5 minute read
CAMPERVANS ON THE MOUNTAIN
Absorb concrete advice from Dani of the Mossos d’Esquadra Police Force (Catalunya, ES) and all-round mountain badass
Words by Dani Luna
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Make sure you are fully prepared for sub-zero conditions
Photo Alex Brown
With my experience in adventure sports, I am here to give you some basic tips for making your first winter outings safe and fun. Driving your van through the night and waking up to that first alpine sunrise is really fantastic. Here are some tips that I can recommend the newcomers to mountain side vanlife. So before leaving home, especially during episodes of weather, it is important to run through the following.
1) Review at the weather. Is there rain, wind, fog, snowfall or storm warnings active? Get advice from the regional weather department and learn how to review detailed weather charts.
2) Look at the state of the roads. Are there any closed routes, and have the authorities issued mandatory equipment requirements such as the use of snow chains?
3) Decide where you want to camp and if the overnight stay is allowed at the location. What services will the location have, and if any, do you need to pay for them?
Dani summiting in the Pyrenees
Photo Dani Luna
Dani and friends in the Pyrenees
Photo Dani Luna
4) Study the routes that you intend on doing. This is the same for all activities including hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, etc. Check if it is viable in the given weather conditions, the possible escape routes, shelters, relief points and then evaluate the risks that it entails (which includes the risk of avalanches, ice, cracks, stone falls etc). Once decided, inform someone in a third party of the routes to be done, along with the expected times of a start and finish. In case of not giving signals at a later point in time, a search by rescue teams will be much more efficient.
You should be familiar with all of the equipment you are taking, especially if it is to perform some sort of task such as keeping you warm and dry. Unpack new items at home and learn how things need to be set up, and packed away. This will save you a lot of time and confusion when on the mountain, when you want to take your new snowshoes out for example! Also, you need to think about how to pack in your extra kit within the space of your van. Maybe you need to consider adding some extra storage such as a top box or gear rack.
In winter you have to be much more proactive, as the consequences of poor actions can be severe. Remember, if you get into trouble, then you are also putting the rescue teams into the same possible situation. This should be thought about for both circulating the location in your van and while out having fun on your chosen activity.
Our vans have to be prepared with tires that are in very good condition and suited for the conditions of the location. Remember, it is the tyres which keep us in constant contact with the road, so be sure to get advice from your local fitter on their suitability for your specific vehicle. For alpine roads, you must wear a winter tire, or at the least, a 4x4 tire - our vans weigh considerably more than cars, making the possibility of skidding that much more of a hazard. As a last resort upon finding ice, it is only possible to continue safely with the use of snow chains.
Regular deep winter Advanture campers, pictured here in Andørja, Norway.
Photo Sarah Kringe
You should never let the fuel tank level drop below half full. Both because of the risk of freezing the tank itself, and so that we can run the night heater without worrying about emptying the tank. Don’t rely on filling up at the last gas station along your route either, imagine if it was out of service by the time you reached it!
Most importantly, we should think about warm clothes for the day, and night. It is wise to not rely completely on your heater, as unforeseen events that disable the use of one can happen. General breakdowns, malfunction due to height, or even a simple breakage of the window glass through which the cold from outside will enter.
Down garments offer the best weight to warmth ratio, but also lose their properties when wet. Drying the clothing should be carefully considered, as you will most likely be confined to the space of the van for the duration of your trip. Many clothing brands sell performance synthetic filling in their garments, which retains more warmth while wet and also dries quicker than down.
A pro tip would be to bring a second cooker, as well as spare gas. Imagine than running out of gas on your main cooker, or in the very worst case scenario, it breaks while you are out somewhere remote!
SNOWED IN? WARM UP YOUR VAN, AND YOUR HEART, WITH A DECENT HOT MEAL.
Warm both yourself and the van up, with some good food
Photo Omnia Sweden
Finally, we have to consider our personal protection, which will always depend on the activity, so here you have to take into account everything considered as basic material such as spare clothes, food, water, helmet, gloves, buff, waterproof, thermal blanket, flashlight, thermal clothing, sunglasses and even sun protection. There is much more technical material that the more advanced mountain lover will prepare too, and includes ice axes, crampons, adjustable walking poles, mountain skis and avalanche search and rescue devices.
Keep batteries and mobile phones within inside pockets for protection. The cold will drain power much faster than normal, so bring back up batteries for your flashlight and other electronics. A mobile phone is great for shooting a few photos to post to the Advanture Magazine community!
Always remember to carry spare batteries, or a power bank. Keep GPS maps of the area on hand, and save the emergency telephone numbers of local rescue. Enjoy the mountain safely, and you will be ultimately rewarded by its grand beauty.
Dani is a all round Spanish adventurer, who can be found all year round camping out of his Volkswagen van with girlfriend Helen. Find out more about their trips and sponsors at www.carrerasymontañas.com
