Photo: Brian Hodgson

Clothing and equipment - Dress to survive

As part of the planning for a trip out to the hills you need to make sure you are properly equipped and this will include having appropriate clothing. You may be spending 7 to 8 hours at a time in exposed locations; so if you want to keep warm it can pay to have the right clothing. It is possible to spend a small fortune on buying outdoor clothing but this is not always necessary as some of the cheaper brands perform just as well. Also, look out for sales and look in shops like T K Maxx for end-of-line bargains.

The Layering System

The Layering System is simple common sense. If you are hot you take layers off and if you are cold you add layers of clothing to keep warm.

Base Layer

The base layer is worn next to the skin. The main property of base layer clothing is to have a wicking ability (removing moisture from the skin) and for this reason cotton fabrics are to be avoided as cotton does not dry very quickly. This is relevant to us as climbing 300 or 400 ft to reach a location results in sweating which can soak a cotton T-Shirt and if it is worn next to the skin can result in feeling quite cold soon after ceasing climbing. If you have to wear a cotton base layer, then take a spare one with you and change soon after you reach your viewing location. Wool when wet, on the other hand, retains about 80% of the warmth when dry. There are some expensive base layers on the market based on merino wool but less expensive options are available from Marks and Spencer for example. A base layer would include long-johns especially during the winter. 

Mid Layer

The mid layer is worn between the base layer and outer layer and is worn to keep you warm. As with the base layer a wicking ability is desirable and more than one mid layer is usually worn. The most common mid layer is the fleece and these are available in varying thicknesses and waterproof / windproof abilities.

Outer Layer

The outer layer or shell is worn on the outside. The principle function of the outer layer is to keep out the rain and the wind. Nowadays most outer layers are breathable which is desirable. There are some very expensive outer layer jackets on the market but these do not necessary provide any greater protection than some of the cheaper ones. After a few years you are likely to find that the waterproofing needs renewing and there are a variety of treatments available on the market to do this. The outer layer can also include trousers.

Boots

A pair of comfortable and waterproof boots are essential. To get to many locations you may have to walk over boggy ground and if your feet get wet whilst doing this they will soon become cold. Despite the advances in boot design over the years it still seems that boots that grip on rocks in the wet are a rare thing and as a consequence you will need to take care when the ground is wet.

Gaitors

Gaitors may seem a bit of a luxury but they do help in keeping out the draughts between your boots and trousers and keeping your trousers dry in wet long grass and bracken. If you are venturing out in the snow then they really earn their keep.

Hats & gloves

As most of your body heat is lost through your head, keeping your head warm is essential to being comfortable on a day out on the hills. You may not need your hat whilst climbing up but quite often you’ll soon be wearing one when you reach your location. A spare hat is advisable to either double up on hats, to help keep out the wind, or replace one that has got wet. Similar considerations apply to gloves but when choosing a suitable pair of gloves bear in mind that you will have to operate a camera whilst wearing them or be able to remove them quickly and operate the camera using your bare hands.

Walking Sticks

These are not to everyone’s taste but they do transfer some of the weight from your knees to the sticks and your upper body. This can make climbing less strenuous and are very useful in wet and slippery weather. However, they really come into their own when descending as they provide additional balance and really take strain off your knees. Some locations you may visit will involve a steep climb and at these, walking sticks could be deemed essential.

Safety considerations

It cannot be stressed too strongly the need to be safety conscious when out on the hills. It may only take a stumble to result in injury and incapacity and if you are on your own this could have serious consequences. You are therefore strongly recommended to let someone know where you are going and what time you are likely to return so that if anything does happen, help can be summoned. Do not assume that you can just use your mobile phone as at many of the locations you may venture out to there is no signal. A whistle, to attract attention, should be considered an essential piece of kit to take with you.

You should ask yourself if you are fit enough to go out on the hills. Climbing up to 300 ft or 400 ft carrying a heavy camera bag really gets the lungs and heart working and if you are not use to doing such physical exercise and / or are unfit then you could do yourself serious and permanent injury. If you feel that this may be an issue for you and you still wish to venture out then choose one of the less strenuous locations or go to a location that does not require a change during the day and just take your time climbing up the hill.

So you have got to your location what else can go wrong. Well, besides falling of a ledge there are some natural risks that you should be aware of. Firstly there is sunburn; this can occur without you realising as you can stand in the wind all day and not feeling too warm only to realise when you get home that you are quite burnt so, especially during the summer, take sun cream and try and wear clothing that protects your skin from the sun. Then there are midges; these are usually around from June to September and are only active when the wind drops below 5 kts so between these months it is worth keeping an insect repellent in the camera bag. Less common than midges are ticks. These little creatures can usually be found where there are sheep or deer and attach themselves to you and then proceed to feed on your blood. They can carry the bacteria Borrelia Burdorferi which can cause Lyme disease. They can be removed with a tight grip, twist and pull but if the head remains in your body or if you become unwell you should seek medical advice quickly. Specialist tick removing equipment can be purchased from vets for a few pounds and again it is worth keeping such equipment in the camera bag.

You should understand the effects of altitude on the air temperature and the chilling effect of the wind. For each 500 ft increase in altitude the air temperature will drop by 1ºC. This can be noticeable as the locations we visit can be as high as 1500 ft above sea level. Also, at these altitudes the wind will be much stronger than at sea level and very often it is channelled by the valleys into an even stronger wind. The chilling effect of the wind is referred to as wind chill and although it does not change the actual temperature it certainly affects what the temperature feels like and can accelerate the onset of frost bite and hypothermia. The following table is provided as a guide only and shows what the temperature can feel like for a range of air temperatures and wind speeds.

Wind chill ‘feels like’ temperature ºC

(Based on the American National Weather Service 2001 model)

As an example, if we imagine we are planning a trip to a well known location in Wales (The Bwlch); we check the weather forecast for the nearby town (Dolgellau), at close to sea level, and it shows 10ºC with 10 mph winds. Well the location we intend to visit is at 1500 ft and the wind could well be 20 mph at that altitude. As a result of the altitude the temperature will reduce from 10ºC to 7ºC and the effect of the wind chill will reduce that to between 3ºC and 2ºC.

Recommended weather websites:

Mountain area forecasts The Met Office Mountain Forecasts - Usually very accurate one or two days before.

http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/HOME/ - Metcheck  Three hourly breakdown of the weather including cloud coverage and wind

http://www.xcweather.co.uk/ - Latest updates on visibility, wind and temperature. Also forecasts several days in advance

Written and compiled by Brian Hodgson.

Warplane.co.uk does not accept any liability for the accuracy of the information contained within this site. Information is provided for reference only and you should ensure you have permission to enter any private land and are suitably prepared for the location you are visiting, including clothing and emergency provisions.