How are you doing, the best season for high mountains in Mexico is about to begin and we want to share 10 tips so you can enjoy our mountains in a safer and more comfortable way.
1 Learn to manage yourself
The secret in the mountains is in knowing and managing ourselves in the following aspects:
Energy: Unlike other high mountain sports, it is not better to go faster if not at the rate that your body can hold more time walking constantly with short steps and trying not to make unnecessary efforts, we must find the pace in which our pulsations and the breath does not rise too high and that we can hold during the estimated time of the ascent. This will allow us to acclimatize better to the altitude and keep a constant rhythm that will eventually make us reach our goal sooner.
Temperature: It is important that our body temperature never rise so high that we sweat and never drop so low that we shiver. It is necessary to be opening, putting on and removing the layers of clothing so that our body is at an optimal temperature for its operation and so that we do not put ourselves at risk of hypothermia.
Hydration: In the mountains, being well hydrated is one of the keys to getting further and for better acclimatization. You have to start hydration from days before the journey and during this you must be constantly taking it without letting the body feel thirsty because we are already dehydrated there. A good thermometer for this is urine, if it is dark we need to drink more water and if it is very clear, almost transparent, we are already taking too much.
Feeding: Eating the right thing and at the right time will give our body the energy it needs to achieve the great effort that goes up a mountain. Before, it is advisable to eat complex carbohydrates such as pasta, during the journey energy-filled foods such as seeds, simple carbohydrates such as sugar in the form of sweets, chocolates or energy bars. This must be eaten constantly in the small stops we make and then proteins such as meat for a good recovery of the muscles.
2 Know the terrain
It is very important to always go with someone who knows the route we are going to take well to avoid accidents or losses that give us a hard time and put our safety at risk. If we already know the way, it is important to bring support maps since one never knows when the route will change or the weather will close, and we will have to use them to guide us.
3 Take the right equipment
Always find out which is the equipment you should take for the route you want to do and make sure you don't forget anything, many of the problems that arise in the mountains are due to not having the correct equipment. In a later article we will give you a list of the recommended equipment to climb the different mountains of Mexico.
4 Wear safe footwear
Up to a third of high mountain accidents are related to the use of inappropriate footwear. We always recommend to our participants that the first and most important investment is good boots. We have to look at what kind of activities we want to do and buy the right boots for their conditions.
5 Backpack as light as possible
When choosing the backpack, make sure that it does not weigh too much and be very strict in what we are going to carry without leaving out the elementary things. For day trips, a backpack of 5 to 8 kilos is adequate, while on a multi-day excursion where we will carry more equipment, 10 to 13 kilos is recommended. Going lighter means getting less tired, being in a better mood and above all having more energy available to face any unforeseen event.
6 Dress appropriately
Wearing the appropriate clothing using the three layers technique will allow us to advance at the correct temperature and have the flexibility to face all the climatic changes that may occur during the ascent.
1st layer: under-wear for cold, preferably synthetic fibers or wool helps generate heat (not cotton)
2nd layer: wool, fleece tec or its equivalents keeps the heat generated (not cotton)
3rd layer: gorotex, plastic fibers (protects against rain and wind)
7 Watch the weather and schedules
Always check the weather forecast before going out on the mountain and during the trip pay attention to weather changes so that they do not surprise you and you can prepare or return on time. It is also important to know what time the sun rises and sets to prevent the coldest times, to be able to manage daylight hours well and that we are not surprised at night away from the car or from a safe place.
8 Caution with snow
In Mexico we are not used to snow and it is easy for us to go up to the mountains when we see them snowed, but it is important to know that in order to walk on snow you need specialized equipment and knowledge of certain techniques, without this we can suffer accidents . We want to emphasize this part since there are too many cases of accidents due to climbing the snow without the basic equipment that are crampons and ice axes.
9 Speed is not always safety
Logically walking or climbing quickly allows us to reach our destination earlier, stay fewer hours in the rain and descend before a storm or night catches us. Yes, butoo ... does it make sense to press a partner who is already having a hard time on an edge with a feeling of emptiness, speed up the pace on a slippery path in the middle of a brief rain or get off a safe path to unknown terrain to shorten the Return? I have seen too many people expose themselves to unnecessary danger by not stopping for a few minutes to put on their crampons, by not taking a rappelling rope out of their backpack. Taking the time to do things right will allow us to make our mountains safer.
10 The mountain will always be there
Last but not least, remember that the mountain will always be there to make important decisions, it is not worth putting our colleagues at risk, either due to fatigue or bad weather when we can always return better prepared or with a more optimal climate. Remember that the real summit is to return home safe and sound.
