Winter hiking: Magical or miserable?

By midwinter, our urge to hibernate can start to feel constricting instead of cozy. What better antidote to being cooped up indoors than a bracing hike in the crisp air outdoors?

Winter backdrops are stark, serene, and often stunning. With fewer people on the trail, you may spot more creatures out and about. And it&rsquos a prime opportunity to engage with the seasons and our living planet around us. But a multi-mile trek through rough, frosty terrain is far different than warm-weather hiking, requiring different considerations of health and safety. Here&rsquos what to know before you go.

Winter hiking: Safety first

The challenge of hiking when environmental conditions are a little more demanding requires a very different approach on a winter&rsquos day as opposed to a summer&rsquos day. But it gives us a chance to be immersed in the living world around us.

A safety-first attitude is especially important if you&rsquore hiking with others of different ages and abilities — say, with older relatives or small children. It&rsquos crucial to have both the right gear and the right mindset to make it enjoyable and safe for all involved.

Planning and preparation for winter hikes

Prepare well beforehand, especially if you&rsquore mixing participants with vastly different fitness levels. Plan your route carefully, rather than just winging it.

People at the extremes of age — the very old or very young — are most vulnerable to frigid temperatures, and cold-weather hiking can be more taxing on the body. Winter conditions can be more demanding on the heart than a perfectly-temperatured day. Be mindful of the physical capabilities of everyone in your group, letting this define where you go. It&rsquos supposed to be fun, not a punishing activity.

Before setting out:

• Know how far, high, and remote you&rsquore going to go, and check the forecast for the area where you&rsquoll be hiking, taking wind chill and speed into account. Particularly at higher altitudes, weather can change from hour to hour, so keep abreast of expectations for temperature levels and any precipitation.
• Know if you&rsquoll have access to emergency cell coverage if anything goes wrong.
• Always share plans with someone not on your hike, including expected route and time you&rsquoll return. Fill out trailhead registers so park rangers will also know you&rsquore on the trail in case of emergency.

What to wear for winter hikes

Prepare for extremes of cold, wind, snow, and even rain to avoid frostbite or hypothermia, when body temperature drops dangerously low.

• Dress in layers. Several thin layers of clothing are better than one thick one. Peel off a layer when you&rsquore feeling warm in high sun and add it back when in shadow. Ideally, wear a base layer made from wicking fabric that can draw sweat away from the skin, followed by layers that insulate and protect from wind and moisture. As they say, there&rsquos no bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. Take a day pack or rucksack and throw a couple of extra thermal layers in.
• Protect head, hands, and feet. Wear a wool hat, a thick pair of gloves or mittens, and two pairs of socks. Bring dry spares. Your boots should be waterproof and have a rugged, grippy sole.
• Wear sunscreen. You can still get a sunburn in winter, especially in places where the sun&rsquos glare reflects off the snow.

Carry essentials to help ensure safety

• Extra food and water. Hiking in the cold takes serious energy, burning many more calories than the same activity done in summer temperatures. Pack nutrient-dense snacks such as trail mix and granola bars, which often combine nuts, dried fruit, and oats to provide needed protein, fat, and calories. It&rsquos also key to stay hydrated to keep your core temperature normal. Bonus points for bringing a warm drink in a thermos to warm your core if you&rsquore chilled.
• First aid kit. Bandages for slips or scrapes on the trail and heat-reflecting blankets to cover someone showing signs of hypothermia are wise. Even in above-freezing temperatures, hypothermia is possible. Watch for signs such as shivering, confusion, exhaustion, or slurring words, and seek immediate help.
• Light source. Time your hike so you&rsquore not on the trail in darkness. But bring a light source in case you get stuck. A flashlight or headlamp is useful if you&rsquore hiking anywhere near the edges of daylight.
• Phone, map, compass, or GPS device plus extra batteries. Don&rsquot rely on your phone for GPS tracking, but fully charge it in case you need to reach someone quickly. Make sure that you have the technology and skill set to be able to navigate on- or off-trail, and that you have a means of outside communication, especially if you&rsquore in a large, mixed group.