How can I know if a whiteout is coming before I set off?

Check specialised forecasts like the Mountain Weather Information Service, Met Office mountain forecasts, and the Scottish Avalanche Information Service; they give wind chill and cloud-base heights that generic apps miss. Those numbers tell you when the conditions are ripe for a whiteout.

What's the most reliable way to walk straight when I can't see anything in a whiteout?

Use a compass and a partner as a human plumb line, or if solo, toss a firm snowball about fifteen feet ahead along your bearing and walk toward it. The visual cue or the partner keeps your line true when the horizon disappears.

How can I estimate how far I've walked when my stride shortens in deep snow?

Count double-steps; on firm ground about 60-65 double-steps equal 100 m, but in deep drift it may take 80-90. Knowing your personal step count lets you gauge distance without relying on a dead phone.

weather-the-elements

The Whiteout: Why You Can’t Walk in a Straight Line

When the ground and the sky become the exact same thing, safety becomes a slow, quiet matter of trusting the numbers.

25 June 20269 min read