| Winter hiking can be a tranquil even surreal | | | | When you're planning your hiking trip, take extra |
| experience when done properly. The peace of | | | | time to plan out your route. Do your research |
| walking through cold and wintry scenes captured | | | | and see if you can find out about any safety |
| in the outdoors is considered by many to be a | | | | advisories in the area where you want to hike, |
| great way to spend a day. Additional precautions | | | | and adjust your equipment list as needed to |
| are needed when hiking in the winter, however, | | | | accommodate for any special circumstances that |
| as winter weather can create a number of issues | | | | you might encounter based on these warnings. If |
| not typically a problem in the summer. It is | | | | you're planning a multi-day hiking trip, you might |
| important to protect yourself from both colder | | | | want to have an LED flashlight that has a lantern |
| temperatures and potential winter hazards this | | | | function as well so that you can illuminate larger |
| time of year. Making sure that you have the right | | | | areas with it. Begin watching weather reports |
| equipment for your hike and taking extra time | | | | several days in advance of when your trip is |
| planning so that you can avoid many potentially | | | | planned for so that you can make any necessary |
| dangerous situations are important to winter hiking | | | | adjustments to your plans. Once your plan is set, |
| safety. | | | | make sure you notify two to three people of |
| Essential Equipment | | | | your expected route and plans for return so they |
| Proper equipment is a winter hiking essential. Your | | | | can alert the proper authorities if you do not |
| biggest priorities are going to be making sure that | | | | return as scheduled. |
| you have light and warmth when you need it, as | | | | Being Mindful of Temperature |
| well as food and water to keep you from | | | | Temperatures often drop quickly during the |
| becoming dehydrated or hungry. A basic | | | | winter, and it can be very easy to underestimate |
| multipurpose tool or a pocket knife is important | | | | the effects of these temperature shifts. You |
| for any hiking situation. A small first aid kit is too. | | | | must also be mindful of the amount of sweat |
| LED flashlights are the smartest choice for a light | | | | that your body can produce even in cold weather, |
| source. They use very little energy (batteries) and | | | | as it can not only lead to you having wet clothes |
| therefore will last much longer than a standard | | | | and skin in cold weather but you can also be in |
| light. Pack both thermal blankets and chemical heat | | | | danger of dehydration. Quickly dropping |
| packs to ensure that you and your companions | | | | temperatures can increase your likelihood of |
| will be able to stay warm enough if caught out in | | | | becoming sick and can also put you at risk for |
| unexpected bad weather. If you'll be camping | | | | hypothermia. Because of this, in addition to any |
| during your hike, invest in a sleeping bag that's | | | | blankets or heat packs that you bring, it's |
| designed to keep you warm in low temperatures. | | | | important that you dress appropriately for the |
| Make sure that you pack all of the necessary | | | | projected temperatures on the day or days that |
| equipment that you would bring in warmer | | | | you'll be hiking. Dress in layers and bring extra |
| weather, and be sure that you put an extra | | | | shirts, jackets, pants, or other clothing that can |
| emphasis on safety and first aid. | | | | be added with relative ease if necessary. |
| Careful Planning | | | | |