Tips on Winter Mountaineering in Yunnan

There are more than 150 mountain peaks in Yunnan Province. Snow Mountain Climbing is about the hiking and climbing tours to the famous mountains in Yunnan especially the Three Parallel Rivers Area. Haba Snow Mountain is the most popular mountain to climb among these mountains, which is regarded as an ideal trekking paradise for beginners who are intended to climb a real snow mountain at an altitude of more than 5000m. With thirteen perennial snow peak, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain resembles a jade dragon lying in the clouds, which is 15 kilometers north of the downtown. It has a highest altitude of 5596 meters and an area of 455 square kilometers. In winter and spring, Jiaozi Snow Mountain is covered with pure white snow, with beautiful icefalls hanging from cliffs. Apart from the snow mountains, there are many other mountains you can explore. Here we offer some tips on winter mountaineering in Yunnan.

1. Check the Weather Forecast

Winter mountaineering is more complicated than other seasons. For foreign travelers, usually you have to work out the climbing plan at least one month in advance and also need time to book the air ticket, hotel, guide, etc. While for safety, it’s advisable to keep an eye on the weather forecast of the mountain area. Once you find out that the weather forecast is not suitable for climbing, you should change the plan and choose another time. Be ready that your plans ascending mountain top can be canceled temporarily.

2. Control the Climbing Time

Choose a short mountaineering route because the winter days are short and the nights are long, be sure to check the sunset time before climbing. Keep to the planned route to avoid accidents. In addition, make sure you have enough time to get down. If time is limited, change your plan and get down the mountain to keep safety.

3. Hire a Mountain guide

In winter days, we recommend you to mountaineer with a mountain guide. When climbing, everything needs to be paid full attention and taken care of. So hire a mountain guide and try to avoid climbing the mountain alone. Yunnan Exploration Travel has rich experiences in working out Yunnan Mountain Climbing Tours and provides professional English-speaking guide that make your individual climbing tour more convenient and safer.

4. Prepare Necessary Equipment

In winter, the human body consumes about 10-20% more energy than in other seasons. Therefore, wear lightweight functional mountaineering clothes that are windproof, waterproof, heat preservation and breathable. When climbing a snow mountain, prepare high-top waterproof hiking shoes, head lamps, talpenstocks, gaiters, snow goggles, wind-proof caps, gloves, winter jackets, technical pants, raincoats, vacuum cups, backpacks with rain covers, close-fitting quick-drying clothes, more than three pairs of socks, personal medicines, mobile power supply, sunscreens, lipsticks and other personal items!

Note: It should be emphasized that the gloves should be double-layered, the socks must be thick, the hiking shoes should be bigger, the backpacks should be around 20 liters.

5. Keep an Eye on Body Condition

Before climbing a mountain, it is necessary to do warm-up exercises. Pay attention to your body temperature during the climbing process. The temperature difference during the climbing is very large. As height increases, body temperature drops sharply. So avoid to catch a cold. Be sure to refuel whenever you’re hungry. Besides providing you with sustained energy, eating keeps you warm as you burn through the calories. Bring enough easy-to-eat food to be able to snack consistently—and eat often. Also drink drink consistently.

6. Other Tips

• Don’t tread on the ice. Many river beds and reservoirs freeze in winter.Some ice is not thick enough to support a person’s weight, so don’t step on it.

• In the process of climbing, if the weather is abnormal, be sure to quickly get down the mountain.

• Buy accident insurance for yourself before you go to climbing.

• Before mountaineering, inform your family or friends where you have gone and when you can come back.

• Do not covet the scenery of the small path, because no one knows what will happen on the untrodden path.

 • Take precautions against possible dangers. Follow the footprints on the snow. Step hard on the ground with soles when there is no footprint.

Recommended Winter Mountaineering Tours in Yunnan:

4 Days Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Adventure with Tiger Leaping Gorge Tour
5 Days Haba Snow Mountain Circumambulation Hiking Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Adventure (Finishing in North Slope)
5 Days Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Adventure (Camping at 4800M) with Tiger Leaping Gorge Tour
6 Days Haba Snow Mountain Summit Climbing Tour with Haba Circumambulation and Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking
7 Days Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Tour and Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking Tour
9 Days Lijiang and Shangrila Adventure Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking and Haba Snow Mountain(5396M) Climbing

Read more about Snow Mountain Climbing Tours in Yunnan.