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 April 2016 Issue
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Make your own snow goggles

1 April 20161 Apr '16

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
Snowgoggles1 2.  Fold it in half (with the sticky side on the inside)
Snowgoggles2 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
Snowgoggles4 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.
Snowgoggles5
5.  Use a small patch of tape to secure the headband to the goggles.
Snowgoggles6 We think you’ll agree – this alternative offers the sort of style that ensures you’ll never forget your shades again!