Getting properly kitted out for hillwalking could mean the difference between getting home safely and not getting home at all, writes John G. O'Dwyer.
It's fashionable to get some clothes off these days - on the beach, in the gym, for a sauna. Even our High Street throngs are replete with acres of tattooed, uncovered skin. Others are the opposite, however, and what they're looking forward to is a cover-up. Fleeces, pull-ups, gloves and hats - not an inch of unnecessarily exposed flesh.
It's a psychosis, of course. Once, a long time ago, I headed for the hills and was promptly bitten by a mysterious and crafty bug, so cunning in fact, I didn't even notice I was a victim. It was a cold, wettish day and I wasn't particularly conscious of greatly enjoying myself, but afterwards I kept wanting to go back. Some 20 years later and still returning to slog up hillsides, I now accept my condition is chronic.
Winter is approaching and like thousands of other addicts, this is the time of year we wrap up and get our special fix of hillwalking. We're all watching covertly for Gerry Fleming to announce weekend high pressure with a wink. That's our signal to swaddle in Gore-Tex, wool and terrain-taming boots. Then it's off to the hills to enjoy our winter anticyclone.
The first lungful of sub-zero air will be icily invigorating. Muddy tracks will crunch satisfyingly beneath our feet. Familiar rocks are reshaped to weird frosty contours. Skies are enormous and from the frosty summit of Galtymore, the Kerry Mountains and Lugnaquilla are at once in view. It's a winter wonderland and too good to miss.
All good, clean, healthy fun, of course, assuming that we all come back in one piece. Unfortunately this is not always the case. Accidents happen in the hill country and they always seem to occur when and where we least expect them. Indeed those whose first experience of our high country comes on a cloudless, benign day, will doubtless wonder how we can possibly have so many mountain accidents and fatalities.
The answer is, of course, that there are far more days of low cloud, breath-robbing gales, or louring mizzle - a discomforting combination of mist and drizzle. Without direct experience, it's hard to imagine how - since Irish mountains aren't very high - weather on the peaks can be so different from that at sea level. It is all too easy to get caught out, unprepared for the conditions, and the consequences can range from uncomfortable to desperately serious. The forecast for Killarney may be for a 15 mph breeze and temperature of 10 degrees. High on the Reeks, however, this could mean -5 and gusts of 50 miles per hour.
Distant views of mountains speak tantalisingly of freedom and adventure, but seldom hint towards the hardships and dangers that can await. This has been the downfall of many. If we want to climb we must expect storms as well as gentle breezes, rain as often as sunshine and miserable mizzle more frequently than magical moments.
The first rule of mountain safety, according to experts, is to carry adequate clothing. Not only is it more pleasant to be warm and dry, it is a lot safer since we function so much better when we are comfortable. The adage, "If your feet are cold put on a hat" has much to commend it. For many hill-walkers, a hat is the item of clothing we should never be without, since it is so light to carry and the uncovered head is like a radiator, accounting for half the body's heat loss.
Of course there is also a need for full body cover; we should have jackets, overtrousers, gloves and scarves along with some emergency food supplies.
Beyond this, however, experience shows that if we try to prepare for every eventuality, the weight of the sack is likely to become a hazard in itself.
So if you have recently been bitten by the hillwalking bug, give our mountain rescue volunteers a break by taking some of the basic safety precautions listed below. Remember, the hills should foster our spirit of self-reliance. When planning a mountain walk there are three basic questions to be answered: do we know where we are going and how to get there, have we estimated how much time it will it take, and are we sure the walk is within our ability to complete safely before nightfall? If the answer is "yes" to these questions, you are now all set for a memorable and rewarding day in the Irish mountains.
John G. O'Dwyer is a Tipperary-based hill-walker and mountain leader
The Wicklow Mountains Autumn Walking festival is under way this weekend. It offers an ideal opportunity for hillwalkers - including beginners - to take a guided tour through the beautiful sights around Glendalough and Laragh. Today and tomorrow there are a range of walks available. Occasional strollers can enjoy the sights of Brockagh Valley or Glenmalure, while more experienced hikers may want to see the summit of Lugnaquilla and take in Camenaboologue, Table Mountain, Conavalla and Lugduff Mountains. Two-day passes are available for €27, or a one-day pass for €15. For further information call 0404-20070 or e-mail wctr@iol.ie