10 Winter Hiking Tips to Enjoy the Season
By Marissa Del Mistro
These winter hiking tips will help you enjoy the beautiful outdoors all season long. If you're reading this, you probably live (or are traveling) somewhere like me (I’m in Canada), which gets COLD in the winter months. With all the snow, rain, and freezing temperatures, if we gave in to the cold weather, we’d do nothing all winter long! But, hiking can be a year-round activity, as long as you are well-prepared with some essentials and take safety precautions.
You’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of nature and get in a great workout with winter hiking. So it's time to embrace the cold and enjoy Mother Nature with these winter hiking tips.
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Winter Hiking Safety Tips
1. Check Trail Conditions
By far one of the most important first steps for winter hiking is to check out the trail condition of where you’re heading. Websites such as AllTrails are helpful as their informative database includes trails around the world.
When researching the trail condition you want to check for:
Recent feedback from other hikers
Condition of the roads
Accessibility information
Insights on the trail
Weather forecast for the day
2. Start Slow
If you're just getting started with winter hiking, go easy on yourself and opt for a short, and simple trail, preferably one you’ve hiked before. Start easy and work your way up.
3. Go Early
Naturally, the daylight hours are significantly shorter during winter months so once you find a trail that sounds safe and accessible, be sure to start hiking the trail early in the day to avoid hiking in the dark, as this can be extremely dangerous. Due to harsher weather and other obstacles, give yourself more time than you would give in the summer when winter hiking.
4. Hike with Someone
Finally, don’t attempt winter hiking by yourself. You should always hit the trails with at least one friend, and let others know where you're heading.
5. Wear The Right Clothes
Just like covering up from the sun and dressing for the heat in the summer, the right clothing is very important when hiking in the cold winter months. Consider the following hiking gear for your winter hikes:
Layer Up
Start with a base layer to keep perspiration away from your skin, followed by a mid-layer that will insulate you from the cold temperature, and finally, a shell layer that keeps wind and any moisture out. With layers, this allows you to add on or remove clothing depending on your level of warmth and comfort. Leave any cotton-based clothing at home, and swap them for synthetic layers that handle moisture and are quick-drying so sweating won't leave you wet and cold. Your extremities are the first to get cold during winter outdoor excursions so opt for wool socks to keep your feet insulated and dry and gloves for your hands. When very cold temperatures are involved, especially snow, be sure to pack extra layers of clothing. Bring a backpack with an extra pair of gloves, an extra base layer, and a rain jacket for especially low wind chill days or wet conditions.
Cover Up
No skin should be exposed to the elements when possible, especially in freezing temperatures, as it can lead to frostbite. It's best to protect your hands and fingers with lightweight or midweight fleece gloves underneath waterproof mittens or gloves. Don’t forget your eyes! You should always protect your eyes from the sun and wind with appropriate goggles or sunglasses and wear sunscreen.
Avoid Tight Clothing
Tight clothing can cut off circulation, which increases your risk of getting frostbite. Everything you wear should be a relaxed, comfortable fit.
6. Wear Good Hiking Boots
If there will be snow, you should wear boots that offer solid traction. Regular waterproof hiking boots can work, but if you are going to hike a lot in the winter, consider purchasing insulated winter boots. You may also want to bring snowshoes for navigating deep snow.
7. Pack Safety Items
Bring a first aid kit, pocket knife, navigation tools, and other safety items in your pack. Be prepared in case you wind up on the trails much longer than you planned.
8. Keep Moving
Muscles are our body's furnace and can emit an impressive amount of heat when they are at work, so one of the best ways to stay warm is to keep your body moving! It’s much easier to stay warm than get warm, after your muscles have cooled down, so be mindful when taking breaks.
9. Eat and Drink While Hiking
When it’s cold, it can be tempting to skip eating and drinking, but it’s exercise nonetheless, and your body needs fuel. Always remember that the body’s metabolism is a great heat source, and it's important to keep it fueled.
Fill your thermostat with tea or hot water. A hint: You can turn your water bottle upside down to ensure the top doesn’t get frozen, as the side facing up will freeze first.
In terms of what to eat, reach for protein/candy bars, dark chocolate, nuts, and cheese as they are high in protein and carbs, which means more energy, and they are more likely to remain soft than some other items that can freeze. You will want snacks you can enjoy while keeping on the move, as a picnic is best saved for summer hiking! It's best practice to keep food close to your body, as this will help keep it from completely freezing.
10. Tell Someone Where You’ll Be
Before you embark on a winter hike, let someone you trust know where you’ll be and when you’ll be back. You can even enable tracking so your contact can see where you’re at in real time (as long as you have a GPS signal throughout the hike).
Potential Injuries and Hazards When Winter Hiking
When hiking in the winter, it is important to be 100% prepared for what can happen. In this instance, when hiking in cold weather, the primary concerns are frostbite, hypothermia, getting lost/losing daylight, or other winter warnings.
Frostbite: Frostbite is the freezing of tissue, most commonly fingers, toes, and ears. There are three levels of this, ranging from frostnip, superficial frostbite, and deep frostbite. The signs of frostbite are the skin turning an alarming pale/waxy color with tingling, numbness, and pain. Treatment will depend on the level of frostbite, but good practice is not to rub the cold skin or area or put it under hot running water as the tissue is very susceptible to further damage.
Hypothermia: Hypothermia occurs when the body’s temperature drops below 95°F (35°C). Signs of hypothermia include shivering, clumsiness, slow thinking, a change of mood, irritability, and an undetectable pulse. To support someone with hypothermia, the best way is to get them indoors and into the shelter. If this isn't possible, get out of the wind or off snow and swap any wet clothing for dry clothing and provide them with water and food.
To avoid frostbite and hypothermia, be aware of your body temperature, dress well, and always check in with your hiking buddies. Never try to “tough it out” and keep going if the temperature is not appropriate or someone starts to show signs of the above.
It is important to be aware of tree wells if you are traversing a place with deep snowpacks. If you are, allow for plenty of space when walking by pine trees, especially ones with low-lying branches. Their pointed shape shields the tree's base, which can create deep and very dangerous holes to form, that are not easy to see by the plain eye.
What to Pack for Hiking in Winter
Pack a headlamp: With fewer daylight hours in the winter, particularly in the northern part of the U.S., be prepared with a headlamp in case you have to hike in the dark. Always, always, pack extra batteries, and keep them (and all other electronics with you) in an area that is close to your body so you can keep them warm, as cold weather can drain batteries.
Pack a first aid and repair kit: Pack a first aid kit full of everything you need to help yourself out of any health issues, and also a repair kit with patches to fix any of your winter gear. You can pack the same first aid kit used in the summer months, but throw in some hand and toe warmers and a space blanket.
Fire ignition: There might come a moment when you need to start a fire on the trail. Be sure to pack a weatherproof firestarter and dry tinder and/or a lightweight stove.
Emergency Shelter: If you must stop for an extended period of time, you will need shelter to keep wind and precipitation away while holding in body heat. It's a good idea to pack a thermal emergency bivvy, which can help the body get warm by 10 degrees.
Map and GPS device for navigation. Bring a trail map and GPS device such as a smartphone or smart watch so you can navigate the trails. If you are in remote backcountry areas, make sure you have a paper map or download a PDF map to your phone so you're not reliant on Wi-Fi signals. A compass is also helpful for navigating if you know how to use it.
Happy Hiking to You!
Winter hiking, when done right, can be a fantastic source of exercise while getting to enjoy the gorgeous landscape from a new perspective. Cold-weather hikes offer beautiful scenery and peaceful trails. Comment below or tag @Runstreet on Instagram to share your scenic hikes and workouts. Happy hiking to you, and stay safe!😊
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Marissa Del Mistro is a writer, editor, and always on the hunt for the perfect workout. Marissa absolutely loves trail running, dancing, and cycling. When she’s not writing, Marissa loves cooking, podcasts, traveling, and exploring her home in the beautiful unceded Coast Salish Territory of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ nations
