Trekking in the Alps. Kev Reynolds

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      Waymarks painted on rocks, trees and the sides of buildings ensure you stay on route (photo: Kev Reynolds)

      Trekking implies walking day after day, so you need to be fit from the outset. Don’t wait until you arrive in the Alps before you think about it – take regular exercise to prepare for those times when the trail climbs remorselessly for hundreds of metres to gain a distant pass. Although technical mountaineering skills are not required to achieve any of these routes (apart from glacier crossing on two of the treks), almost all routes will have stages where the trail is narrow or exposed, or perhaps safeguarded with a length of cable or chain; in some places a section of steel ladder or a few metal rungs may have been bolted to a rockface as an aid. Great care should be exercised when using these – it certainly helps if you have a ‘head for heights’.

      The vast majority of trails are clearly defined, well maintained and signed at major junctions. Waymarks are usually adequate on most routes, with lines of cairns directing the way where the terrain is such that no footpath could be made. But you should always remain alert, for even the most undemanding of paths can become hazardous when transformed by rain, snowmelt or a glaze of ice, and every trek will at some time cross rough and remote country where even a minor accident could have serious consequences.

      Before setting out each morning, study the guidebook’s description of that day’s trek and make a mental note of any potential hazards, changes of direction or landmarks that need to be watched for. Keep the map handy and make sure you can identify your correct position at any time; should visibility become impaired by mist, your chance of becoming lost is greatly reduced. Unless the weather is threatening, or you’re running short of time, allow yourself a few minutes every hour or so to sit on a rock and contemplate the peace and natural beauty that are among the souvenirs you will take home with you. You’ll not regret it.

      The frequency of accommodation and provision of meals makes backpacking unnecessary. A light daypack is all that’s required to contain the essentials for a two-week walking tour, but ensure it has a waterproof cover, and take a large polythene bag in which to pack your gear.

      Other items you may consider taking include a camera (essential to some), an altimeter and a mobile phone and charger – but note that it may not always be possible to get a signal, and you may have difficulty recharging it.

WHEN TO GO

      As a general rule the midsummer months of late June to mid-September offer the best and safest opportunities for trekking in the Alps, although in some years snow remains on the highest passes well into July. Of course, there are occasions when snow falls even in July or August, so be prepared for the worst but hope for the best. Typical summer conditions enable you to walk in T-shirt, shorts and sunhat, but long periods of mist, rain or storm should never be discounted. At altitude even a mild breeze can lower the temperature by several degrees. The moral is clear – keep warm, weather-proof clothing handy.

      Depending on altitude, wild flowers are at their best from June until late July, and huts are usually staffed from mid-June until late September, with the busiest period running from mid-July until late August.

SAFETY IN THE MOUNTAINS

      Trekking should be a safe and healthy pursuit, but all mountain regions contain a variety of objective dangers for the unwary. Without overstating the risk factor, it should be borne in mind that with narrow and exposed paths, stream crossings, high passes, and steep ascents and descents to negotiate, a high degree of concentration will be called for, even under good conditions. A moment’s carelessness could have serious repercussions.

      SAFETY DOS AND DON’TS