My name is Gabriel, I'm an alpinist and Wheycation Ambassador. Here are my tips for a successful mountaineering trip:
Time management:
I plan a high-altitude tour so that I'm at the summit by midday. Starting the tour early in the morning has the advantage that the firn is still frozen due to the lower temperatures, which increases safety.
Navigation / Weather:
For orientation, I carry appropriate digital maps (e.g., Swiss Topo). If I'm unfamiliar with the area, I also take a map. Before starting a mountaineering tour, it's important to know exactly how the weather will develop. I check this using the usual weather apps (e.g., MeteoSwiss). However, the weather in the mountains is very dynamic and can change unexpectedly. Therefore, I keep an eye on the weather during the tour.
Baggage:
When it comes to my backpack, I make sure it's lightweight. Therefore, I only take the essentials, along with my safety gear. For food, I carry about three energy bars and about 500 ml of water. I can get the rest of my food at the SAC huts. Because I checked the weather forecast when planning my trip, I know pretty much exactly what clothing I need. I usually wear softshell pants with edge protection so that my crampons don't tear the ends of the pants and become a tripping hazard. In addition to a T-shirt, I take a windbreaker, a Gore-Tex jacket, and/or a light down jacket, gloves, and a tube scarf, depending on the temperature. Life hack: When I descend from the summit the same way I ascended, I wear shorts and trail running shoes, depending on the weather, until the alpine terrain begins, then deposit my gear there and change into softshell pants and hiking boots.
Standard equipment:
Actually, the equipment is a little different for every high-altitude tour. However, on many tours, I carry the following safety gear: crampons, ice axe, climbing harness, 30 meters of rad line, one ice screw, three carabiners, 4 meters of cord, and one sling.
Now I wish you a successful and safe tour and lots of fun in the mountains.
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