Montagna: rispetto e sicurezza in alta quota

News

19 February 2020

Mountains: respect and safety at high altitude

10 tips to live your adventure in harmony and prudence

The fresh and pure air of the high altitude, the serenity of the woods, the majesty of the views and landscapes and that sense of freedom that only the mountain can impress in the spirit. An ideal place to detox from the chaos of the city, to find peace and quiet, and in some way to find or rediscover yourself.

Whether it's summer or winter, spending time in the mountains and reaching a summit is an emotional experience of rare intensity. The path is not worth less than the destination, because wherever you look at the mountain it is able to offer corners of extreme beauty.

At the same time, however, it is an activity that requires knowledge, experience, preparation, assessment skills as well as safety and prudence.
And guiding us on the climbs should be a spirit of profound respect.

Respect for what?

1. FOR THE PLACES YOU ARE CROSSING

Take care of the environment around you, avoiding littering, taking specimens of protected species, assuming attitudes that could cause serious damage (for example fires), leaving useless writings, damaging signs and, more generally, of vandalism..

2. FOR THE ANIMALS YOU WILL MEET AND THE TRANQUILITY OF THE PLACES

Don't scare them and don't bother them. Avoid making unnecessary noises and inappropriate cackles.

3. FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ACCOMPANY YOU

Be careful and reserve help for those who may experience greater difficulties. If you face difficult passages, behave with the utmost care, to avoid causing harm to others.

4. FOR THE PEOPLE YOU MEET

In the mountains, no one is a stranger: greeting people you meet, even if they are unknown, is a good idea. Always.

5. FOR THE WORK OF THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS

Respect the pastures, walking carefully within the traces of the path that cross them.

6. FOR SHELTERS

Read carefully the rules and regulations of the shelters you stay in. Their function and the people who work there are a great help to you.

7. FOR BIVOUACS AND UNGUARDED SHELTERS

Do not damage the structure or equipment

8. FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WAITING FOR YOU AT HOME

Leave accurate information on the route you will take, even in the shelters you pass or stop for.

9. FOR YOURSELF

Check your health, get all the information on weather and environmental conditions and take care of your equipment and clothing with the utmost care before embarking on an excursion. Learn about the characteristics of the route you intend to take and the associated dangers.

10. FOR YOUR SAFETY

Always being traceable in the mountains is of vital importance.
There is no need to climb K2: even in our mountains many areas are not covered by the telephone network. Thinking of relying only on a mobile phone for communications would be imprudent, because in case of need it may not be enough to alert the rescue.

The solution?

Bring a satellite safety device with you for emergency calls or to communicate where you are at any time.

The satellite phone Thuraya XT-LITE

It is a simple, compact and easy to use model. It mainly allows you to carry out Voice and SMS traffic. Moreover, thanks to the integrated GPS positioning system, you have the possibility, in a few simple steps, to report your position by sending your coordinates through a message.

The tracking device Globalstar Spot X

Globalstar SPOT X offers off-the-grid messaging and tracking, with two-way satellite messaging so you can stay in touch with family, friends, colleagues whenever you are out of terrestrial coverage, including direct communication with search and rescue services in case of emergency.

The main functions:

MESSAGES: exchange SMS with any mobile number or email address from anywhere in the world.

SOS: send an S.O.S. at the search and rescue center 24/7.

TRACKING: Select from 2½, 5, 10, 30 or 60 minutes of tracking and let family, friends and other adventurers track your progress with Spot X's Google Maps ™ interface.