Will it rain?
This close to the Amazon, rain is always a possibility. During the rainy season (October to April), rain is almost guaranteed.
Be certain your tent is waterproof. Test it in advance.
Bring rain gear & proper footwear. We have not had as much success as expected from Goretex clothing. We recommend you additionally cover yourself & your pack with a cheap plastic poncho.
Our experience in May was that we rarely saw a could for a week, never mind rain. Seems the dry season (May - September) is truly dry here.
Hypothermia?
Hypothermia is a real danger on Ausangate.
Tim Leadem of the Sierra Club calls hypothermia the greatest single cause of death among amateur hikers.
Hypothermia is profuse loss of heat from the body core. Despite all warnings, a high percentage of hikers still set off with insufficient clothing. If your sleeping bag gets wet, you could be in serious trouble.
Signs & Symptoms of Hypothermia:
- shivering (may be absent in later stages)
- numbness
- lack of co-ordination, slurred speech
- confused or unusual behaviour, poor judgement
- body temperature below 35 degrees C (95 degrees F)
- loss of consciousness (in extreme cases)
First Aid:
- remove wet clothing and dry the casualty
- put on dry clothes
- keep the head warm
- put the hiker into a pre-warmed sleeping bag
- add hot water bottles into the bag or, even better, have another hiker strip down to underwear and climb into the sleeping bag with the victim to share body heat
- if the casualty is alert, have them drink warm liquids & high calorie hot food
The best strategy is prevention. Stay warm and dry. If you start to get a chill, drop what you are doing and climb into your sleeping bag until warm.
Heat Exhaustion? Sunburn?
Bring a broad brimmed hat — it's easy to get burned at high altitude. The sun is directly above this close to the equator. The air is thin.
Though rare in these mountains, be alert to prevent a progressive overheating emergency. Watch for signs of heat cramps, which often precedes heat exhaustion, and the potentially fatal heat stroke.
Signs & symptoms of heat cramps:
- severe muscle contractions, usually in the legs and the abdomen
- normal body temperature (usually)
Treatment:
- cool the body (wet the clothes)
- have casualty rest in a cool place
- drink fluids
- stretch and massage muscles
hot in the sun, cold in the shade
Dehydration?
Plan to drink far more liquids than normal. It is not unusual to drink 4 - 6 litres of fluid / day). The water on Ausangate needs treated. Plan ahead.
We seemed to pant like a dog climbing at high altitude.
Keep your water bottle handy. Consider adding drink powders (C-Lite is one recommended brand) to make fluid intake a little more palatable.
Many hikers are using Platypus, Camelbak, or Dromedary hydration systems these days – but good old water bottle(s) will do just as well.
Check the colour of your urine as an indicator to see if you are drinking enough liquids.
Stay hydrated.
