Make the first trip simpler than your ambition
The Swedish Mountain Safety Council recommends matching the route to your fitness and experience. A day hike on a marked trail is a simpler first step than an off-trail camping trip.
Plan the route on a map
Study a current mountain map before departure. Look at contour lines, shelters and possible retreat routes. Carry a map and compass that do not depend on mobile coverage or battery power, and practise using them beforehand.
Prepare for worse weather than you hope for
Mountain weather can change rapidly even in summer. Carry windproof and waterproof outer layers, insulation and a dry change of clothes. Check current forecasts and respect mountain weather warnings.
Leave a route plan
Someone outside your group should know your intended route and expected return time so they can raise the alarm if you do not return.
Use marked trails at first
Marked trails are easier to follow and may connect to shelters, huts and other safety infrastructure. Red crosses mark winter routes and are not automatically suitable summer trails.
Your phone is support, not the whole navigation plan
Phones and offline maps are useful, but coverage may be absent and batteries can drain quickly in cold weather. Paper map and compass provide important redundancy.