Hiking

Walking is fun, but it can involve certain risks. To ensure a safe and enjoyable walk, follow these tips and suggestions when planning your route:

Plan your route with the help of guidebooks, maps or people with relevant walking experience (for example, from walking clubs and associations, tourist information offices or accommodation providers).

• Obtain route information regarding distances, difficulty level and estimated completion time, as well as potential risks (steep slopes, scree, danger of rockfall, snowfields).
• Only once these questions have been answered can you judge whether the route is safe, taking into account the participant’s physical fitness and technical knowledge.
• Find out about any possible shortcuts for the route.
• If you are less experienced, plan routes of less than two hours with a total elevation gain of less than 300 metres.
• Check the weather forecast.
• Find out where to get supplies and where the sheltered rest areas along the route are.
• Let your friends or family know which route you are going to take and where you are going.
• With children or larger groups, remember that you will need much more time.