How to Hike in the Winter

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

Many of you outdoorsy types have two essential modes of being: winter sport adventurer, and summer trailblazer. If you’re in a northern state especially, the difference between the seasons is so stark that you can’t help but have these two different modes of being. You have swim trunks and running shoes in addition to skiing poles and ski boots. But what if it doesn’t have to be this way, and you can instead enjoy many of the same sports during all of the seasons?

You can do that with hiking, which is traditionally associated with sunny days on the trail. To those truly dedicated hikers, however, hiking is a year-round sport in which the changing seasons simply represent different challenges to embrace.

Here are a few quick tips for hiking in the winter.

1. Know your equipment.

If you’ve never hiked in the winter, but are serious about hunkering down and tackling the snowy slopes, you’ve got to know your equipment first. Don’t tackle any challenges that put you too far out of your element – work your way up to that level first.

Understanding the basic equipment will get your foot on the trail, so take a few minutes to ask yourself what you might need. You’ll want to look at snowshoes, especially – even if you don’t want to wear them on your entire hike, you’ll want to at least have them with you. Likewise, snow poles will help you dig in on some slippery terrain and avoid any falls.

2. Dress for the occasion.

Another aspect of hiking in the winter that’s not entire predictable is the amount of moisture that’s really out there. After a snow fall, there will probably be hills full of snow that’s just waiting to melt once it touches your warm skin. You’re going to want to keep two principles of winter dressing in mind: warm, and dry. Warm isn’t enough – you don’t want to be wet. And dry isn’t enough – it isn’t fun to be dry and freezing. Together, they make for a much more comfortable experience.

Build an “under-layer” of long underwear that blocks out any leaks in the typical areas – think your neck, wrists, and ankles. It will take a little more effort up front, but it will be worth it when you reach the top of that snow hill and say to yourself “wow, that was great!”

Treat hiking in the winter as an entirely different entity, and you’ll be well-prepared for some enjoyable exercise and a fun time with friends and family.

Photo Credits: TimWilson“>1

How to Enjoy Kayaking

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

One of the most overlooked aspects of enjoying a camping trip is fully exploring the uses and potential of nearby lakes and rivers. If you’ve ever camped on a lake before, you’ve probably felt that the only options available to you are either swimming or fishing. Nothing could be further than the truth – it sounds like you need to kayak!

Kayaking can be a great, peaceful activity that gets your blood moving without exerting you too hard. While some people fully embrace it as a way to build upper body strength and balance, you don’t have to kayak for the physical benefits. Instead, inflating a simple rubber kayak or renting a wooden/metal kayak can be a great way to spend a few hours as daylight dwindles into twilight.

How do you get started with kayaking?

The first thing you’ll need is a kayak, so make sure that you’ve done some exploring to find cheap kayaking options. Local camping sites might have kayaks to rent out, but you could always find a cheap kayak online or an inflatable one. If you purchase an inflatable kayak, make sure there are no leaks by testing it out in shallow waters first. You’ll also want to remember to buy an auto-inflater that uses batteries, as blowing up a kayak by yourself can be quite a chore.

To spice up your kayak trip, you’ll also want to take a waterproof camera, or at least a well-protected digital camera. Why is this? It won’t only help you remember the trip, but it will provide some snapshots for others to see what you were able to find on your kayak. If you have a companion kayaking with you, you’ll also be able to take some great water-level pictures with extraordinary scenery and backgrounds.

Also, be sure that you don’t overexert yourself on your first kayaking trip. It can be easy to overestimate one’s own endurance, and even though you “feel great” starting out the trip, you might tire easily if it’s your first time. Make sure you don’t stray too far from home base – after you’re confident in your abilities, you can start to venture out farther and continue exploring.

Make sure to wear a life preserver, and you’ll be all set for a safe, secure, and enjoyable kayaking trip – and you can be home just in time for a flame-grilled dinner.

Photo Credits; SergioDJT