Hiking during the winter is a great way to enjoy beautiful scenery, refreshing air and stunning silence without running into throngs of people or being bombarded by insects. However, it also comes with a variety of challenges and risks that should be considered before heading out. Let’s look at a few important things to keep in mind as you plan and prepare for your next trip.
Basic Essentials
There are a few things that we should always bring with us, no matter what kind of hike we take or when we hit the trail. They include water and filters or purification tablets, food, fire-starting material, a flashlight, first aid kit, map and compass, good knife, sunscreen and sunglasses or goggles, a tarp as well as some extra clothing. You can adapt these items according to your needs or the conditions you plan on encountering, but you should never leave home without them.
Low Visibility
Snow covered landscapes are beautiful, but they can also make it easy to become disoriented. Falling snow can cover trails in a short amount of time, and blowing snow or glare from the sun can impair your situational awareness. Don’t forget that the sun also sets early in the winter, and it’s easy to venture too-far to get back before darkness sets in. Make sure that you find ways to adapt to these conditions and still be able to orient yourself at all times.
Don’t Hike Alone
Try to avoid hiking alone, and if you do, always tell someone where you’re going, what route you will take and when you plan on coming back or checking in. You should always tell someone your plans even if you are going with others as well. The risks to your health and safety during a cold-weather survival situation are far-too-great to take chances, and having someone know where you are will prove to be invaluable if you run into trouble on the trail.
Hydration and Hypothermia
It’s important to bring just as much water with you as you would during a summertime hike. It’s also important to drink the water at regular intervals in order to remain properly-hydrated, even if you don’t feel thirsty. We can lose a lot of water in the winter without breaking into a sweat, and dehydration often creeps up with little warning. Make sure that you also dress appropriately and bring multiple layers of clothing that you can take on or off as needed. Extra clothing will also come in handy if what you’re wearing gets wet.
Appropriate Footwear
Make sure that you choose footwear that is suitable for hiking in snow and ice or through mud, slush or puddles. Footwear should have good traction as well as being waterproof and insulated. Pack an extra pair or two of socks, and consider taking a ski pole or walking stick to help you to balance yourself around obstacles on the trail that will crop up along the way.
Finally, use good judgment to determine whether it’s safe to hike on a particular trail. Sometimes it’s just better to wait for conditions to improve or to choose an alternative. A lot of people run into problems because they didn’t evaluate risks before heading out, and sometimes they don’t make it back alive. Don’t be one of them.
These are just a few basic ideas to help you to plan for your next hike, but it’s not intended to be an exhaustive list. Think about other things that you can do to minimize risk in order to get maximum enjoyment the next time you head out on snow-covered trails.
