GUIDE TO ITINERARIES
The itineraries for trekking, snow shoeing, mountain bike rides and ski mountaineering are classified according to difficulty. VisitOssola, in collaboration with the Club Alpino Italiano, has defined a difficulty scale grouped into the following categories:
Easy itinerary
Roads, mule tracks and comfortable paths without exposed stretches, maximum route duration of 2-3-4 hours of marked walking and with no problems orientating yourself.
Medium difficulty itinerary
Trails and paths that are more or less uneven, routes with short steep stretches, route on easy terrain but lasting more than 3-4 hours, territory that may present problems orientating yourself.
Difficult itinerary
Trails and paths that are more or less uneven, routes often with short steep stretches, routes suitable for expert walkers lasting more than 5 hours, territory where you may have trouble orientating yourself.
The red colour of the signposts is essentially a symbol of danger: walkers should be prepared for the difficulties of the route and the weather conditions.
SOME ADVICE
The seasons and weather conditions can radically alter the difficulty of a particular route. The presence of snow, a sudden frost, night-time humidity on a steep patch of grass or a summer storm drastically worsen the difficulty of a route. You need to know how to exactly assess your own mental and physical condition, technical preparation and knowledge of the terrain.
We recommend you consult the sections of the Italian Alpine Club closest to you for updates and advice and to take part in specific courses on mountain safety.
CALLING FOR HELP
Unique emergency number
Tel. 112
WHAT DO I SAY TO THE PERSON WHO ANSWERS THE PHONE?
It is essential that you remain calm and provide the 112 operator with the following information:
- The telephone number from which you are calling
- Your personal details
- Sufficient information to identify where the emergency is taking place
Information on what happened:
- If the injured person has suffered trauma from a fall or has suddenly taken ill.
- If the person with the injured person can be contacted by radio or telephone.
Location details:
- Details of the terrain where the injured person is (meadow, dense wood, canal, gorge, crest).
- Clear indications on areas free of cables, overhanging wires or cable cars.
- Information on the distance of the injured person from the nearest road that can be accessed by vehicle.
- An indication of the weather conditions.
N.B: It is possible that the 112 operator may ask you not to move from the point you are calling from: any interruption in contact may delay rescue.