Autumn is a truly magical time of the year to be outdoors; with the changing colours of the leaves and golden, crunchy carpets covering the ground it’s hard to not feel like you’re in a movie scene at times. Added to that are more comfortable walking temperatures, less humidity, less attacks from those nasty biting flies and quieter trails. However, with the changing season also comes a time for adapting how we approach and plan our time in the outdoors.

Here’s 5 Autumn hiking tips to help keep you safe in the outdoors

Autumn Hiking Tip #1 – Check the weather

The weather over autumn can fluctuate drastically and it doesn’t really remain consistent for any period of time. Daily changes can happen in minutes and you can easily experience one extreme to another in just one Autumn day.

Checking the correct weather forecasts

If you’re heading outdoors it’s sometimes not enough just to check the weather for the local area you’re heading to; especially if you have planned a day in the moors, hills or mountains. Checking the forecast for the specific mountain or mountain range is a fundamental basic that many people skip over. 

My favourite and most reliable weather forecasts for hills and mountains I’ve found and use are the MetOffice Mountain Forecast service where you can view reports for hilly regions as well as specific mountains, Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS) and Mountain Forecast. 

When you search for a specific mountain you might see something like this;

Top tips for reading the mountain weather forecast:

• Check the general weather for rain/snow/sun but look at the other aspects of the weather too
• The feels like temperature is an important one for packing appropriate clothes because it takes into account other factors so is more accurate. Temperatures in the mountains drop by around 1 degree for every 100m you gain. 
• Wind speed and direction. 

🌬️ The general rule for wind speed is anything above 30mph gusts can affect your balance and above 50 mph will seriously affect how easy it is to walk

Don’t just check one weather forecast – check multiple so you have a better idea of what the experts are expecting.

🌨️ Visibility – if thick cloud or fog comes in over the hills or mountains it can make navigating extremely challenging

Autumn Hiking Tip #2 – Clothing and footwear

Clothing is SO important during Autumn mainly due to the changing temperatures during the day; you could venture out on a clear, mild sunny morning but by early afternoon it’s hailing and the temperatures have dropped drastically. I like to take extra clothes, socks and gloves in my bag too just to be on the safe side. 

Autumn Clothing for Hiking

• Layers – lots of thin layers that you can take off or put on when required is a great way of staying warm. Base layers like these thermals will keep you warm.
• Midlayers – a fleece like this Rambler zip through fleece or a softshell jacket will keep you warm and repel the wind. 
• Outerlayer – A waterproof like the Wanderlust waterproof jacket is a must for Autumn hiking or consider a Gore-tex shell if the weather is particularly wet and wild! 
• Legwear – Walking trousers or leggings like the Trailblazers will often suit Autumn walks and don’t forget to pack a pair of pullover waterproof trousers too.
• Accessories like a hat, buff and gloves will keep you warm when the temperature drops.

Autumn Footwear for Hiking

Even if you know a route well, the terrain during Autumn can change and routes can become slippery. A good quality waterproof and durable pair of hiking boots rather than trail shoes/trainers will see you safely through the season. Choosing a suitable pair of hiking boots can be overwhelming so I’d always recommend going into a specialist shop such as Ellis Brigham to talk to their experts and try on a whole range to find something suitable for you. 

Things to consider when choosing hiking boots

• A Gore-Tex waterproof lining will ensure your feet stay dry even when squelching through puddles and across wet ground
• Leather boots will be more durable but you may find them heavier 
• Check grip and ankle support – this will be a saviour for those wet and muddy trails

Autumn Hiking Tip #3 – Staying Hydrated and Fuelled

It can be easy to think that since the temperature is cooler you won’t need to drink as much but staying hydrated is vital even in colder weather. Dehydration can lead to headaches, dizziness and fatigue (not ideal if you in the great outdoors or on a mountain) and sometimes it can be hard to notice how much we are still sweating during the colder months so it’s important to keep on top of your hydration. 

• The general guidance is to drink 1 litre every couple of hours and sip regularly
• Consider taking a warm drink with you in a flask too – this will feel like heaven on a cold day

Hiking can burn around 300 calories per hour depending on many variables so staying fuelled will ensure you have enough energy for a day in the hills. I love to take a mixture of nuts, sweet treats dried fruit and cereal bars but my favourite accessory for Autumn hikes is this Thermos Food Flask – believe me, there’s nothing better than a hot soup at the top of a mountain while all your friends are smiling with jealousy behind their soggy sandwiches! Stay fuelled up on your Autumn walk or hike so that you have enough energy for the day. 

Autumn Hiking Tip #4 – Safety Items

Staying safe in the outdoors should always be a priority but in Autumn it’s important that this isn’t an area of your planning process you gloss over. Here’s what I make sure is always in my bag for an Autumn hike;

• A fully charged mobile phone and powerbank just incase – if something happens and you need to contact emergency services, it could be hours before they reach you so having a way of charging your phone will help you stay in touch with them 
• A whistle – to attract attention if needed
• A foil heat blanket – these help to reduce the onset of hypothermia if you find yourself unable to move from a position for an extended period of time
• A head-torch – the daylight will fade faster than you think! 
• Extra layers, socks, gloves and hats as mentioned above
• Basic first aid kit with blister plasters and painkillers 
• Extra food and snacks 
• Map and compass

Autumn Hiking Tip #5 – Navigation and Clock Watching

Autumn days are shorter than usual and you’ll be surprised how quickly the daylight fades – make sure you give yourself plenty of time to complete your planned route and keep an eye on the time and how quickly you’re making progress. 

Although there are some excellent navigation apps, such as OS Maps and Komoot which you can use to download routes onto your phone, these will not always precise enough and in bad weather or poor visibility, following a dot on your screen can be incredibly unsafe. This is where the skill of navigating with a map and compass really comes in handy so if you’re considering heading out into the hills or mountains over Autumn I’d recommend a short course to learn at least the basics to navigating with a map. 

Finally, if you’re out and about and you’re not sure of the weather, conditions or the route, there’s no shame in turning around and trying again another day.

Let me know your key Autumn hiking tips in the comments below!

It’s not hard to deny that the mountains are beautiful. They are peaceful, inspiring and a place to let all your worries leave you. A place where you can feel free.

In the age of social media where outdoor enthusiasts are sharing an ever increasing number of mountains to hike and routes to follow, it’s tempting to follow blindly. The internet, social media, TV programmes and films have opened many new eyes to the mountains and all they have to offer.

BUT

They are also a place of unforgiveness.
Of challenges that never go away and of relentless danger.
Places that demand (and deserve) respect.

What these posts and videos don’t always show is the planning behind the scenes to be fully prepared for any eventuality. Engaging in activities in mountains comes with serious risk if you don’t know what you’re doing and if you are not prepared.

So, how do you stay safe in the mountains?

Staying Safe in the Mountains tip #1 – Know your route and any escape routes

• What is your current level of experience?
• How far do you think you can comfortably walk, uphill, with a bag on your back?
• Do you think it’s going to be easy just because there is a path?
• What are you going to do if it gets too hard and you need to leave the mountain?

If you are aware of the answers to these questions, you’ve got a good starting point.

When choosing a hike you want to do the first thing to do is read about it. Look in books and on websites (people’s hiking blogs are a great place to read about the routes) and watch YouTube videos to get a sense of what the route is like.

Next up, get out the maps and make sure you know where the route goes, what elevation you will be expecting to make and how long it should take based on your walking speed. When looking at the route, see if there are any other ways off the mountain incase of any sudden changes in plans. Be aware of any difficult sections along the way and what to expect.

If you can’t read a map then I recommend booking on a navigation course. You don’t need to know everything and you’ll surprise yourself how quickly you can learn how to read a map.

You can also use navigation apps like the one by Ordnance Survey where you can plan your route and download it to your phone for offline use. This makes the map really easy to follow and see where you are.

Staying Safe in the Mountains Tip #2 – Does someone know where you are and when you expect to be back?

This one’s pretty straight-forward. Make sure somebody knows where you’re going, the route you’re taking, how long it should take you and what time you expect to be finished. Let them know when you have returned from your hike.

Staying Safe in the Mountains Tip #3 – Know the weather forecast and how it can change

It’s really important to know the weather forecast for the mountain you are heading to – not for the closest town or city. The weather there will most likely be completely different from the mountains.
Some key points:

• The temperature on mountains can drop by around 2 degrees every 300m gained. It might not be noticeable in summer but in winter, it definitely is!
• Wind speed can severely impact on your ability to hike. Gusts of more than 30mph can start to hinder your balance and walking ability.
• Storms can come in sooner than expected – if it says it might rain at 2pm, expect it at 12 noon.
• If the weather forecast says there’s any change of rain, no matter how small, assume it’s going to rain.
• Be aware of cloud level and how high the mountain is you’re hiking. This will feed into your navigation as if the cloud level is low, you might find yourself walking with minimal visibility for most of the day. Check the visibility given by the weather forecast.

How do you check the weather forecast for a specific mountain?
Met Office mountain forecasts – allows you to search for the weather on specific mountains.

MWIS – I find this to be generally, pretty accurate.

Even though useful, it’s important not to take these forecasts as gospel because the mountains make up their own mind!

Staying Safe in the Mountains Tip #4 – have the appropriate clothing and equipment on you

Now this doesn’t mean going out and buying all of the latest, most expensive gear. What is does mean is having SUITABLE clothing for the mountain and route you choose. I’d say the most important is appropriate footwear – walking boots or walking shoes/trainers with good grip and support. If you can get water resistant ones – even better.

Layers are important too – something to keep you warm and something to keep you dry and protected from the wind. Remember, even the best waterproof jackets will sometimes fail in storm conditions so consider taking a spare waterproof layer. It’s best to take too many clothes and not wear them than take too little and regret it.

Staying Safe in the Mountains Tip #5 – have enough food and drink

There’s a general rule that people should carry 1 litre of water for every two hours of hiking. From personal experience, I find I don’t need this much even on long days. I have a water bladder (check it out here) which I usually put about 2.5 litres in and that lasts me for long day hikes. I also usually take a flask of tea as an extra and have something left back in the car just incase I do drink it all. Remember you will need more than you usually drink in a day and it’s best to take too much than not enough.

Staying Safe in the Mountains Tip #5 – mobile phones and signal

Signal can disappear in the mountains so it’s important to expect to have no signal for a chunk of the day sometimes. Take a power bank so you can charge your phone up too incase you need it for an emergency.  

Staying Safe in the Mountains Tip #6 – know your own ability and when to turn back

There is no shame in turning around. Sure, we love to push and challenge ourselves but it’s so important to drop any ego in the mountains. If you have any doubt, just turn around. The mountains aren’t going anywhere and you can come back when you’re more confident.

Everyone starts somewhere. Everyone is a beginner at some point and everyone makes mistakes and learns along the way but there should be no reason for ignorance. /at the end of the day, we should all be responsible for ourselves and our safety.

Let me know your own tips for staying safe in the mountains in the comments below!