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Water is safe to drink from most of the numerous fountains seen throughout the country, unless there’s a notice stating otherwise: Kein Trinkwasser and eau non potable mean the water is unsafe to drink. Stream water should be treated with caution, as polluting animals may be grazing above the source. To ensure stream water is safe to drink, either boil thoroughly or use a special filter.

In winter as in summer, it’s easy to get sunburnt or suffer from heat stroke in the mountains – especially at altitude – so protect yourself with a brimmed hat, a liberal coating of sunscreen and lip salve. At the other end of the spectrum, hypothermia can affect anyone in summer or winter when their body loses heat faster than it can produce it, and the core temperature falls to dangerous levels. This is most likely to happen in wet and windy conditions, and when suffering from exhaustion. Try to avoid getting soaked by wearing good waterproofs and layers of warm clothing, including gloves and hat. If you or your partner show early signs of hypothermia get out of the wind and into some form of shelter (tent, bivvy bag or large polythene bag), replace any wet clothing with dry, eat some high-energy food and drink hot sugary liquids. Do not drink alcohol, or rub the patient to restore circulation, and avoid further exertion.