If you've followed Survival of the Fittest, you know how to dress for cold weather and how to set up a camp that can protect you in a winter storm. But pay attention: hypothermia, a gradual cooling of your body, can kill. Know the symptoms, how to avoid it and what to do if someone in your group develops it.

The early symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, pale or blue-gray skin, and what the Mayo clinic staff call the "-umbles:" stumbles, mumbles, fumbles, and grumbles. The grumbling may appear as indifference to what's going on, and the mumbling can also appear as slurred speech. Difficulties with movement and balance are the stumbling part, and can also appear when numbed fingers fumble with tasks like pulling up a zipper. Later symptoms include confusion, slowing of breathing and pulse, muscle stiffness, extreme fatigue and loss of consciousness.

Most people assume that hypothermia occurs only when the temperatures are below freezing. That's a myth. If the weather is cool and cloudy, and you get soaked with rain and don't get into dry clothes and a warm place, you can get hypothermia. Cold water is another common cause of hypothermia. Depending on the temperature of the water, it can take several hours or just minutes of exposure to develop hypothermia.

Preventive measures include layering your clothing; wear a thin pair of gloves inside your regular gloves and double up your socks. Keep your head and ears covered with a hat or headband. Avoid too much exertion; evaporating sweat can make you much colder. If you swim in a mountain lake, make sure it's not too cold and don't stay in too long.

If someone is wet or cold and showing signs of hypothermia, get them back to camp immediately. Strip all the wet clothing and leave it outside the tent. Dress them in warm, dry clothing or wrap them in a sleeping bag, and warm their feet with dry wool socks or primaloft or down booties. Heat stones in a campfire, wrap them in fabric, and bring them inside to help warm the cold person. Provide plenty of hot liquids to warm the victim from the inside. Get the victim of hypothermia out of the cold and back to a better shelter, and apply medical care if needed, as quickly as possible.

Enjoy winter sports and mountain lakes, but make sure you can survive hypothermia.

(Sources: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hypothermia/DS00333 , http://firstaid.webmd.com/tc/hypothermia-and-cold-temperature-exposure-topic-overview, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fitness/HQ01681 )

When Mother Nature does something big, she does it up right, as is the case with Annapurna. Rising 8,091 meters (26,545 feet) into the air, this gorgeous mountain has a name that translates as "Goddess of the Harvests" or "The Provider." Like other climbing destinations, though, the natural beauty masks some real dangers. Located in Central Nepal, Annapurna has several peaks, the most well-known being Annapurna I and Annapurna II. Attempting to climb either peak would provide enough of a challenge for one lifetime. Suffice it to say, this is not a casual Sunday afternoon climb with your friends but a full-fledged expedition.

If you want to tackle the tenth highest mountain in the world, good physical conditioning is a requirement, not an option. Summitpost.org reported that in fall 1999, 120 expeditions attempted to summit Annapurna, but 54 of the climbers in those groups did not make it back.With any mountain that exceeds 8,000 meters, the combined threat of altitude sickness and hypothermia can become a painful reality. Peakware.com recommends planning an expedition for either April or May.

When packing up the tents, foodstuffs, boots and crampons, don't neglect your eyes when going for the summit of Annapurna. To give yourself a clear, clean field of vision, snow goggles such as the Spy Optic's Soldier are an excellent addition to your gear. The Soldier helps prevent fogging and provides 100 percent protection from UV radiation.

When planning any type of expedition in the Nepal region, all good things come from Kathmandu, the capital city. Experienced climbers who have tackled Annapurna have found plenty of tour guides and other help in this Nepalese city.

Back in the 1970's, Bob Seger sang, "That's why I'm going to Katmandu. Up to the mountains where I'm going to." If you want to be like Bob, head to Annapurna I or II, but make sure you are truly ready for what "The Provider" has to offer.

Sources:
http://www.peakware.com/peaks.html?pk=13
http://www.yetizone.com/
http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150258/annapurna-i.html

There's something inherently honest about a mountain climb, where everything comes down to a battle between your skills and the elements. On the most dangerous peaks, a climber may come home with a great story or they may not come home at all.

That same brutal honesty applies to Granite Mountain, which is the highest point in the state of Montana. A part of the Beartooth Range in the Rockies, this climbing destination contains an area that's named, appropriately enough, Froze-to-Death Plateau.

Rising approximately 12,799 feet into the air, Granite Mountain literally scrapes the ceiling of Montana and is one the most beautiful, yet potentially deadly climbs in America. Some climbing enthusiasts have made the 20-plus-mile roundtrip to the top in a day, but most climbers favor a two-day summit and campout overnight.

Living up to its name, Froze-to-Death Plateau is kind of like the infamous Bermuda Triangle in some ways. Montana's Forestry Service warns climbers that late afternoon storms are pretty common in this area of Granite Mountain, and there's always a chance of snow 12 months out of the year.

The biggest problem with Froze-to-Death Plateau is getting your bearings. The natural rock formations can be deceptive, so make sure you pack a compass and a couple of copies of the United States Geological Survey's Quadrangle Map of Granite Peak. To make sure you actually don't freeze to death, invest in a handheld GPS system like the Oregon 200 by Garmin (it can be a lifesaver when visibility is poor).

Suffice it to say, Granite Mountain is a climb that's suitable only for those who are at the top of their game, both physically and mentally. The Montana Forestry Service requires all climbers to check in at the Beartooth Ranger Station, but they also make no guarantees about evacuating climbers in bad weather.

With the very real chance of hypothermia on Froze-to-Death Plateau, Granite Mountain is one peak that you should never take for granted.

Sources:
http://www.jhmg.com/climbs/beartooth/index.php
http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150239/granite-peak.html
http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/custer/recreation/granitepeak.shtml

Underestimating a mountain is never a good idea. Mount Hood in eastern Oregon is not as high as many summits in the area, nor is it as long a hike as Shasta and some of the others peaks. However, thousands of climbers attempt Mount Hood every year, many of them beginners who don't realize Mount Hood's dangers.

Cornices
The primary danger on Mount Hood is the cornices that form on the leeward side of the mountain. A cornice is an overhanging ledge of snow that forms from wind and heavy precipitation. It can cause avalanches and falling rock if the wind blows in the wrong direction. If you're climbing a mountain that has cornices, your best bet is to avoid them entirely. Mount Hood, for example, is safest to climb on the opposite side of the mountain. The route is a bit more technically challenging, but you don't have to worry as much about boulders falling on your head.

Rock Fall
When climbing Mount Hood, stick to the snow and the ice rather than trying to gain footholds on the rocks along its face. Rock fall is a significant source of injury on the mountain, mostly for inexperienced climbers who mistakenly believe that climbing on rock will be safer. Not only is this dangerous for you, but also for anyone coming up behind you.

Hypothermia
The below-freezing temperatures on Mount Hood can be excruciating, particularly if you don't think to bring a warm jacket and a pair of insulated gloves. It is also a good idea to bring a compass or other navigational tool just in case you happen to get lost.

Stranded
Inexperienced climbers are far more likely to reach a point in the climb and realize they can't go any further. About 40 people are rescued every year from the face or summit of Mount Hood because they can't go either forward or back. Don't get into this situation; take an experienced climber with you.