Coping with adverse weather conditions : Fog
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Before writing this, I didn't quite realise just how many types of fog there are. Fog is essentially low lying warm, moist cloud that meets the cooler ground. Dense and thick fog severely limits visibility, valley fog can be stunningly beautiful, hill fog covers mountain tops and mist is obviously far less dense. As I'm not an expert I will deal, on a very basic level, with the types of fog I have encountered.
So how can you stay safe and comfortable when the fog comes down, or you set off in limited visibility?
Planning
Fog can descend quickly and unexpectedly with changes in the weather, so planning is key. Check the weather forecasts, check mountain weather forecasts and if it looks as though it's going to be densely foggy, check your route to avoid precipitous drops or ridges, or perhaps change your plans altogether. If you're going to be in the mountains, this is especially key. Make sure you carry a paper map and compass, extra warm clothing, have a fully charged GPS with extra batteries and keep one phone turned off if there are two of you walking to save battery power. Have a look at a map, guidebook or online beforehand if you're unfamiliar with the area so you have an idea of what you might encounter, and make any necessary preparations or adjustments to your route.
Wear bright colours
Black, navy blue, grey or white really aren’t suitable; wear yellow, orange or red to really stand out, both to each other, the rest of your party or if you get into difficulties and people need to look for you or if it’s starting to get darker. In the winter months, make sure you wear warm layers and waterproofs as it can be colder and damp in foggy conditions.
Getting caught in fog
If you suddenly find yourself in thick fog when you’re already out, your pre-planning should come into effect so you have an idea of your route, any gnarly sections and/or alternative routes. We were up on Caw and Haycock in the middle of July when a sudden, dense fog engulfed us out of nowhere. We were going to try and cut a corner with a fairly substantial drop beside us, but instead followed the path back that we’d come on until the fog lifted. You should be able to make adjustments if necessary, or if you choose to, reading from your map and GPS. A lot of the time in the Lake District, there are cairns along paths to help keep you on track and on the popular fells, in our experience, there are usually people about to ask if you get stuck. We’ve been asked for help on several occasions when people have become disorientated in the mist and fog, and sadly on none of those occasions did they have a map or GPS that we could see…
Setting off in fog
Bro and I set off in very dense fog last November to climb four remote outlying fells from high on the Corney Fell Road in the Lake District. We walked and climbed for about four hours with only one, brief glimpse of the landscape in all that time. It was a little disconcerting to be honest, as we were completely unfamiliar with the area and for most of that time we could only probably see about 5-10 metres ahead. We had researched and planned the route and watched a couple of You Tube channels beforehand, so we at least knew the type of terrain we were going to be tackling. We walked in single file, kept conversation to a minimum, watched where we put our feet, had plenty of water, food, a flask of hot soup and spare warm clothes with us and wore waterproof jackets and over trousers. I always let Bro concentrate and I never, ever question his judgement or make my own (probably ill informed) suggestions as to which way to go, as I have full and complete confident in his abilities, which works well for us. I can then focus on noting any memorable or unusual features looming out of the gloom that Bro may not have seen when he was looking at the GPS or map. It's a good system which has never let us down in over two decades, and I'm proud to say we've never got lost or gone wrong.
Navigation
Good navigation skills are crucial. As I mentioned, Bro is a very experienced navigator having been doing it for well over two decades, although I must add that I do know how to use the GPS and map and compass as well. On the walk cited above, we did take a few extra precautions as we really didn’t know the area and visibility was so poor. I took careful note of any memorable features such as unusual rock formations and broken dry stone walls and I called them out loud to make sure they lodged in our memories. This worked a treat as we came back a different way, but both recognised a dry stone wall built into an outcrop of rock we’d seen on the outward journey and so were able to follow that wall almost back to the car. We had a fully charged GPS with extra batteries, we kept my fully charged phone turned off and we took and noted grid references and direction every fifteen minutes or so with our paper map and compass and jotted them on Bro’s fully charged phone that we kept switched on. It all worked perfectly.
Be aware
You need to keep you wits about you and really take note of where you're walking, your foot placement and have an idea of where any drops or narrow paths might be. Keep together and walk slowly and carefully keeping to the paths. Don't break off and try to cut corners, and make sure you wait for anyone who stops for any reason. Sound is deadened in the hills and more so in the fog, so make sure you can see and hear each other all the time. It’s so easy to become disorientated when you’re turning this way and that. Always let someone know where you’re going, especially if you’re walking, hiking, climbing, running or cycling alone. Know how to call for help and carry a whistle and head torch in case you start running out of daylight.
Wait
If possible and you’re not confident or unsure, sit and wait for the fog to clear. Even a glimpse of the landscape can give you a reference point to get you back on track.
However….
A cloud inversion, where fog lies in the valley and you’re above it, is the most staggeringly beautiful sight. Being up above the cloud in bright sun seeing a sea of white below you with only the mountain peaks visible like islands is totally magical. Walking in dense fog allows you to concentrate completely on your pace, your breathing and the path ahead. It’s quiet, sounds are muffled, there are usually fewer people around - especially in winter - and there are no distractions, so summits feel as though they’re gained much more quickly. Early morning mists in winter with diffused sunlight make everything ethereally beautiful.
