Version 1.0 · Effective 24 September 2026
The mountains are the reason Mountain Diary exists — and they can be dangerous. This page explains how to use the information on Mountain Diary and what it cannot do for you. Please read it before you plan a trip based on something you found here.
In short
- Adventure reports are personal experiences from a particular day. They are not guidebooks, and conditions change.
- Machine translations, GPS tracks, weather forecasts and avalanche information are aids, not guarantees.
- On the mountain, you alone decide. When in doubt, turn back.
- In an emergency, call for help straight away. The numbers are at the bottom of this page.
Adventure reports are personal and dated
Every adventure describes what one member experienced on one day, in their own words and from their own point of view. What was easy for them may be hard for you, and what was dry in August may be icy in October. Always check the date of an adventure: the older it is, the less it tells you about conditions today. We check new adventures only for spam and abuse, not for accuracy, completeness or safety.
Conditions change
Snow, ice, rockfall, avalanches, high water, storms, closed paths and damaged infrastructure can turn a familiar route into a dangerous one within hours. Before you go, check current information from official and local sources: weather and avalanche services, park authorities, hut keepers and mountain guides. On the mountain, trust what you see more than anything you have read here.
Machine translation
Texts on Mountain Diary are translated automatically between English, Czech and German. Machine translation can get things wrong, especially numbers, difficulty grades, directions, place names and technical terms. For anything important, switch to the original language using the link next to the text. The original always prevails.
GPS tracks
A GPS track is a recording of the route the author actually took, including detours, mistakes and the inaccuracy of GPS. It is not a verified route. It may lead through dangerous terrain or through areas where access is restricted, and conditions may have changed since it was recorded. The same applies when you open a track in Mapy.com. Use a track only together with an up-to-date map, your own navigation skills and your own judgement.
Weather
The weather shown with adventures is a forecast from computer models (Open-Meteo). In the mountains, the actual weather can differ significantly from the model, especially in valleys, on ridges and around summits. Always check the forecast of the national weather service of the country you are travelling to.
Avalanche danger
The avalanche badge shows the regional danger level published by the official avalanche warning service, together with the date it applies to. It describes a whole region, not a particular slope, and conditions can change during the day. Always read the full avalanche bulletin and check its date, and assess the terrain and the snowpack yourself — or go with someone qualified to do so.
Gear & Advice
Answers in Gear & Advice come from members sharing their own experience, not from professionals. For safety-critical equipment, techniques, medical questions or training, ask a qualified professional — a certified mountain guide, an instructor or a doctor — and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Find a Partner
We do not verify the identity, age, experience or skills of anyone on Mountain Diary. Before you set off with someone you met here:
- Get to know them first. Exchange messages, ask about their experience and look at their adventures.
- Start with a shorter, easier outing before committing to anything serious.
- Agree in advance on the plan, who does what, the turnaround time and what you will do if something goes wrong.
- Tell someone you trust where you are going, with whom, and when you expect to be back.
- Meet in a public place and travel there independently the first time.
- Trust your instincts. You can always say no, and you never have to continue if you are uncomfortable with the conditions or with your partner.
- Report anyone who behaves inappropriately.
Prepare well
- Choose goals that match your experience, fitness and equipment — and those of everyone in your group.
- Tell someone your plan and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank, a headlamp, a first-aid kit and clothing for bad weather. In winter, carry avalanche safety equipment and know how to use it.
- Save the adventures and maps you need for offline use. Mobile signal in the mountains is unreliable.
- Check that your insurance covers mountain rescue and helicopter transport, especially abroad. In some countries, for example Switzerland, Austria and Slovakia, a rescue can be very expensive.
- If the region has an official emergency app, install it before you go. It can send your exact position to the rescuers.
In an emergency
- Make sure that you and others are not in further danger.
- Call for help. 112 works throughout the European Union and in many other countries, including Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It is free of charge and works on any mobile network. If you have no signal, try to reach higher ground.
- Tell the dispatcher where you are (with GPS coordinates if possible), what happened, how many people are injured and how badly, and your phone number. Answer their questions and keep your phone switched on.
- If you cannot call, use the alpine distress signal: six signals a minute (whistle blasts, flashes of light or shouts), then a minute’s pause, repeated. The reply is three signals a minute.
| Country | Emergency | Mountain rescue | Emergency app |
|---|---|---|---|
| Czech Republic | 112 | 1210 (Horská služba); with a foreign SIM +420 1210 | Záchranka |
| Slovakia | 112 | 18 300 (Horská záchranná služba) | Horská záchranná služba (HZS) |
| Poland | 112 | 985 or +48 601 100 300 (GOPR, TOPR) | Ratunek |
| Austria | 112 | 140 (in Vorarlberg 144) | SOS EU ALP |
| Switzerland | 112 | 1414 (Rega; in Valais 144) | Rega |
| Germany | 112 | through 112 (Bergwacht) | SOS EU ALP in Bavaria |
| Italy | 112 | through 112; 118 in some regions | SOS EU ALP in South Tyrol |
| France | 112 | through 112 | |
| Slovenia | 112 | through 112 | |
| Spain | 112 | through 112 | |
| Norway | 112 (police), 113 (medical) | through 112 or 113 | |
| United Kingdom | 999 or 112 | ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue | |
| USA and Canada | 911 | through 911 |
Numbers checked in September 2026. Services and numbers can change, so check them for your destination before you travel.
Our responsibility
We run Mountain Diary with care, but we cannot guarantee that information published by members or received from third parties is correct, complete or up to date, and we are not responsible for decisions you make on the basis of it. Our liability and its limits are set out in section 14 of the Terms of Use. Nothing on this page limits any rights you have under mandatory law.