In this news letter we hope to bring you helpful information that we have learned either by trial and error or by research we have done. Please feel free to contact us with any further information on the topic, or any corrections that you feel should be made.
IT'S COLD - -LET'S GO FOR A HIKE!!!!!!
We got to thinking and the days with the sun and "liquid" sun just looked far too beautiful to let go on the inside. We love a good day hike during the summer and spring, but we seem to put on our "winter coat" when we don't go during the cooler weather. I went to get some information about winter hiking and this is what I found.*
Body heat is the best heat for the outdoors in cooler weather. You need to conserve as much body heat as possible when on cooler hikes. Hiker's Notebook suggests that "Cold weather hiking is not for neophytes", I looked that up and it just means beginners or novices. They also say that if you are not in pretty good shape that you should not go hiking in cold weather, stopping to rest may not be a safe option. Hiker's Notebook warns that a fair number of people die each year due to exhaustion and hypothermia, so if you are fairly new, or a little out of shape, you may want to hold off and go in warmer weather until you get a little experience on your boots.
Your clothes are extremely important! In cold, wet weather you really do not want to be caught unprepared. Keep in mind that you can layer, remove when you get warm and return if you start to get chilled. You really want to choose clothes that will dry quickly, if you layer with wool and polypropylene or silk you have made a good choice. Your jacket, however should be made of synthetic fabric that goes to just below your waist and has a wind resistant layer, you need a wind resistant layer to keep the cold wind from getting at your bones! "Bone Cold" could cut your hike very short!!!
Keeping your head, hands, and feet warm are EXTREME-ly important. A stocking cap can be your best bet for your head. This can be removed and put in a pocket in the sun and pulled over the ears when the wind picks up. Mittens are not only cute, but also great to keep your hands warm. There are alot of different styles, you can get the ones that are like gloves and the "mitten" part folds to either cover or not. You really can not negotiate a fun trail if you can not use your hands. Now, for your feet you may want to get two pairs of socks - one wool and one synthetic. If your feet get cold it seems to take longer for your body to warm up. Boots should be leather on top of rubber, this helps keep your socks and feet dry. If you plan to go hiking in snow and/or ice you need to consider a good pair of gaiters (zip up leggins) and some ice cleats to help make the trip fun and safe.
Final note!! Don't forget a good flashlight! When winter comes you could get caught in the dark. Flashlights are good advice year around, but you don't want to be on a good trail in the dark. Also, don't forget to pack extra batteries and check your flashlight to make sure that you will see all of the fun ahead. Make sure to check all of your equipment everytime you go out, you need to make sure you get back, to go out again!!!
Hikingearth would like to thank Hiker's Notebook at sierrapotomac.org and Cold-Weather-Hiking at roanoke.com for the great tips and information in this news letter.
