Winter tourism. Staying alive.

This time we are having a very cold and snowy winter all over the country and lots of tourists are hurrying up to use this chance and make an unforgettable winter journey along one of the most interesting touristic itineraries. But besides huge pleasure and unforgettable impressions, winter trips contain many dangers, that’s why during such trips you have to remember important safety rules.
Before planning a tour in a touristic region, it’s important to gather as much information as possible: landscape character, weather conditions, possible risks. In snow-abundant regions such as Khamar-Daban or Pribaikalie, the best way to travel is to use wide skis, type “lesnye”.
As to ski tours to Caucasus, the most convenient area is considered to be the highland part of the Center Caucasus, whereas South-West part cannot be recommended at all. Due to the peculiarities of the landscape which is presented by canyons with extended slopes treating with avalanches after heavy snowfall, zone of the Eastern Caucasus cannot be recommended either. Deciding on an itinerary in Central Caucasus through its Northern canyons, the Eastern part from Ardon to Terek, that is more sunny and dry, is preferable.
But even after the detailed study of the future traffic the group of skiers, as well prepared as possible, may have an emergency already being on the spot. It has to foresee avalanches and know how to pass through the dangerous area. Professionals suggest the following measures:
- During the snowfall you need to find safe grounds or shelters to wait till it’s over.
- Moving along avalanche-danger slopes stick to the woody and non-windy sides, always keep an eye on snow gutters and evaluate the danger.
- In especially danger spots you have to use cones of the recent avalanches.
Mountain rivers with solid snow covers and unfrozen patches of water also represent important danger. In such places it’s better to stick to valleys slopes and terraces.
Limited visibility may also endanger your trip: frog, twilight, darkness, polar night are not dangerous per se but by making orientation and right estimation of what’s going on extremely difficult. Experience suggests that the best solution is to stop moving further and wait till the problem is over.
Sun is especially dangerous with eye burns. You may fall victim of the sun blindness not only on sunny day but on the cloudy one as well. There are cases of getting sick even being in tent.
To protect their eyes winter tours’ lovers have to provide themselves with protecting shades, predominantly with orange glasses, which permit to see clearly even in dark and foggy weather. To cure snow blindness it’s may be enough to stay with bandage on eyes day or two and apply tea washes.
Harsh frosts, following the thaw for example, are dangerous, if a group has to move on with wet closes and shoes which quickly turn into ice armour unable to keep the body in warm. The worst situation occur during some active stage of your trip when you are getting unable to move at all. Only bivouac unfolding and fire can help avoid such problems.                 Following these rules you will substantially decrease the risk of the dangers that you can encounter during your winter trip and will keep only positive memories and impressions about your snowy vacation.
   

02.02.2010

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