A superabundance of luggage infallibly increases the delays, annoyance, and expenses of travel. The traveller's reserve clothing should be contained in a portmanteau of moderate size, which he can easily wield himself when necessary, and which may be forwarded from town to town by post. The traveller's ambition often exceeds his powers of endurance, and if his strength be once overtaxed he will sometimes be incapacitated altogether for several days. Mountaineering among the higher Alps should not be attempted before the middle or end of July, nor at any period after a long continuance of rain or snow. Glaciers should be traversed as early in the morning as possible, before the sun softens the crust of ice formed during the night over the crevasses.
Experienced guides are indispensable for such excursions.
The traveller is cautioned against sleeping in chalets, unless absolutely necessary. As a rule, therefore, the night previous to a mountain expedition should be spent either at an inn or at one of the club-huts which the Swiss, German, and Italian Alpine Clubs have recently erected for the convenience of travellers. Mountaineers should provide themselves with fresh meat, bread and wine or spirits for long expeditions. Glacier-water should not be drunk except in small quantities, mixed with wine or cognac. Cold milk is also safer when qualified with spirits.