4/14/2023 0 Comments White out conditions![]() You have to be very comfortable with using a map and compass in winter. Have some food and drink, and think logically about your plan of attack. If it feels too much, settle down into your emergency shelter. But as you are in it, you will have to calmly navigate your way through it (to your objective, whether this is the route or your way home). Fear can be a normal response to situations that may feel uncomfortable or outside your comfort zone. The worst you can do is allow fear to take over, then decisions can be made hastily. That way they don’t tend to fog up.Įven if you are caught out by a whiteout, stop, stay calm and think about where you are, or your last know position. Note: Keep your goggles in a dry-bag, till you need them. It feels like a completely different experience. I know, very obvious for most of you, but have seen people out without them. One of the items in my winter kit which is indispensable (apart from most of it), are a good pair of goggles. If you are warm and dry, it means you have the mental capacity to think clearly. ![]() Having the right kit will bring comfort and the feeling of security and enjoyment, in sometimes pretty harsh conditions. It will come to no surprise that you will be having to intently use your map, compass, and be measuring distance.įor further information on avalanches and weather forecast, please see link below: If you are forewarned of the possibility of a whiteout. A safety measure for those times when you may get caught out, and a gentle reminder about where to go. Route cards can be a very helpful way to plan a route. Be flexible in your approach, and have several escape routes to suit the forecasts. Conditions out on the hill may always differ slightly from the forecasts. Plan your route well, and always have several back up plans. Prior to going out on the hill, always check the weather forecast and avalanche forecast. You would actually be out there, enjoying the crisp, blustery winds, plastering your face with snow and spindrift. Meaning that on the days when the weather is so, that you would normally spend it in a café, wishing you were out on the hill. The ability to navigate safely through whiteout conditions, is very freeing. Then things may quickly escalate from bad to worse. Or you may find yourself disorientated, followed by a feeling of panic. So, possessing the skills to navigate accurately, and confidently in whiteout conditions is a must in winter in Scotland. We seldom experience sunshine, blue skies, the ability to see for miles around, and no need to use the map and compass. Optically but because of the battering wind.Bad weather, in winter in Scotland is common ground. Travel is difficult and dangerous not only because of hidden dangers and disorientation, not only Whiteout conditions caused by blowing snow in a blizzard. Travel in these conditions can be very dangerous due to unseen objects and terrain. In these low visibility conditions everything is white and no objects can be seen and complete disorientation can occur. But whiteout can occur due to blizzard conditions with very low surface visibility due to blowing snow, or heavy fog, also resulting in poor surface visibility. Typical whiteout caused by a low cloud cover can still have good surface visibility with dark coloured objects appearing to float. Judging up becomes difficult and can result in a lack of orientation and balance. On uneven surfaces, such as caused by snow ridges or sastrugi, very difficult, and approaching drops such as ice cliffs extremely dangerous. Light and white coloured objects blending in to the snow surface making walking The complete lack of shadows will result in Someone faced with whiteout conditions will not have many of the cues used for judging depth and large objects in the distance may look like near small objects, and vice versa. The lack of a single light source results in a lack of definition. The sun light is heavily diffused through the cloud, and then further scattered while reflecting between the snow surface and cloud layer. ![]() Typically whiteout is caused by anĮven dense layer of low cloud over a snow field.
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