With sunny days, hikers are out. Unfortunately, accidents also happen. THE high mountain gendarmerie platoon (PGHM) of Haute-Garonne has had nearly five interventions per week since the beginning of the month alone in the department… 20 minutes takes stock of the good reflexes to have to avoid trouble during your hikes.
Prepare your itinerary well
Before you park your car and set off on an adventure, you need to know your terrain well. “You have to gauge your physical level to decide on a route that you are capable of doing. You have to know your route to avoid getting lost as much as possible, that’s the whole base, ”explains commander Sébastien Lucéna of the Haute-Garonne PGHM based in Bagnères-de-Luchon. “It’s important to have a map or plan and communicate your planned route to outsiders you know in case you get lost,” adds Alexandra Genesty of the Club Alpin de Toulouse.
Know the weather report
In recent weeks, the majority of accidents were due to the weather… Storms and fog creep into the mountains from late afternoon. The floors are also more slippery and the weather can get cold very quickly. “So you have to adapt your start and your preparation to the weather. If the storms are present at the end of the afternoon, it is necessary to leave earlier in the morning and to calculate the time of the hike well. With the fog, you can quickly get lost and the helicopters cannot fly. These are important things to know”, develops the major of the PGHM. In the opposite case, if the temperatures are scorching, you must obviously avoid overloading your physical activity.
Good shoes
The advice may seem insignificant but “with the slippery floors at the moment, we have a lot of ankle accidents”, testifies the commander. It is therefore necessary hiking shoes tight at the ankles. This is essential for a safe hike. It is even the BA-BA. The plus: bring walking sticks that will stabilize you.
A well-filled backpack
The accessory of the perfect hiker is obviously the backpack: it must contain water and food. But not only. A windbreaker is necessary, as well as warm clothes. “This week, we went to rescue a lady who got lost. By the time of arrival, this hiker was in hypothermia because of the coolness of the evening. She was in shorts… A good first aid outfit can really avoid dramas”, testifies the major Sébastien Lucéna. The latter also recommends the addition of a headlamp. It’s up to you to add whatever you like afterwards.
Actions that can save
To all these tips, you can add reflexes that can improve your experience and avoid the worst. First, “eat and drink before you need it. It can be very hot and you have to avoid dehydration. We must not drink when we are dying of thirst or eat when it is too late, we must always anticipate our needs, ”clarifies the PGHM of Haute-Garonne. Paying attention to your phone’s battery is also important. If your phone is flat, we cannot geolocate you. “You can also take a beacon with you to use in the event of an accident or when you are lost so that you can notify the emergency services”, teaches Alexandra Genesty who believes that being part of a hiking club is a guarantee of greater safety. “to benefit from the knowledge of the supervisors”.
You are now ready to put on your good walking shoes to enjoy the landscapes offered by our mountains.