Warning: There is an ever-present danger of an avalanche occurring when spending any time in the mountains. Make it a priority to understand avalanche conditions and how to choose the safest pathway through a mountain range. If you're crossing over glaciers, these can also present a very dangerous hazard, and you should learn what these hazards are, and how to avoid them.

If the roads are out, and disaster is so widespread that you have no choice but to flee over the nearest mountain range, you're going to have a hard road ahead of you.

Especially if make the crossing during the winter, when the mountains are covered in snow.

This probably translates best to one word: Cold.

More specifically, ice, snow, and the dangers that often show up when frigid conditions meet rock formations. Now which mountain range you end up in can dictate some of your trekking game plan, and there are certainly many snowy and cold mountain ranges one might need to traverse outside of North America. Thus, let's get global for a second.


Tips for traveling over snow: Your footing

What you have will depend on how you got into the mountains. But here's the thing: You don't want to end up in the mountains with only a pair of sneakers, know what we mean? Thus, one way to traverse ice and hard snow is with crampons.


Crampons are a device with 10-12 spikes on it. They are attached to the bottom of a trekkers boots to help with traction. Thus, when you have to move up and down treacherous hills, they work well. Of course, much like turf shoes for football players, the type of crampon one uses may change with the specific kind of frigid tundra they're walking on.

Crampons won't help much when the snow is softer and deeper. For such flooring, one might choose to use snowshoes. Even more specifically, if you're not looking to climb mountains-if that can be in fact avoided as you're journeying through such terrain-then snowshoes will likely be a good choice for lesser slopes. That said, they can be used for more severe hills provided that the walker is practiced with them and is able to ski adeptly


An ice axe might also be required under such circumstances for traction and pull. But if one does not have training here, well, it's not likely to go very well.

Finally, pickets, ice screws, and rope should be utilized when climbing particularly difficult mountain areas (ice axe is also helpful). Further, if you have a group traveling with you then connecting and learning true mountain climbing skills will be more than beneficial as crevaces, particularly in glacial areas, can be hard to see and requre professional understanding.

Thus, the first method to true survival when traveling a frigid mountain area is to plan ahead. Learn how to mountain climb, how to use an ice axe, and how to use snowshoes in advance of an emergency. Speaking of snowshoes. . .


How to build snowhoes from scratch

If you're inexperienced and need to cross snowy mountains, you won't want to climb too much. Further, you'll need some snowshoes, particularly if it's high and/ or soft snow.

Making snowshoes is not an easy task. For information on this, check out Build your own snowshoes here:

How to Make Snowshoes in the Wilderness.


Avalanche Danger

Every year in the Alps alone, 120-150 people die in small avalanches. Thus, avalanche is a very real danger. Further, they oftentimes happen on the same kinds of slopes that skiers prefer.

Here are some of the different kinds of avalanches to look out for.

Slab avalanche: Happens when a plate of snow breaks off of a mountain and starts sliding down. Unfortunately, if you see this kind of avalanche coming at you it means real bad trouble.

Hard slab avalanche: When hard-packed snow breaks off and begins hurtling downard in a cohesive slab. Because it is hard- packed, it may break off in several hard and large pieces as it falls downward.

Soft slab avalanche: Same as hard slab, but the slab breaks up more readily.

Loose snow avalanche: This type of avalanche is triggered by a small amount of moving snow that accumulates into a big slide. It is also known as a "wet slide or point release" avalanche.


How to avoid avalanche

First, it would seem once again important to note that that avalanches usually happen on slopes preferred by skiers. So when traversing a long, wide open 30-45 degree slope with few trees or barriers in the way, people should be cautious. Second, of course, it's important to note that extra weight-people, for example-can cause an avalanche. So if you see anything worrisome, including the terrain, consider taking a different route. Finally, it would seem important to note that solar radiation can trigger an avalanche. So notice how the sun is beating down on the terrain and if slush/ slabs might be available to come loose in the area.

Beyond the aforementioned, trekkers are advised to have an avalanche beacon (light), probe, and shovel handy with them. A shovel will help if you're traveling with someone else and they get covered in an avalanche. Beyond that, one should get avalanche training.

In the same breath, skiers with avalanche training make up a large percentage of avalanche fatalities. Thus, this speaks to not taking too many chances (these people are probably too confident).

Reinforcing this, it's important to note that there is a one-in-five chance of dying if caught in an avalanche even if you have the proper equipment and training.

So avoid, avoid, avoid!


Setting up camp in a:

Snow cave: If you have at least four feet of strong snow, you can dig yourself a snow cave to stay in. The problem? It will probably be freezing in there. The benefit? Freezing temperatures will actually be warm compared to outside of the snow cave.

Digging a snow cave, of course, requires a shovel. Thus, a shovel can help would be frigid mountain trekkers in more than one way.

Tent: A four season tent can be great. However, the wind can sometimes make a tent a noisy place to be (constant flapping). Thus, people may choose build walls around it for added shelter.

Again, a shovel would help in this endeavor.

Bivy: Get a sleeping bag and lay down for a good night! Usually, people do this in cracks in rocks or in a dug trench. This is about as basic as it gets, of course. In other words, only if you have to.


More dangers when traveling snowy mountains

Beyond a true to life avalanche, here are some other things to be concerned about.

Falling rock: This one would seem obvious.

Falling ice: Look out for rock overhangs, the broken parts of glaciers, and icicles. These are dangerous areas for falling ice.

Crevaces: Noted earlier, these are deep chasms or slits in the ice (think glaciers). They are often difficult to see. Thus, testing areas carefully before stepping or climbing is a good way to go.

Altitude sickness: Rapid ascent can lead to alititude sickness. When this occurs, one should descend quickly. Further, when about to go to sleep-if you're on a mountain and not a valley-one should descend some before settling in to avoid this.


Finally, let's talk cold mountain food

Here are some things to look for in the mountains when you get hungry. Of course, it all depends on what mountains you're in and at what altitude. Further, you'll want to cook a lot of this and that means fire (a hard thing to come by in the snow). Thus, getting in and out of snowy mountains is the best idea.

Don't wait around, people.

1. Rabbit

2. Deer

3. Fish: When it comes to flowing water, which there may be very little to none of in the mountains in the snow, stand over a shallow pool of water and press the fish into the ground hard.

4. Insects (again, only availble in dirt which is hard to come by in the snow)

5. Roots: Again, hard to come by in the snow. Further, you'll need to read up on this is in great detail in advance to have any ability to do this in the area you are trekking through.

In sum, surviving a trek across snowy mountains can be quite dangerous. Depending on the temperatures and altitude, it may be quite hard to find food. Further, there are numerous threats. The most important thing to remember is this. Get out of there as fast as you can.

Before you freeze.

And finally, always check with a professional with expertise in mountain traversing for the best way to cross such an area. No article can make up for this.


More Information Appropriate Clothing for Mountain / Snow Survival

The following tip was submitted by a reader...

"Techniques required by high mountains (over timberline) and low mountains (forested) are different. Much of your article deals with high mountains. In my wilderness experience, the big problem in winter isn't cold, but wet. Below -10C it's fairly easy to stay dry.

Near freezing, snow melts easily, getting people wet. With adequate clothing, staying warm is easy, if you can stay dry. In deep snow this requires outer wear that sheds snow, wear pants over boot tops to prevent snow getting in and soaking your feet. Clothing should be loose, and worn in layers. Avoid jeans. Usually too tight, and they soak easily. Nylon track pants/wind pants over fleece pants, or acrylic pajama bottoms work well. Acrylic sweaters, fleece, and a wind parka on top.

If passes are short, camp near timberline, and do the pass in a single day. This will allow you to dry gear out by the fire. If necessary, camp two days, and break a trail partway the first day, and return to camp.

Water - Most people don't drink enough in the wilderness at the best of times. In winter it is hard. A large tin can and a coat hanger can improvise a bucket to melt snow. You need 2-3 liters a day. C. If you can take food, do so. You will need about 5000 calories a day for moderate to heavy work in the mountains. Powdered juice, hot chocolate powder, etc make snow melt water more palatable. Anything with a high percentage of fat is good -- summer sausage, cheese, nuts."

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