Safety preparation guide
Essential information before entering any national park in Chile. This site does not replace official communications from CONAF or SENAPRED.
Mountain weather can change within minutes. Being prepared makes the difference between a manageable emergency and a critical situation. Conditions in Patagonia can change drastically within minutes. A yellow alert can become red in under an hour. Do not underestimate the risk.
Before you go — gear by difficulty
- Extra warm layer (even on clear days)
- Closed-toe shoes with non-slip soles
- Water: at least 1.5 litres per person
- Energy snacks (nuts, energy bars)
- Sunscreen SPF 50+ and sunglasses
- Charged phone with offline map downloaded
- Emergency whistle
- Waterproof jacket or poncho (in your pack, always)
- Water: at least 2 litres per person
- Headlamp with spare batteries
- Basic first aid kit: bandages, painkillers, adhesive tape
- Physical park map (do not rely on your phone alone)
- Extra food for 1 day beyond your planned trip
- + everything in low difficulty
- Technical layering system: thermal base + fleece mid-layer + waterproof shell
- Waterproof boots with ankle support
- Trekking poles
- Compass and the knowledge to use it
- Emergency bivouac bag or aluminized thermal blanket
- Lighter and emergency candles
- Water: at least 3 litres + purification tablets
- + everything in medium difficulty
- Sleeping bag rated to at least -10°C
- Crampons or microspikes in winter conditions
- Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or satellite communicator
- Helmet for areas with fall or ice risk
- Windproof goggles for exposed sections
- Planned communication: a contact who expects to hear from you
- Pre-defined alternative route before departure
- + everything in high difficulty
How to read the traffic-light alerts
Green — Normal conditions
The trail is open and weather conditions are suitable for your planned activity.
What this means in practice
- · Wind below 60 km/h
- · Rain below 10 mm/h
- · Visibility above 1 km
- · No dangerous wind chill
You may enter. Still bring full gear — conditions can change.
Yellow — Caution
Conditions are deteriorating or unstable. Entry is possible but requires experience and complete equipment.
What this means in practice
- · Gusts between 60–89 km/h
- · Rain between 10–19 mm/h
- · Visibility between 200 m and 1 km
- · Adverse temperature conditions
Assess your experience honestly. When in doubt, don't go in. Weather can worsen rapidly.
Red — Danger / Do not enter
Conditions represent a risk to life. Access may be formally closed.
What this means in practice
- · Gusts 90+ km/h or sustained wind 72+ km/h
- · Rain 20+ mm/h
- · Visibility below 200 m
- · Temperature below -10°C with wind 40+ km/h
Do not enter under any circumstances. If you're inside, seek shelter immediately.
What to do if the weather changes inside the park
Act immediately if you notice: sky darkening rapidly from the west, sudden temperature drop, increasing wind, intensifying rain, sudden fog, or thunder.
- 1
Stop. Do not keep moving.
Movement without clear visibility makes things worse. If you do not know exactly where you are or where you are going, stay put.
- 2
Layer up immediately — before you feel cold.
Put on your outer shell before you need it. Hypothermia begins long before you feel like you are in danger.
- 3
Find shelter from the wind.
A rock, a slope, a patch of dense vegetation. Wind multiplies the effect of cold (wind chill). Blocking wind can matter more than blocking rain.
- 4
Assess whether you can safely retreat.
Going back the way you came is almost always better than attempting a shortcut. If you cannot retreat safely, stay at your shelter.
- 5
Communicate your position.
Call CONAF (130) or emergency services (131 / 133) with your exact location or the name of the trail you are on. If you have a PLB or satellite device, activate it.
- 6
Stay visible and warm while you wait.
Deploy your thermal blanket or bivouac bag. Move your limbs to maintain circulation. Do not fall asleep if you suspect hypothermia.
Hypothermia — recognition and first aid
The leading cause of death in mountain trekking. Act fast.
Warning signs — act before they worsen
- Early stage
- ›Uncontrollable shivering
- ›Cold, pale skin
- ›Clumsiness, frequent stumbling
- ›Slow or slurred speech
- Severe stage
- ›Shivering stops (very bad sign — the body has stopped trying to warm itself)
- ›Confusion, drowsiness
- ›Very slow movements
- ›Loss of judgment: the person may want to remove clothing
First aid — in this exact order
- 1
Move the person away from wind and rain. Every second of continued exposure worsens their condition.
- 2
Carefully remove wet clothing. Replace with dry clothing or wrap them in a thermal blanket (silver side facing in).
- 3
Do NOT rub the skin. Massaging limbs can send cold blood to the heart and trigger cardiac arrest.
- 4
If conscious and able to swallow, give warm, sweet liquids to drink (not alcohol).
- 5
Call 131 (SAMU medical emergency) or 133 (Carabineros) immediately. Do not wait to see if they improve.
- 6
If CPR-certified and the person loses consciousness, be prepared to intervene.
Emergency contacts
SENAPRED — Regional emergency offices
Sources: senapred.cl · conaf.cl · meteochile.gob.cl
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