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