We are at the end of summer, entering September, and the weather is changing in the mountains. After experiencing a very dry and hot summer, we are now immersed in days with cooler temperatures and, above all, more weather instability.

Late August and September is a typical time for afternoon storms in the Pyrenees. We have already seen in recent days that there have been heavy storms, with wind and hail. Even so, summer is not over yet and there is still time to do that route we have pending, a trek we are excited about, or add one more peak to our 100 peaks challenge. For all these reasons, here are a few tips for going into the mountains safely:

1) We must always carry a waterproof and windproof jacket. It might be a sunny day, but mountain conditions change very quickly and in a matter of minutes it can cloud over and start raining. In addition, a garment like this will also serve us against the wind.
2) Always carry a thermal blanket. In case we have a small accident (sprained ankle, a blow…) or an unexpected event (it starts raining on us or it gets late), we can lose body heat very quickly and a blanket can save us.
3) Leave early and return early. We have already mentioned that rain and storms usually form in the afternoon or from midday onwards. That is why we need to get an early start and be back at our destination at lunchtime at the latest.
4) Good planning. Here, more than a tip, it is an obligation for all the routes we do. Check the route we are going to do carefully (distance, elevation gain, technical sections…), plan a schedule and alternatives in case we are running late or the weather suddenly changes.

If we follow these recommendations we will go into the mountains safely, save ourselves from ending up soaked by an afternoon storm, and most importantly, enjoy the route and return home eager to repeat it.

1) We must always carry a waterproof and windproof jacket. It might be a sunny day, but mountain conditions change very quickly and in a matter of minutes it can cloud over and start raining. In addition, a garment like this will also serve us against the wind.
2) Always carry a thermal blanket. In case we have a small accident (sprained ankle, a blow…) or an unexpected event (it starts raining on us or it gets late), we can lose body heat very quickly and a blanket can save us.
3) Leave early and return early. We have already mentioned that rain and storms usually form in the afternoon or from midday onwards. That is why we need to get an early start and be back at our destination at lunchtime at the latest.
4) Good planning. Here, more than a tip, it is an obligation for all the routes we do. Check the route we are going to do carefully (distance, elevation gain, technical sections…), plan a schedule and alternatives in case we are running late or the weather suddenly changes.

Storm Warning!

Storm Warning!