How to plan a safe mountain tour?

The number of mountaineers has been increasing, partly because the hiking season lasts almost all year.
The following instructions are intended for visitors who do not know the Julian Alps well and those with little or no mountaineering experience.
Conquering high mountains requires good physical conditions and skill, neither of which can be acquired overnight. The Triglav National Park covers almost the entire area of the Julian Alps within the borders of Slovenia. This world of high mountains is governed by conditions which differ (sometimes significantly) from the conditions in the valley.

The mountains are also full of life forms adapted to the harsh conditions of the mountain world. As life in the mountains is often on the verge of existence, visitors should try to minimize their impact on this sensitive environment.
We wish you many exciting mountain tours and a wealth of unforgettable memories.

Selecting a mountain tour concerning the time of year:
Summer – long, warm and even hot days with sudden weather changes. Sudden cold fronts bring storms (wind, rain, lightning, considerable temperature drops). In high mountains, snow patches that a mountaineer needs to know how to overcome stay far into summer, and the risk of falling stones is high, caused by visitors, wind, or animals.

Autumn – days are getting shorter and colder, but the thunderstorm risk is lower. Sudden chills are common, causing the weather to change into winter conditions in a short time. The ground is wet in shadowy locations. You can slip easily, even wearing top-quality mountaineering boots.
Winter – concise days. Nights are cold. Snow cover increases the risk of avalanches and slips, and snow and fog impair visibility and cause orientation problems.

Spring – mountains are under a thick snow cover changing its characteristics during the day: the snow is frozen and complicated in the morning (slips) and heavy and wet in the afternoon (avalanches). Despite occasional summer temperatures, winter weather conditions with snow and fog are not uncommon.
The complexity and diversity of weather mean that mountaineering in the Julian Alps (TNP) is exceptionally beautiful but also dangerous. Every tour is a unique experience, but only if the mountaineer manages to avoid the dangers through prudent action and sound equipment.

Planning a tour:
adapt the length and difficulty of the to your state of fitness, health status, experience, knowledge of the mountains, available equipment, and the weather forecast (more accessible tours first)
weather forecast for the mountains is available on the Internet, radio, TV
when you are not familiar with the area of the planned time, consult an expert or hire a mountain guide
before departure, leave a note in a visible place stating your destination, anticipated time of return, and the names of all the people venturing on the tour

Equipment:
proper footwear (high mountaineering boots with sharp rubber soles)
warm clothing (jumper, cap, gloves, spare underwear)
wind and rain protection (rainproof anorak or wind jacket, windproof trousers, bivouac bag, emergency foil blanket)
sun protection (sunglasses, a hat or cap)
a first-aid kit (band-aids, gauze, bandages)
orientation equipment and the skill to use it (map, altitude meter, compass)
suitable food and drinks supply
and for winter tours: ice-axe, crampons, avalanche rescue beacon, snow shovel, avalanche probe.
For easier and safer walking (folding), poles and an ice axe are recommended when snow and ice can be expected.