)

As a last resort, you can also collect rainwater or morning dew in waterproof fabric, but let’s admit that this method is not so practical, and is not really needed in Armenia.

The knowledge of the first two ways should be enough for us for the rest of our lives. However, there is another important point – water filtration. We will also talk about this.

Water sources in the mountains

Water sources in the mountains

The hydrographic network in Armenia is very dense due to the mountainous terrain. The water in the fast flowing mountain streams is also relatively clean. That is why rivers, large and small lakes and snowfields are always found on routes. Water in alpine rivers and streams flowing from snowfields is potable. However, its mineralization is very low, and in order to avoid dehydration, it is better to drink such water with the addition of isotonics, or at least a little salt, sugar and citric acid.

By the way, the same can be done when melting snow or ice. Be a little more careful with the lakes, especially if it is a small, endorheic shallow lake, for example, Lake Nazeli (Badi), Lake Gosh and so on. Remember this point, at the end of the article we will definitely talk about water filtration. Now we will present you the routes of Mount Aragats and the Geghama Mountains, with well-known sources of water, where you can replenish your supplies.

Mount Aragats

There are two well-known routes: the standard one, starting from Lake Kari, and the second – along the Gegharot gorge from the village of Aragats. If you start an overnight hike from the Gegharot gorge, you can collect a supply of water directly from the river, but you need to use it only after filtering. Continuing the way up the gorge, you need to look for snowfields where you can melt the snow and turn it into water. But you need to consider that in summer months, the snowfields disappear, or are very dirty. Therefore, this is not the best option. However, if you find yourself in a situation where there is a question of survival, then the snowfields and lakes located under the Northern peak can save your life.

Water sources in the mountains

Water sources in the mountains

From Lake Kari to the southwestern saddle and crater there are two accepted places for having an overnight. One of them is located right on the saddle, the other in the crater. The crater has streams flowing from snowfields and forming one large stream that flows down and forms the Gegharot River. Water from the crater stream is drinkable (40.50872 ° N, 44.19115 ° E). But this water also needs to be mineralized, and you need to be attentive to the yellow-whitish parts of the stream. It is better not to drink water from there, since these yellow traces contain sulfur, which is very toxic.

If you decide to spend the night on the saddle, then there is also a snowfield, which basically persists all summer. A little lower, close to Lake Kari, there are streams that flow under the stones and in some places come to the surface, flowing over the stones.

There is one very convenient place on Aragats, where the stream flowing over the stones resembles small waterfalls, which is very convenient for collecting water. (40.49885 ° N, 44.17096 ° E)

Water sources in the mountains

Water sources in the mountains / Lake Kari

This stream is especially suitable when you are returning from the North or West peaks of Aragats, when you are tired enough, the water supplies have run out, or the water in the bottle has warmed up and got an unpleasant taste from plastic. Hikers love to stop here to wash up, drink plenty of water, replenish supplies and continue their way. According to the calculation of the middle group, you need another two to three hours to go to Lake Kari, and there is no more convenient place on the route, so this source should in no case be missed.

A little lower from Lake Kari, in a clearing on the left side of the road, there is a small source of water by a small pond. (40.47247 ° N, 44.18675 ° E)

Geghama Mountains

Let’s look at the accepted route “Sevaberd – Lake Akna – Azhdahak – Lake Vanki – Goght”.

Starting from Sevaberd, before reaching Seghanasar, there is a water source in the very first Yezidi camp. Yezidis say that they don’t drink water from there and bring drinking water from the village. Our entire group, including children, drank water from this spring, because we had to spend the night there, and we had no other choice. Oddly enough, nothing happened to us. But the water, of course, is a little dirty and needs to be filtered. The following water sources are located directly on the western slope of Mount Seghanasar. These sources are two small endorheic but clean lakes. Again, you can drink water after filtering it. (40 ° 16’19 ″ N 44 ° 52’45 ″ E)

Then follows Lake Akna, where the water is also drinkable. On the northern shore of the lake, where there is a gazebo under the eastern slope of the volcano Shushan, streams with drinking water flow. (40 ° 16’19 ″ N 44 ° 52’45 ″ E)

Water sources in the mountains

Water sources in the mountains / Lake Akna

From here we continue our journey to Mount Azhdahak. After climbing we go down to the southern foot of Azhdahak. Here, from the southern slopes, streams flow from snowfields, which a little lower turn into narrow, but quite abundant water streams. This is a very convenient place to have an overnight, because firstly, there is a source of water nearby, and secondly, it offers a fascinating view of the mountain peaks of Spitakasar, Nazeli and Vishapasar. (40.21835 ° N, 44.96194 ° E)

The next water point is the area called 7 springs. It is located in the gorge leading to Lake Vanki, at the foot of Mount Vishapasar. This area is quite wet and marshy, but there are streams with clean water, as well as springs created by local shepherds in order to collect water. The place is convenient for having an overnight. There are many flat surfaces for camping. (40.17380 ° N, 44.93358 ° E)

The next source of water is near Lake Vanki. Not far from the lake there is a small metal bridge under which the river flows. After crossing the bridge, turn right and go along the river, then near the shore you will see a pipe from which comes clear drinking water. There are usually shepherds there. If you ask, they will show the exact location of this source. (40.16179 ° N, 44.90414 ° E)

Water sources in the mountains / Lake Vanki

Water sources in the mountains / Lake Vanki

There is a long way from Lake Vanki to the village of Goght, and the need for another overnight stay arises. The road from the lake leads down. After passing about two kilometers, we reach a ravine covered with greenery. A river flows here, and thyme and wild mint grow around. Right in the ravine, under the rocks, there is a convenient place for camping. You can have an overnight here or just replenish your water supplies. (40.14254 ° N, 44.88344 ° E)

From here you have a long road down to Goght. Almost at the end of the road, at the last turns, there is a large willow tree with a spring and a gazebo under it. This is the last source of our route.

Water Filtration 

We have learned where to find sources of water in the mountains, now let’s understand how to filter water.

Water pollution can be of three types:

  • mechanical – muddy water, the presence of large particles, soil, dirt
  • biological – microbes, viruses and infections
  • chemical – various toxic substances, heavy metals
Water sources in the mountains

Water sources in the mountains

There is also radioactive pollution, but we will not consider this type, since it is a slightly different area, and in the mountains of Armenia this problem is unlikely to threaten us. If mechanical pollution can be seen with the naked eye, then biological pollution can not. The chemical pollution depends on the composition of the water and on whether the substances dissolved in it have changed the color or smell of water. Fortunately, in high mountain streams and lakes we are mainly concerned only about mechanical pollution of water and partly biological. These two are relatively easy to deal with.

*Boiling water

Boiling water effectively and almost completely kills microbes, viruses and other organic contaminants. That is the advantage of it. However, boiling water requires a large amount of energy and time, the possibility of which is limited in autonomous hikes. However, boiling water does not neutralize chemical and mechanical pollution. The likelihood of chemical pollution in mountain lakes is very small, since in such places there are no chemical plants and other man-made objects that can pollute water. Livestock can be the main cause of water pollution in the mountains. Be careful, they like to lie and cool down in small ponds and pollute the water with their secretions.

*Chlorine

Chlorine effectively kills germs and bacteria. And, unlike the boiling method, it takes several minutes and saves “precious” gas. You can take chlorine tablets and chlorine bleach with you. Be careful that that it is fragrance-free and contains only chlorine. Chlorine should be gradually added to water. As soon as you feel a slight smell of chlorine from the water, then this is already enough. Wait about 15 minutes and you can drink water. Water undergoes such treatment at water supply stations before it reaches our taps. Today there are special tablets based on chlorine and iodine that are designed to disinfect water.

*Lifestraw filter

Here, we would like to highlight the portable LifeStraw water filter. Filters of this type operate through membrane layers. The porosity of the membrane is very small – 2 microns in diameter, which stops any mechanical and biological pollution.

Water sources in the mountains

Water sources in the mountains / Lifestraw filter

These filters are so small and light that you can even carry them in your pocket. The length of such filter is 22 cm, and the weight is 5 grams. Initially, these filters were created for African villages, which have a serious problem with drinking water. LifeStraw filters purify turbid water and make it completely clean and transparent. Now they are widely popular among hikers, tourists, lifeguards. Considering the relatively low price, it is definitely worth having such thing in your backpack.

*Self-made filters

The simplest filter for cleaning mechanical pollution can be made by yourself. To do this, you will need a bandage, crushed stone, activated carbon and cotton wool. Take a 1-liter plastic bottle, cut off the bottom and arrange these materials in order. First cotton wool – at the very bottom, then coal, crushed stone and several layers of bandage on top. Your filter is ready. It is the simplest filter that purifies water from mechanical impurities, and activated carbon partially removes dangerous chemical elements. In such filters, the components must changed frequently, because after passing a large amount of dirt through them, the filter becomes clogged and loses its cleaning properties.

Be careful, do not forget to drink plenty of water and always always keep an eye on your water supply.

The copyright of this article is owned by armgeo.am. The content of the article may be cited or used on other websites only with an active link to the source.

Useful Information

Winter Hiking

How to prepare for winter hiking

Venomous snakes Armenia

How to protect yourself from venomous snakes?

Water Sources in the Mountains

Water Sources in the Mountains

Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness and how to prevent it

Acclimatization

Acclimatization at high altitude

Winter Camping Tips

Winter Camping Tips

How to Pack a Backpack

How to Pack a Backpack

What is Dehydration

What is Dehydration

Avalanche

Avalanche: How to Avoid?

]]> 51458 Altitude sickness and how to prevent it https://www.armgeo.am/en/altitude-sickness/ Tue, 10 Mar 2020 08:49:10 +0000 https://www.armgeo.am/altitude-sickness/ Altitude sickness happens because of low atmospheric pressure and oxygen starvation – hypoxia. Mountaineers, skiers and people somehow connected with work in the mountains are familiar with altitude sickness. Most of the world’s population lives at an altitude of up to 1000 meters; their bodies are not adapted to the high altitude conditions. Altitude sickness has several stages. It starts from headache, general fatigue and irritability. In especially acute cases, it ends with cerebral edema.

Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness appears not only because of the height, but also due to the speed of altitude gain. It means that rapid ascent from 300 meters to 3000 can cause more serious consequences than, for example, a graduate ascent from 4000 to 5500 meters. Also we need to remember that in general, the higher the worse. With height, the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere changes not linearly, but exponentially. The salvation from this lies in acclimatization, during which you gradually adapt your body to high altitude conditions. We will talk about acclimatization separately, but now let’s focus on the altitude sickness.

Stages of altitude sickness

Altitude sickness has several stages, depending on altitude, distance from the equator, climate, the condition of the person (weight, physical shape, altitude experience, etc). Usually, a person who lives on a plain feels symptoms of altitude sickness as early as at 2000 meters. I met people from Moscow who felt nausea and headache near Lake Sevan (1900 meters). Therefore, it is important at what altitude is your permanent residence. For people from Yerevan the altitude of 3000-4000 meters is not a big difficulty. In the world there are settlements above 3000 m – Lhasa (Tibet, 3650 m), Potosí (Bolivia, 4090 m), and the highest in the world – La Rinconada (Peru, 5100 m). The body of people living at these heights differs from Yerevan residents and people living on the plain.

Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness

For people living on the plain, climbing mountains such as Azhdahak or Aragats in Armenia is recommended to be done with acclimatization. The altitude above 3000 meters is already considered to be the height where people can feel altitude sickness. Therefore, an overnight stay during ascent to Azhdahak near Lake Akna (3032 m), or Lake Kari (3200 m) in Aragats are the recommended option for tourists with no experience, or for those who live on the plains or in coastal regions. A night at this altitude will help you sleep well and calm down from the stress caused by a rapid altitude gain in one day. In case of a one-day ascent you will need to get up before dawn in Yerevan, have a long journey by car and only then start the ascent. All this negatively affects the well being of a person, believe me.

Symptoms of altitude sickness

Let’s analyze symptoms and effects of altitude sickness on the body, and then talk about prevention and treatment.

  • Loss of appetite. Even after a whole day of walking, you feel nauseous just thinking about food. It is important to eat at least in small portions, to have strength and energy.
  • Pulsating pain in the temples. If you feel acute pain, you should drink ibuprofen or a similar analgesic. It will not save from the altitude sickness, but will remove the pain, which irritates, doesn’t let you concentrate on work and takes away a lot of physical and psychological strength.
  • Mood swings. You laugh and joke, and then you suddenly feel sad, then everything gets on your nerves and you become aggressive. Typically, people release endorphins and start to think that they are omnipotent. They start running, jumping around. Usually this euphoria fades away as quickly, and you remain exhausted. Because people in this state are not able to control themselves and can seriously injure themselves, or even fall off a cliff or into a crack of a glacier. Therefore, be sure to monitor the adequacy of your teammates.
Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness

  • Insomnia. Stressful state and fatigue distract you from sleeping. In these cases you should drink sleeping pills. Don’t worry; you will be able to wake up in the morning. Good sleep is the key to success in the mountains.
  • High blood pressure. Atmospheric pressure decreases, but yours remains the same. Therefore, the body goes out of balance. In any case, do not drink pills without measuring the blood pressure first, as it differs in each person.
  • Loss of coordination, blurred vision, flickering black dots in front of the eyes – these are the signals that cannot be ignored.
  • High temperature is normal. It means that the body is fighting. It would be worse if you didn’t have it. Nevertheless, if the temperature rises above 38.5 degrees, you should make a stop and interrupt the ascent.
  • No desire to do anything. You just want to lie down and die. In no case you should fall asleep in this condition, or you may never wake up.
  • Intermittent and shallow breathing, rapid heart rate.

Altitude sickness prevention

It is important to drink a lot of water and eat sweets. Do not allow dehydration. Urine must be clear. Usually all of the symptoms disappear in one day, if you do not exceed the altitude. If the situation does not get better, you need to drop the altitude. Your condition can also be negatively affected by physical fatigue, dehydration, lack of energy, injuries and loss of blood, severe cold, chronic diseases, especially diseases of the cardiovascular system and lungs. With the latter, it is not recommended to go to the mountains at all. If you have similar diseases, be sure to consult with doctors before you go to the mountains.

It is difficult to diagnose altitude sickness, since most of the symptoms are observed in other diseases. A person can simply be exhausted or have food poisoning. Therefore you need to be attentive to the health and make a conclusion, relying on all symptoms. Before the critical stage of altitude sickness when cerebral edema begins, everything is simple. You just need to drop the altitude. Many mountaineers say that at the top of Lenin Peak or Everest their consciousness was blurred, it was hard for them to breathe and talk. But as soon as they went a little bit down, they immediately began to feel better.

Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness

Remember, that alcohol and coffee, also colds, dehydration, insomnia, exhaustion contribute to the development of altitude sickness and worsen the well-being. Also, different people cope with the altitude differently. Depending on:

  • gender (women are more tolerant to hypoxia),
  • age (younger people tolerate hypoxia worse),
  • general physical training and mental state,
  • speed of the ascent,
  • and the high altitude experience

The last point is especially important. The first time at a new altitude is always more difficult than the next one, even if the next one will happen in two or more years. All other things being equal, the body remembers the algorithm for adapting to altitude and it’s easier for it to acclimate.

In order to avoid the altitude sickness, the following is necessary:

  • Make a proper acclimatization plan
  • Choose high-quality equipment in accordance with the conditions of the mountain that you plan to climb
  • Two weeks before vacation, it is advisable to take a course of vitamins
  • Do not drink alcoholic beverages, even in small doses
  • Learn to sleep in a tent at a high altitude. If possible, train at low altitudes. Aragats for example is a perfect option to prepare for climbing Kazbek, Ararat, Elbrus or Demavend. Overnight in a tent at an altitude of 3200-3500 meters, followed by ascent to Northern Aragats (4090 m) is a great training plan. We recommend this program for a successful and, most importantly, safe ascent to Kazbek or another 5000 m or higher peak.

What to do if altitude sickness did happen?

If symptoms are not very pronounced, then it is advisable to interrupt the ascent and camp in the nearest suitable place. If the symptoms are acute and do not go away, you need to immediately drop the altitude and descend as low as possible. After this you can repeat the attempt to climb. In most cases, altitude sickness goes away, as the body begins to acclimatize. But there are also acute conditions, when the life of a victim and the whole group is at risk. Due to such conditions, the group begins to lag behind the schedule. This condition happens at extreme high altitudes. Above 6000 meters shortness of breath, as a rule, doesn’t go away, it is difficult and sometimes impossible for a person to rest. Such ascents require an acclimatization program lasting a week or more.

Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness

In the Himalayas climbing the eight-thousanders goes relatively smooth, due to the climate and geography. If such mountains were in Caucasus or closer to the poles, then climbing them would be beyond possible. Above 8000 meters the so-called “death zone” begins. Here the “mere mortal” will not survive without an oxygen tank. The oxygen concentration in the atmosphere is only 55% of what is on the plain. Acclimatization to such altitude takes more than a month. You cannot stay at this altitude for too long, the time is very limited. In any way, the body begins to slowly die at this altitude.

Tips for altitude sickness

In acute mountain sickness there is a need for help with medicines. There are injections that mountaineers always carry with them, for example, dexamethasone. But we will not talk about this, since such an extreme is not included in our goals, and apart from the theory from smart books, we are not competent to say anything else. The Internet is full of articles and forums on this topic. We as mere mortals should just regularly train our cardio, do hypoxic workouts, i.e. cardio trainings with holding your breath or putting on a special hypoxic mask that makes breathing difficult. Such workout increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood and increases the density of capillaries, which improves blood supply to cells, thereby making us more resilient to high altitudes and frostbite.

Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness

Have a couple packs of Rehydron and ascorbic acid in your first-aid kit, drink water with isotonics, drink plenty of sweet liquids and simply follow proper acclimatization. At first, it is difficult for beginners to objectively assess their condition, due to a lack of experience. Many of them rush and do not notice the alarms that their own body sends them. Others, even with a more adequate approach, can still confuse the altitude sickness with the fatigue. Therefore, it is better for a beginner to consult a mountain guide. Most mountain accidents happen due to biased assessment of the situation and our own strength, especially on such tourist mountains as Kazbek and Elbrus.

We tried to briefly explain what altitude sickness is. Next comes a very important topic – acclimatization, which is closely related to this one.

The copyright of this article is owned by armgeo.am. The content of the article may be cited or used on other websites only with an active link to the source.

Useful information

Winter Hiking

How to prepare for winter hiking

Venomous snakes Armenia

How to protect yourself from venomous snakes?

Water Sources in the Mountains

Water Sources in the Mountains

Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness and how to prevent it

Acclimatization

Acclimatization at high altitude

Winter Camping Tips

Winter Camping Tips

How to Pack a Backpack

How to Pack a Backpack

What is Dehydration

What is Dehydration

Avalanche

Avalanche: How to Avoid?

]]> 51283 Acclimatization at high altitude https://www.armgeo.am/en/acclimatization/ Fri, 06 Mar 2020 14:34:58 +0000 https://www.armgeo.am/acclimatization/ Acclimatization is a key to successful and safe mountain climbing. The keyword here is safe. Since many people die or get into accidents every year because of incorrect, imperfect acclimatization. According to some researches people mostly die in Everest due to cerebral or pulmonary edema, in the “death zone”. Not taking into account individual cases, for example individual inability to adapt or bad weather, the reason for this is mainly incorrect acclimatization.

The main reason of altitude sickness is hypoxia, or in simple words, oxygen starvation. Acclimatization process is a totality of complex biochemical processes in the body. But the main one is the release of a large number of red blood cells into the blood, which is an increase in hemoglobin level. Red blood cells “grab” oxygen molecules in the lungs and transport them throughout the body. Since the partial amount of oxygen in the mountains is less, more red blood cells are needed to increase the efficiency of gas exchange in the blood.

Preparation

Preparation should begin long before your trip to mountains. In previous articles about Mount Kazbek and altitude sickness we partially talked about this topic, but in this article we will talk about acclimatization in more detail. An important component is cardio training. During cardio training, the volume of heart and lungs increases, which helps to save energy in the mountains.

The problem is that your body experiences great stress during physical activities. Cells need more oxygen, especially brain cells. Add to this the oxygen starvation at high altitudes, and the heart will be forced to beat very fast, to manage to pump enough blood. The person also starts to breathe faster in order to manage to absorb enough oxygen. Very often, even at low altitudes, an untrained person starts to feel the shortness of breath. And at high altitudes, even a trained person experiences shortness of breath. The indicators of your training level should be your pulse and shortness of breath.

Climbing Ararat - Armenian Geographic

Acclimatization at high altitude

You need to train on the verge of shortness of breath and heart rate of 120-130 beats per minute. For different people these indicators may vary, but on average in can be considered like this. While running or walking, you should be able to talk calmly, without shortness of breath, and your heart should not jump out of your chest. If you feel this way, then your physical shape is lower than the load that you give to your body. It is necessary to slow down and gradually increase the shape and load. But it is also important not to over-train before going to mountains. You should not be at peak of your physical shape because after this comes a decline.

Let’s not go into details, not to complicate the task. Just imagine a sinusoidal graph, where the curve is the state of your shape. It can’t stay at the peak for too long. If you go to the mountains at your peak shape, the moment of decline can come in the most crucial section of the trail. Therefore it is necessary to stop intensive training one week before the climbing program, and maintain the body with easy evening walks and jogs of 2-3 kilometers. You need to reach your peak shape on first or second day of ascent.

Negative factors

Next, we need to take into account the effects and factors that negatively affect physical shape and acclimatization. These factors are: altitude, solar radiation, physical overload, hypothermia, dehydration, poor nutrition, poor hygiene, microorganisms brought from the city, and local microorganisms, food poisoning, stress. Very little attention is paid to stress.

Mount Kazbek

Acclimatization at high altitude

I remember that the first time at Kazbek was too difficult for me, I was physically exhausted. After that, we trained hard for two years, read a bunch of articles and works on nutrition, acclimatization, equipment, cardio training, etc. But we forgot one important thing – the routine. Personally, I was completely unprepared for a camp life in a tent. It took me a lot of time and energy to put up a tent, flatten the rug and sleeping bag. I didn’t have mountain sickness, I felt fine, slept good and ate a lot. In the end, we successfully and fairly quickly reached the top and went down. But disorganization led to stressful situations that had a negative impact on our general condition. We reached the top in 6 hours and 50 minutes. But maybe without this stress, we would do it in 6 hours?

Okay, back to the topic of acclimatization. Acclimatization on the mountain occurs gradually. Altitude is gained a maximum of 1000 meters every day, followed by a descent of 300-400 meters for an overnight stay. Sleep is the key factor, because during sleep our body adapts best.

 

Mountain Aragats

Acclimatization at high altitude

Let’s analyze the types of acclimatization. There is short-term and long-term acclimatization.

Short-term acclimatization

This is a quick response of the body. Available resources are mobilized to suppress hypoxia. The hemoglobin supply in the spleen is released into the blood, and the bloodstream goes to the brain, since the brain tissues consume the most oxygen and are the most important organ, at least for most people. By the way, because of this headaches occur in the mountains.

This system works for a short time, because our body simply turns on all its reserves, speeds up the heart rate. Other body functions suffer due to the blood flow to the brain, for example, limbs begin to freeze faster, and metabolism is disturbed. With a long stay in the mountains and rapid increase in elevations, the body gets exhausted and if you don’t slow down, then you can have quite serious consequences. These processes occur in the bodies of skyrunners. They must quickly go to the top and also quickly descent, before the body “realizes” everything.

Long-term acclimatization

This is what we need during the ascents. In this case, deep changes occur in the body. Vessels become elastic, embryonic hemoglobin appears, which is able to attach oxygen at a lower partial pressure. The density of capillaries in the lungs increases, and as a result the efficiency of absorption of oxygen molecules increases, and the blood viscosity decreases. All this is supplemented by the increase in the concentration of muscle protein (myoglobin) in the cardiac muscle and skeletal muscle. Myoglobin carries oxygen in the zone of lower partial pressure than hemoglobin.

So what are the phases of acclimatization?

First you go up a small height, short-term acclimatization is turned on. In this stage you may feel a minor mountain sickness, headache and dizziness, nausea. Then the body turns on a long-term acclimatization and you adapt to the height. The next day you gain a little more height, and the same processes occur. Usually people climb 800-1000 meters per day, then drop 300-400 meters for an overnight stay. It is not recommended to exceed the height of your overnight camp by more than 1000 meters per day. And if you’re not adapted to the height, then do not climb more than 500-600 meters per day.

To understand if you got used to the height, pay attention to the following things:

  • At rest, your heart rate does not exceed the usual urban rhythm
  • You have no shortness of breath during rest or easy physical work
  • You sleep peacefully at night
  • You have a good appetite, you don’t feel sick
  • You have a clear mind, give correct answers to simple questions on logic or history, solve simple arithmetic problems (of course if you can do this in the city)
Climbing Mountain Ararat

Acclimatization at high altitude

The key factor is the descent to a lower height for an overnight stay. During the day, you climb a new height, expose the body to stress, as it has to adapt to this height. Then you descent a couple of hundred meters for an overnight stay, and at rest the body copes better with this task. The point of such acclimatization schedule is not to fall into a “dead loop” of exhaustion. The body lacks oxygen – the heart beats faster to pump more blood – the heart gets tired and beats slower – the body lacks oxygen, hypoxia and exhaustion begin.

Reacclimatization

On the plain we do not need as much hemoglobin as on the mountain. Therefore, along with the descent, the body gets rid of acclimatization. At this time, disturbances in blood pressure, drowsiness, headache and dizziness are possible. I remember that after Kazbek we went to Batumi. On the first day by the sea, we felt worse than on Kazbek. This was a consequence of a rapid elevation drop. Almost in one day we went down from 4000 meters to 0. The next morning, we already felt better.

High altitude experience

As we’ve already said, with descent to the plain, acclimatization disappears, but the so-called high altitude experience remains. High altitude experience is a memory of our body from a past ascent. With each ascent the high altitude experience increases, and each time the body adapts faster and better and is ready for new undeveloped heights. Therefore, it is not recommended to increase the height of the next peak by more than 1000 meters. But there is no such dogma. Nothing catastrophic will happen if your next mountain is 1600 meters higher.

Climbing Mountain Ararat

Acclimatization at high altitude

Also let’s not forget that in addition to the altitude, the geography of the mountain is important, too. For example, a person who climbed Elbrus should in theory calmly climb Aconcagua, because closer to the equator the atmospheric layer is thicker, and the climate is warmer.

High altitude experience can be divided into subconscious and conscious.

Subconscious

These are the processes that happen in the body in order to adapt. An experienced person adapts faster and more efficient. Also, subconscious experience includes emotional stability, stress resistance and comfort zone which expands each time.

Conscious

Conscious experience is the knowledge and experience that a person acquires each time. Knowledge of how to respond to various signals and symptoms of your body, how to better plan your ascent, how to deal with ailments, etc.

High altitude experience is developed slowly, throughout the life with each ascent. Sure we can read smart books and train ourselves with different hypoxic masks or even be in a special altitude chamber, but these synthetic trainings will never replace real experience in the mountains. That’s why it’s called experience.

We would not recommend going to an undeveloped height alone. If you don’t have any experience above 5000 meters, then it’s better to hire a guide, at least for the first time.

Go to the mountains wisely and safely. See you!

Useful information

Winter Hiking

How to prepare for winter hiking

Venomous snakes Armenia

How to protect yourself from venomous snakes?

Water Sources in the Mountains

Water Sources in the Mountains

Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness and how to prevent it

Acclimatization

Acclimatization at high altitude

Winter Camping Tips

Winter Camping Tips

How to Pack a Backpack

How to Pack a Backpack

What is Dehydration

What is Dehydration

Avalanche

Avalanche: How to Avoid?

]]> 51210 Winter Camping Tips https://www.armgeo.am/en/camping/ Wed, 19 Feb 2020 12:42:50 +0000 https://www.armgeo.am/camping/ Overnight hikes are one the most popular and interesting activities. During such hikes we manage to overcome long distances, see much more, find new friends, completely relax from city life and enjoy leisure in nature. Overnight in a tent implies increased risks, the highest level of responsibility and caution for each participant of the hike. We have touched on some of these topics to some extent. This time we decided to reveal to you a few tricks in order not to freeze in the tent at night and get a good sleep. The knowledge of these winter camping tips will help you during trekkings to Ararat, Northern Aragats or Geghama mountains.

Winter camping tips

Winter camping tips

During the day, a long walk takes a huge amount of energy from us and overloads our muscles and other organs. All this must be restored with proper nutrition and sleep. We have already talked about nutrition, and now we want to show you some winter camping tips.

Not getting cold is the main guarantee of a good healthy sleep. When the body freezes, it begins to expend more energy to protect against hypothermia and frostbite. As a result, you can’t sleep well and in the morning you feel sleepy and exhausted, instead of being healthy and full of energy.

Get Prepared for an Overnight

  • First, you need to carefully study the area where you plan to hike. You have probably noticed that this advice is the first one in any situation. You should always study the area first. Even if you take a tour and a professional guide accompanies you, you still have some responsibility for the successful and safe hike. Therefore, do not sign up for a hike without knowing anything about the area and relying only on a guide.
  • Choose equipment suitable for the terrain and conditions, especially the tents, sleeping bags and mattresses. If you have the right sleeping bag and mattress, then you will not freeze, so you can stop reading this article. Okay, this is just a joke. Be sure to read it as you always need to be competent in the matter of safety, regardless of your camping equipment.
  • Warm up your body before entering the sleeping bag. The sleeping bag does not have active particles for heating; it simply isolates you from the outside world, with your own temperature. And if you enter the sleeping bag frozen, you will get warm much later. Roughly speaking, instead of heat, the sleeping bag isolates your “cold”. Therefore, before entering the sleeping bag, you should do a light workout or drink hot tea. However, after drinking tea, you will be forced to wake up in the middle of the night due to “natural needs”.
winter camping tips

Camping tips

  • Take care of your natural need before you go to bed, so that you do not have to leave your newly warmed sleeping bag.
  • Have a special bottle with a wide neck for emergency cases when it is impossible to get out of the tent due to the extreme cold. You can leave it in the vestibule of the tent. Just be careful and sign this bottle, not to confuse it with a bottle of water.
  • Sleep in warm clothes. Although this is an arguable point. The thing is that if the clothes are too thick or too tight, they can interfere with free blood circulation. In addition, thick clothes leave very little space for air, and we warm ourselves thanks to the warm “air pockets”.
  • Protect your head and legs from the cold. You can wrap your legs in a fleece towel or a fleece, not too thick jacket. Make sure to put on a hat, because with frostbite of the head, the consequences can be very unpleasant and dangerous for your health. However, you should not wear a tight balaclava or hat that will press on the blood vessels. It is better to wrap your head in a scarf than to put on a tight hat. There are light fleece hats that work well for an overnight in tent.
  • Protect your sleeping bag from cold ground. If your mattress is thin, spread an extra rescue blanket, and put an empty backpack, jacket, and any soft thing around your legs and waist to keep you away from the cold ground.
  • Eat frequently. Food gives our body a burst of energy, and then heat. Eat foods rich in carbohydrates and proteins, drink sweet liquids.
winter camping tips

Camping tips

  • It is advisable to have special clothes for sleeping. It should be soft and comfortable. In this case, fleece material is ideal. It is always more pleasant to sleep in fresh, warm clothes. And the thermal underwear that you wore all day will have time to dry before the morning.
  • Ventilate the tent. If your tent does not have small windows for ventilation, then slightly open the entrance zipper of the tent from the top. If you do not ventilate the tent, with each exhalation, condensation will accumulate on the walls of your tent, and the resulting moisture will contribute to freezing more.
  • Use heating pads. You can use special salt heating pads, or pour warm water into a plastic bottle and place it in your sleeping bag.

* Be careful to remove the bottle from the sleeping bag as soon as it cools down.

* Do not pour boiling water into a plastic bottle: it can melt. Water should be hot, but not boiling.

  • If there are several people in the tent, lay close to each other. This way you will warm each other. If there are three of you in a tent, then the person who freezes the most should lie in the middle. This way he will be better protected from the cold. If necessary, you can connect sleeping bags and lie down together. This provides a lot warmer conditions than if you sleep separately.

In general, here is a piece of advice: overnight in a tent is a sacrifice of your usual comfort zone. Anything can happen during a trip, and you may be forced to face challenges that require other people to invade your personal space, regardless of gender or your relationship. Especially if you need to provide emergency assistance to a person, or if you need help. Let’s not go deep, the idea is clear.

Never heat the tent with a gas burner. Gas burners for camps emit a large amount of carbon dioxide, which is a threat to life in enclosed spaces.

You can turn on the burner for a very short time only after you have properly ventilated the tent.

One more tip for your gadgets. To prevent the batteries of your gadgets from being discharged too early, place them in your sleeping bag during the night in a tent, or store them in a backpack, wrapping them in warm clothes.

We hope that these winter camping tips will help you stay warm and have an unforgettable outdoor experience.

The copyright of this article is owned by armgeo.am. The content of the article may be cited or used on other websites only with an active link to the source.

Hiking Equipment

Hiking Gear List for climbing Ararat

Gear List for Climbing Mount Ararat

Hiking Gear List

One Day Hiking Gear List

How to prepare for a backpacking trip

How to prepare for a backpacking trip

List of equipment for technical ascents

List of equipment for technical ascents

Hiking hat

How to choose a hiking hat?

Gadgets

How to charge your gadgets while hiking?

Hiking flashlight

Hiking Flashlight

Hiking socks

How to choose hiking socks?

Hiking gloves

Hiking Gloves or Mitten

]]> 50340 How to Pack a Backpack https://www.armgeo.am/en/how-to-pack-a-backpack/ Wed, 19 Feb 2020 08:26:11 +0000 https://www.armgeo.am/how-to-pack-a-backpack/ Have you already bought your backpack? Then you should know that buying an expensive and comfortable backpack is half the battle. You need to know how to pack a backpack properly. Our hiking items have different weights and sizes. They also vary according to their importance. Therefore, we must pack our backpack based on these criteria. In this article, you will be acquainted with some tricks that will help you save space and weight in your backpack.

It will take time and frequent trips to gain experience and learn how to pack your backpack properly. Therefore, do not get disappointed if after reading this article you do not immediately learn how to pack a backpack.

The diagram below applies to backpacks for multi-day trekking, since under heavy loads the proper weight distribution becomes extremely important. You can also be guided by this principle during one-day hikes.

how to pack a backpack

How to pack a backpack

  • First, let’s imagine the principle of sorting a backpack by items:
  1. In the lower part of the backpack, we pack relatively light, but large-sized things – a sleeping bag, some items of spare clothing, an air pillow, etc.
  2. The heaviest gear should be close to the back, from the waist to the shoulders, so that the strong muscles of the back and waist take the bulk of the weight. Thanks to the proximity to the back, the center of gravity will not be disturbed. If you make the bottom of the backpack heavier, you will feel a lot of pressure down. And if you concentrate the gravity at the top, the backpack will swing, and the center of gravity will shift. In addition, if the backpack does not lie on your back, you will feel the weight of the backpack more strongly. As a rule, metal things, a tent, spare shoes, food for the camp are stacked close to the back. In the front part of the backpack, you need to stack things that are a bit lighter than the heaviest things – clothes, food, various tools, and appliances.
  3. At the top of the main section of the backpack, you need to put fragile items, and essentials: a flashlight, a power bank, a raincoat, a hat, glasses and so on. Those are the things that we use most often during hiking.
  4. We advise you to put the first-aid kit in the top pocket of your backpack, so that in case of an accident, nothing prevents you from quickly getting it from the backpack.

 

how to pack a backpack

  • The size of the backpack should depend on the length of the route and the number of days. Both an inappropriate small backpack and an oversized backpack will cause inconveniences.
  • Do not pack your backpack at the last moment. It sounds quite logical, but usually people are lazy or simply do not have time to do this in advance. Make a list, put everything in front of you, and start collecting your backpack in the correct way. After putting each item in your backpack, make a note on the list.

Then, start to doubt that you forgot to put something, disassemble the entire backpack, make sure you have not actually forgotten anything, and start the whole process again. Repeat it at least three times.

  • In addition to weight, follow the principle of necessity. Pack a tent, a sleeping bag, food, a gas stove and all other things for the camp, on the bottom of your backpack, put spare clothes there too. A light snack, sweets, a flashlight, gloves, a hat, a jacket and other similar things need to be put in the upper part, so that you can have a quick access to necessary things while walking.
  • Distribute food by day; arrange it separately in small bags. It is more convenient and economical than taking a whole box of tea, coffee or oatmeal with you. Food can be wrapped in cling film. This way it will be protected from water and take up as little space as possible.

how to pack a backpack

  • Be sure to bring a protective cover for your backpack. Otherwise, you risk wetting the entire contents of the backpack in case of heavy rain. Modern backpacks are made of waterproof materials, but water can get inside anyway. Once wet, the backpack will become heavier and will quickly wear out.
  • Try not to hang anything on your backpack. For some reason, some people like to hang most of their belongings on a backpack. Boots, appliances, tent, mattress. If the last two can still be understood, due to their large size, then hanging shoes or dishes on a backpack does not make sense. Firstly, the shoes may get wet and damaged, and the dishes will make noise and get on your nerves. All this will shift the center of gravity of the backpack and make you look very unprofessional.
  • Use compression bags to keep things separate. Sort clothes according to their purpose – nightwear, for easy walking, spare, dirty. This will make it easier to navigate.

how to pack a backpack

  • The tent can also be placed inside the backpack, regardless of size. You can place the tent in a compression bag, or disassemble the entire tent, separate the outer tent and separately put them in small compression bags. And the arcs and pegs can be tied to the side ropes.
  • Always tighten the ropes all the way, so that everything fits snugly and the contents of the backpack remain immovable. It is both convenient and safe.

Perhaps that’s all. After reading these tips on how to pack a backpack, try to pack your backpack correctly few times. Try different combinations until you figure out which one works best for your backpack. Then, try to quickly find the thing you need, not destroying everything inside. Repeat in your mind and try to memorize everything. This will help you in emergencies and save you a lot of time.

The copyright of this article is owned by armgeo.am. The content of the article may be cited or used on other websites only with an active link to the source.

Useful to know

Winter Hiking

How to prepare for winter hiking

Venomous snakes Armenia

How to protect yourself from venomous snakes?

Water Sources in the Mountains

Water Sources in the Mountains

Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness and how to prevent it

Acclimatization

Acclimatization at high altitude

Winter Camping Tips

Winter Camping Tips

How to Pack a Backpack

How to Pack a Backpack

What is Dehydration

What is Dehydration

Avalanche

Avalanche: How to Avoid?

]]> 50411 What is Dehydration https://www.armgeo.am/en/dehydration/ Fri, 14 Feb 2020 12:08:33 +0000 https://www.armgeo.am/dehydration/ Our body is a complex and fragile mechanism. Its natural work requires several preconditions: favorable conditions of atmospheric pressure and heat, a sufficient amount of food and liquid, various trace elements and vitamins. It is enough that one of these conditions is violated, and the body goes out of balance, begins the processes of balancing the deficit or an excess of something. If these processes continues for a longer period, it can have serious consequences for the human body. Of particular importance among them is dehydration. More than 65% of our body is made up of water. That is why water is extremely important for our body. Thanks to water, nutrients dissolve in the blood and enter our cells. Therefore, with a lack of water, the body does not receive enough nutrients and gets tired quickly. This is what we call dehydration. It happens when the amount of fluid that your body looses exceeds the amount of fluid it receives. Our body loses fluid from sweat, breathing, secretion.

Dehydration

Water in human body

Dry air in high altitude conditions contributes to dehydration. When we inhale a dry air it “absorbs” moisture from our body, and when we exhale the moisture leaves our body with the breath. But most of the body liquids are lost during sweating or vomiting and even because of diarrhea. These are problems that may occur during difficult mountain trekkings. Therefore, you should remember that in such situations the injured person is especially vulnerable.

During intensive physical work, especially during cyclic sports (running, hiking, cycling, swimming), our body loses various trace elements more intensively: salts, electrolytes, which are very important for metabolism. After all, it is the minerals that are responsible for regulating the rate of fluid absorption by the cell membrane, and for the process of dissolution of water in the blood. If these substances are not enough, the body begins to weaken, the metabolism is disturbed. Also, it contributes to the development of other diseases, such as hypothermia, sunstroke or mountain sickness.

How does Dehydration Occur

So, when can we assume that the body is dehydrated? How does dehydration occur and how to deal with it?

Dehydration can be conditionally divided into three degrees:

  • Mild – 3-5%
  • Moderate – 6-9%
  • Severe – more than 10%

To be clearer, simply use this thought: you should not be thirsty. If you are thirsty, then dehydration has already started. The easiest way to avoid this is to drink water in small sips during any activity.

During moderate dehydration following symptoms will appear:

  • Thirst
  • Dizziness and headache
  • Hangover
  • Dry mouth
  • Weakness, fatigue
  • Frequent and shallow breathing
  • Fast heart work, 100 cuts per minute in a calm state
  • Decreased body temperature, especially in the limbs

If you notice all these symptoms, then the situation is getting worse and can lead to serious pathological consequences. You need to immediately stop climbing, rest under the shade and try to restore the body’s water balance.

How to Avoid Dehydration

As we already know, it is much easier to prevent something than to get rid of the consequences later. Prevention from dehydration is easier than from any other phenomenon. Drink water, just drink water constantly!

To make it more clear just follow these steps:

  • First of all, drink plenty of water before the start of the trip, in order to have a supply of water in the body in advance and not to lose it at the very beginning of the trip.

"<yoastmark

  • While walking, drink water in small sips every 10-15 minutes to maintain water balance. If you do not drink water for a long time, and then drink too much water at once, this can lead to the opposite effect, since the body does not have time to absorb such amount of liquid. Drink water according to the principle of drip irrigation.
  • Remember to drink water during break stops. Pause is a great time to refill the body’s water supply.
  • Use a hydration bag with a long tube as long as you are lazy and don’t want to take a water bottle out of your backpack every time.
  • Use isotonics and other sports supplements. A little later we will talk about them in detail.
  • Watch the color of urine. In normal condition, it should be almost colorless. If the color darkens, then you are dehydrated. Exceptions are those cases when you take a vitamin course or other medications, or if you have a specific disease with similar symptoms.

Isotonics

We have already talked about isotonics in other articles and mentioned their importance. Nevertheless, in this article we decided to study this topic in more detail, as many people believe that any supplements, medicines or vitamins are “chemistry” and are harmful to human health. But why are they harmful? How do they harm? What makes them harmful? No one can give a solid answer.

"<yoastmark

Performing active physical work, the body loses a large amount of minerals and electrolytes, along with sweat. Their presence in the blood plays a very important role. Thanks to them, water is more quickly and efficiently absorbed into the cell membrane. They also regulate the work of ganglion, muscle contraction, metabolism.

The deficiency of isotonics causes fatigue, uncontrolled cramping, loss of coordination, and, in the end, even loss of consciousness. The fact is that dehydration occurs even if you drink water. In some cases, plain water is not enough to restore the lack of fluid. Often, during trips, you may experience dizziness, headache, a sense of hangover. This is dehydration.

The body needs help to fight this. Here isotonics come to aid. They are presented in the form of a powder or tablets that dissolve in water. The main components are: salts, various minerals, electrolytes, soda. Some isotonics also contain additional vitamins, simple carbohydrates, amino acids. All this will keep you on your toes before you you’ll have dinner in the evening camp.

You should drink isotonics about 20 minutes before the start of physical activity. Then continue to drink in small sips throughout the entire trip. After the activity is completed, you need to continue to drink isotonic, so that your body doesn’t have a loss of trace elements and fluids.

If you follow these simple rules, your body will not face dehydration. And remember that following these rules is very easy, repeat this until it turns into a habit.

The copyright of this article is owned by armgeo.am. The content of the article may be cited or used on other websites only with an active link to the source.

Useful Information

Winter Hiking

How to prepare for winter hiking

Venomous snakes Armenia

How to protect yourself from venomous snakes?

Water Sources in the Mountains

Water Sources in the Mountains

Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness and how to prevent it

Acclimatization

Acclimatization at high altitude

Winter Camping Tips

Winter Camping Tips

How to Pack a Backpack

How to Pack a Backpack

What is Dehydration

What is Dehydration

Avalanche

Avalanche: How to Avoid?

]]> 50196 Avalanche: How to Avoid? https://www.armgeo.am/en/avalanche/ Thu, 06 Feb 2020 09:04:02 +0000 https://www.armgeo.am/avalanche/ Probably the most terrifying phenomenon within mountaineers. A phenomenon that kills skiers, climbers and mountain tourists every year. A phenomenon that occurs suddenly and lasts a few minutes. A phenomenon that is very difficult to predict. In one word – an avalanche.

Any movement of snow mass down the hill or a mountainside, at a speed of more than 1 m/s, is considered an avalanche. According to statistics, most avalanches, which involve humans, occur precisely by their fault. That is why it is very important to have at least minimal knowledge about an avalanche, its types and causes, to master the basic safety rules and know how to conduct rescue operations.

How does an avalanche occur?

The snow layer remains on the slope due to the friction. When the weight of the snow mass begins to prevail over the friction force, an avalanche occurs. Avalanche is usually accompanied by a strong wave of air that destroys everything in front of it.

The snow cover is never uniform. It has different layers, each of which has been formed over a certain period of time. Each layer has its own quality characteristics. A new layer is formed due to snow or wind that pushes the snow layer from one part to another.

Together with all this mass, the pressure in the snow layers increases and because of certain influences, if one of the layers weakens, the force of gravity prevails over the friction force of the snow layers, the layer separates and glides down, taking with it all the snow mass above it.

There are a number of effects that can “provoke” an avalanche.

  • Fresh snow increases the pressure on the snow cover and contributes to an increase of the tension in it. It is believed that if more than 30 cm of snow falls during the day, then the risk of an avalanche significantly increases. Not only the amount of snow that has fallen is important, but also its speed. The situation is considered critical if 1.5-2 cm of snow falls in an hour.
  • The wind is capable of moving large amounts of snow. The faster the wind speed, the more snow it can move. Sometimes the wind accompanies the snow and drives all the snow mass that has fallen and collects it at one point, significantly increasing the tension in this area, which, in the end, leads to an avalanche.
  • Air temperature can affect snow in different ways. In such cases, there are five main scenarios that can develop:
  1. A sudden increase in temperature (crossing the zero mark) – dramatically increases the risk of an avalanche.
  2. Slow temperature increase without crossing the zero mark – stabilizes the snow cover.
  3. Gradual warming during the day and cooling in the evening – a stable weather that maintains snow cover at peace.
  4. Cooling – suspends the situation that was before, and gradually makes it worse; the risk of an avalanche increases.
  5. Prolonged cold weather increases the tension in the snow cover.
Avalanche

Avalanche / photo from British Mountaineering Council page

  • Solar radiation, in general, has a stabilizing effect on the snow cover. Especially in winter, when the air temperature is always below zero, solar radiation has a softening effect on the frozen layers of snow. But closer to spring, when the air temperature rises above zero, the effect of the sun can change sharply to negative and in a matter of minutes disturb the balance of the snow cover.
  • Rain in high mountain areas is extremely dangerous in terms of avalanches. Firstly, the rain itself increases the weight of the entire snow mass. In addition, raindrops penetrate deep into the snow cover, destroying the crystal structure of snowflakes and creating an unstable state for the entire snow cover. In such cases, there is a high probability that all snow mass, down to the ground, will fall and rush down.
  • The terrain also affects avalanches. The knowledge of the terrain and the competent planning of the route are a guarantee of a safe ascent. Slopes and inclines are considered influencing factors.

*On different sides of the horizon, the risk of an avalanche under equal conditions can be different. It depends on the effects of the sun and winds. As a rule, in the northern hemisphere, the southern slopes are most dangerous in winter and the northern ones in summer. However, this rule may have a number of exceptions, depending on the particular mountain, snow level and weather conditions.

*Board-shaped ice avalanches mainly occur on slopes with 35-60 degrees of declivity. However, most avalanches occur at an incline of 35 to 40 degrees, reaching their peak at 38 degrees. This slope provides all the conditions for a layer of snow to accumulate, but at the same time remain unstable. With a smaller declivity, the tension is small. On steeper spoles, the snow does not have time to accumulate, and from time to time, there are small avalanches that do not cause much damage.

  • The surface of the earth also plays an important role. Usually snow remains worse on flat rocky or grassy slopes. Because of this, the entire mass can break and rush down. While on rocky slopes, cliffs or on lava flows, snow cover remains well on the surface. On such slopes, avalanches mainly occur in the upper layers.

How to get around an avalanche?

Since it is not always possible to avoid or bypass dangerous snowy areas, you need to know the rules for safe walking in such places.

Dangerous areas must be walked one by one, at a great distance from each other and as quickly as possible. While one of the participants passes through the dangerous area, his friends stand outside the avalanche zone and watch him, so that in case of an avalanche they can help. It is advisable to walk along the ridges of the mountains. Typically, an avalanche starts from the areas below the ridges.

Avalanche

Avalanche

When passing through a weakly expressed relief, it is advisable to choose areas with a convex relief. In these areas, due to pressure, snow cover is more stable.

Avoid the couloirs. The snow cover on them is unstable.

No matter what safety measures you take, there is always the possibility that an avalanche could occur and you could be in danger. Therefore, you must know what to do if an avalanche has begun.

There is a misconception that there are no avalanches in Armenia, or, if they start, they will not have any disastrous consequences. However, that is not true. Of course, avalanches in Armenia cannot be compared with the ones happening in Himalayas, but in any case, the risk is quite high and should not be underestimated. For example, Mount Hatis, Teghenis, Geghama Mountains can present unpleasant surprises. It is advisable to have avalanche equipment with you: avalanche shovel, avalanche transceiver and probe. It is also important to know how to use this equipment.

This is an extremely complex and long topic, and it would be impossible to fit all the information into one small article. Therefore, approach this material as an introduction. At the end of the article, we will leave links to other sources for more detailed information.

What to do when hit by an avalanche?

If the avalanche started far from you, then you will have a few seconds to leave the danger zone. Try to do it as quickly as possible.

If the avalanche began at a closer distance to you, or right under your feet, then you need to face the avalanche, stick the trekking poles or an ice axe into the snow and try to resist on it. If an avalanche begins to cover you, then you need to try to “swim” in it and try to stay on the surface. Left under the snow, people mostly die due to lack of air. Therefore, once in the snow, you need to try to dig to create airspace for breathing. Naturally, this is easier said than done. In most cases, people, especially inexperienced ones, will not be able to effectively use these techniques in a stressful situation. Still, it is better to try to do something than to stand still and panic.

Those who will look for a victim should be aware that for people left under the snow, time is extremely limited.

  • After 15 minutes under the snow, 1 in 10 people are already dying.
  • In 20 minutes, there will be six dead.
  • In an hour, 2-3 people will survive at best.

We have provided you with basic information so that you have an idea of what an avalanche is, what to expect from it and how it occurs. This article can help you avoid dangers to some extent. However, we decided not to write about rescue operations and avalanche forecasting, since this is a large separate science, and the information about it would not fit in an article of this format. Instead, we suggest that you watch the video below in which the expert explains in detail all the nuances associated with the avalanche.

The copyright of this article is owned by armgeo.am. The content of the article may be cited or used on other websites only with an active link to the source.

Useful Information

Winter Hiking

How to prepare for winter hiking

Venomous snakes Armenia

How to protect yourself from venomous snakes?

Water Sources in the Mountains

Water Sources in the Mountains

Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness and how to prevent it

Acclimatization

Acclimatization at high altitude

Winter Camping Tips

Winter Camping Tips

]]> 48602 How to Predict Weather https://www.armgeo.am/en/weather-in-mountains/ Wed, 05 Feb 2020 08:28:07 +0000 https://www.armgeo.am/weather-in-mountains/ The weather in mountains is very unpredictable. A bright sunny day can suddenly become rainy. Hail, thunderstorm, storm may begin. It is very important to know how to predict the weather in the mountains. You need to know what sources to use to get accurate information about the weather forecast when you are still in the city and to identify the signs on the spot in real time, and understand what they mean.

The surface of the earth heats unevenly, as more sunlight falls on the equatorial line than on the poles. Subsequent high and low atmospheric pressure belts are formed. The warm air mass has a low-pressure belt and rises upward, which usually causes bad weather. The cold air mass has a high-pressure belt, which goes down and causes bright and stable weather.

Cyclone and Anticyclone 

The cyclone is an air mass with a low-pressure belt, where a warm high-pressure air mass penetrates. As a result, we get a rotating air mass, in the center of which there is a low-pressure belt, and around it is a high-pressure belt. During cyclones, the weather is gloomy, with frequent precipitation and strong winds.

Weather in Mountains

Cyclone

An anticyclone is the opposite of a cyclone. It’s an area, in the center of which there is a high-pressure belt, which rotates and pushes the air masses out from the center. During the anticyclone, the weather is clear and sunny, cloudless, there are no strong winds and precipitation. In summer, the weather is hot and sunny, and the winter is very cold. Anticyclones move slowly, so they bring stable weather with them.

Weather in mountains

Anticyclone

Anticyclone is a favorable time for mountain climbing.

How to Predict Weather in Mountains

Let’s not go too deep into science. We will present to you the signs that you should be aware of.

In the morning air masses rise from the foot of the mountain to the top, and in the evening they usually go down. This happens due to the temperature difference between the surface of the foot and the top of the mountain. Because of this phenomenon, the morning in the mountains is sunny, during the day it can rain on the slopes of the mountain and snow at the top.

You can learn a lot about the upcoming weather by looking at the clouds. Mostly clouds can be:

Cirrus – the weather is getting worse

weather in mountains

Cirrus Clouds

Cumulonimbus – bad weather, rain

Weather in Mountains

Cumulonimbus Clouds

Stratus/Layered – the weather may get worse

Weather in mountains

Layered Clouds

Altostratus/High layered – possible rainfall

Weather in Mountains

High Layered Clouds

Stratocumulus – the weather may get worse

Weather in mountains

Stratocumulus Clouds

Altocumulus – the weather may get worse

Weather in Mountains

Altocumulus Clouds

Nimbostratus – bad weather, rain, snow

Weather in mountains

Nimbostratus Clouds

Cumulus clouds – good weather

Weather in Mountains

Cumulus Clouds

In addition to the main types of clouds, you must also pay attention to the following two phenomena.

Lenses (lenticular) are a type of altocumulus clouds. They are formed under the condition of strong winds and the presence of some kind of barrier. Mountain peaks usually play the role of the barrier. Typically, such clouds form during the influx of warm air masses. The formation of such clouds indicates a worsening of the weather.

Halo is another sign of worsening weather. A halo is an optical phenomenon that forms around a strong light source. Sources of such light may be the sun or the moon. However, a halo can also form around other strong light sources. The halo is caused by the refraction of light by small ice crystals located inside cirrus clouds.

weather in mountains -lens weather in mountains

Signs of Thunderstorm

Thunderstorms are one of the greatest dangers in the mountains. The occurrence of thunderstorms is directly related to the sun. That is why thunderstorms most often occur in the summer, during the daytime. A prerequisite for a thunderstorm is warm air streams directed upwards. Their rapid movement generates electrostatic voltage and, as a result, lightning.

Local thunderstorms can develop very quickly. You need to watch closely to see how quickly cumulus clouds form. The faster the clouds form, especially in the vertical plane, the higher the likelihood of cumulus clouds and rainfall. A cloud in a form of a tower pointing upwards is a bad sign. Especially if the bottom of the cloud is dark. It is even more dangerous if there are several clouds like that. In this case, long and severe thunderstorm can begin.

The thunderstorm can also be predicted by the following signs:

  • Morning dew does not dry out for a long time
  • Clouds that are formed early in the morning
  • The lower parts of cumulus clouds are dark
  • No wind, stuffy
  • The lower part of the clouds is convex, which indicates the presence of upward streams
  • Wind gust, with the condition that dark clouds are visible from distance
  • Clouds resembling an anvil or tower. The upper part is wider and has a flat top.
weather in mountains weather in mountains

How to Protect from Thunder and Lightning

  • Leave the open space. If you are on top of a mountain, you must immediately go down as low as possible and leave the ridge of the mountain.
  • Turn off telephones, walkie-talkies, and other electrical equipment.
  • Try to find shelter. A thunderstorm rarely lasts more than an hour, but it is enough to get wet and then have frostbite. Find recesses in the rocks, camp in a dry place, or under some cover. You need to hide in a tent or under a rock, at a distance of at least 1 meter from the walls.

You need to forecast not only bad weather. In order not to miss the opportunity to make an ascent, you also need to know about the upcoming favorable weather for hiking.

Signs of good weather are:

  • Cold night
  • Fog dissipates one or two hours after sunrise
  • At sunset, the sun looks like a ball of fire, with clearly visible round edges

Sources for accurate weather forecasts

First of all, it is impossible to accurately predict the weather in the mountains. However, modern technology allows us to accurately predict what the weather will be like in the mountains in the next two to three days. To do this, there are several relevant sites that show detailed information about air temperature, precipitation and winds. Some sites provide satellite images that show the movement of air masses.

Here are some weather forecasting sites:

Mountain forecast – This site is specialized in mountain weather forecasts. Here you can find the weather forecast for almost any mountain, with all the detailed information and diagrams.

Meteoblue – Here you will find detailed information about all the data, including satellite images. There is a search option, both by the names of settlements and by the names of mountain peaks, showing the weather forecast in the mountains. The site quite accurately predicts the weather in Europe, America, but there is not much information about Armenia. But in any case, here you can get accurate weather information. The site has a mobile application, which is very convenient.

Wind guru – This site specializes in the wind. It is most often used by sailors to get an idea of the sea winds. The site shows details about the movement of air masses and winds. It works especially well for coastal areas.

Remember that you should not underestimate the weather. It should be the number one parameter when planning a trip, since the weather is beyond our control, and it cannot be adapted to our needs.

The copyright of this article is owned by armgeo.am. The content of the article may be cited or used on other websites only with an active link to the source.

Hiking Equipment

Hiking Gear List for climbing Ararat

Gear List for Climbing Mount Ararat

Hiking Gear List

One Day Hiking Gear List

How to prepare for a backpacking trip

How to prepare for a backpacking trip

List of equipment for technical ascents

List of equipment for technical ascents

Hiking hat

How to choose a hiking hat?

Gadgets

How to charge your gadgets while hiking?

Hiking flashlight

Hiking Flashlight

Hiking socks

How to choose hiking socks?

Hiking gloves

Hiking Gloves or Mitten

]]> 48733