Safety rules in the mountain hike

This article applies mainly to newcomers who set foot on mountainous lands for the first time. But even if you are a seasoned hiker, it won’t hurt you to reinforce a few basic rules of conduct among the wilderness.

  1. Do not enter a difficult part of the route without prior preparation and acclimatization.
  2. Do not go out on the route under clearly unfavorable conditions: 2-3 days after a heavy snowfall, in fog, at low temperatures, strongly pronounced avalanche danger.
  3. Avoid moving in bad weather, in fog, in darkness, late at night. The main part of the day hike should be done in the morning hours.
  4. When moving in the mountains do not drink alcohol: it will protect your body from harmful consequences and dangerous behavior.
  5. At the slightest doubt about the safety to resort to the insurance.
  6. Avoid going up and down chutes with loose stones.
  7. When crossing, have lifesaving interception posts.
  8. Always maintain three points of support when climbing on rocks and two points of support when climbing on snow and ice slopes.
  9. When climbing, avoid crossing arms and legs, which reduces body stability.
  10. When climbing do not make any sudden movements, do not lean on your knee.
  11. When moving on the railing, do not stand more than one person between the two points of support.
  12. Safety rope and self-protection is obligatory when there is a threat of falling, injury and when there is no possibility of self-protection.
  13. In order to protect the head from blows and the hands and body from burns, the belayer must be dressed and wear a helmet and gloves.
  14. The belayer must not stand under the climber.
  15. To avoid injury when belaying, do not keep your hands close to the carabiner or rock ledge.
  16. Descent should be carried out by moving down the rocks without jumping, slowly.
  17. Go through snowy slopes in the cold morning time.
  18. Ascending and descending steep snow slopes should be done along the line of water fall.
  19. In case of heavy rain or hail stop and wait out the weather.
  20. In a thunderstorm go down from the ridge, the group should spread out, put iron objects at a distance from people, do not stand under a single tree, on the bank of a body of water, do not run, but walk slowly.
  21. Bivouac places should not be at the base of chutes, loose rocks, near spilling rivers, on difficult ledges, etc.