1. Plan your trip and inform others about the route you have selected. 2. Adapt the planned routes according to ability and conditions. 3. Pay attention to the weather and the avalanche warnings. 4. Be prepared for bad weather and frost, even on short trips. 5. Bring the necessary equipment so you can help yourself and others. 6. Choose safe routes. Recognize avalanche terrain and unsafe ice. 7. Use a map and a compass. Always know where you are. 8. Don’t be ashamed to turn around. 9. Conserve your energy and seek shelter if necessary.

Safety in the winter mountains

When it’s cold, it’s even more important to dress in layers of wool, not to get wet, and to wear windproof outer garments.

Stay warm, dry, and hydrated

In the wintertime, you want to avoid hypothermia. Staying dry helps, as does having enough warm clothing. If you have an accident and need to spend the night, make sure you conserve enough energy to dig a cave in the snow or set up a snow shelter against the wind.

Make sure to insulate yourself from the ground or the snow if you have to lie down – skis are great for this, if not exactly comfortable. A large backpack can be used as a small makeshift sleeping bag, and even a small one may keep your feet warm and dry.

If you get thirsty, don’t be afraid to eat snow as long as it looks clean and untouched. It will cool you down somewhat, but dehydration will most often be a bigger concern than hypothermia.

Protect your eyes

Even though it’s winter, you should take care to bring sunglasses, as the glare from the snow can be quite intense and cause snow-blindness in extreme cases.

Signal for help

If you get lost, stay where you are and wait for help. Stick your skis in the snow, put on your safety vest, and signal with your torch or a signal mirror to make it easier for others to spot where you are.