It’s not long now until trips to the country’s more mountainous regions could feature blizzards and deep snow.
If you find yourself in a whiteout you don’t want to be without a pair of sunglasses; snow blindness can lead to impaired vision, swelling, a gritty feeling in the eyes and appalling headaches.
It’s caused by a combination of UV rays from both the sun and reflections from the snow, burning your cornea.
The best way to prevent it is to wear snow goggles. But – if you’ve forgotten sunglasses – duct tape and a knife could come to the rescue. (Tip: roll a couple of metres of duct tape around your walking pole or ice axe for emergency use). If you don’t have duct tape, try a piece of card or some fabric
1. Cut a piece of duct tape about 30cm long
2. Fold it in half (with the sticky side on the inside)
3. Cut two slits (not holes) for the eyes and a triangle for the nose. The slits shouldn’t let in too much light but should allow you to see what’s in front of you
4. Make a headband by cutting a hole close to both ends of the tape and threading a rolled up length of tape through each hole so it fits snugly around your head. You could also use a piece of string or a bootlace for this.
5. Use a small patch of tape to secure the headband to the goggles.
We think you’ll agree – this alternative offers the sort of style that ensures you’ll never forget your shades again!
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