| Did you check the weather report when you
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| | toes, and are a good idea even for a day
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| last went winter backpacking? You
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| | hike. Down coats and vests are the best -
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| probably did, but I am sure there are
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| | if you can keep them dry.
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| some who are thinking "Weather report?
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| | Bring enough water. Eating snow is an
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| How about cold and snowy - it's winter!"
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| | extremely inefficient way to get water
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| However, cold and snow are not the only
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| | into your system. Bring water and keep it
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| aspects of the weather. You may actually
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| | from freezing. This might mean keeping
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| be in more danger if there will be a
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| | your water bottle inside your coat, or
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| warming trend while you are out in the
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| | next to you in your sleeping bag at
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| wilderness.
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| | night. One of the primary problems that
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| Getting wet when the temperature is just
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| | climbers of Mount Everest have is
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| over freezing is far more likely than
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| | dehydration, by the way, and it can
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| when it is far below freezing. Getting
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| | contribute to hypothermia.
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| wet, and then cold because of it, is one
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| | Bring a heat source. Many of us get by
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| of the primary reasons people die in the
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| | backpacking with no stove in the warmer
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| wilderness in winter. A down coat might
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| | months, eating cold foods only, but in
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| keep you warm down to zero, but it might
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| | winter a cooking stove is a necessity. It
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| also become almost worthless in a steady
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| | isn't just that you will appreciate
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| freezing rain. You need to be prepared
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| | having hot food. You will need a way to
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| for the specific weather you are likely
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| | melt snow and ice for water. Always have
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| to see.
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| | enough matches, and a lighter too. A fire
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| More Winter Hiking Tips
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| | can easily be a lifesaver if you fall
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| Stay as dry as you can. Getting wet is
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| | into a stream of lake and need to get
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| what kills you in the winter wilds.
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| | warm and dry.
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| Proper preparation means more than just
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| | Learn some basic principles of cold
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| bringing a rain jacket, though. You also
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| | weather survival. Maybe you won't
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| have to avoid letting too much snow melt
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| | remember that you can turn a light jacket
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| into your clothing. Jeans are the worst
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| | into a winter coat by stuffing it full of
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| for this, and should never be worn when
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| | cattail fluff from the nearest swamp.
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| backpacking in snow. You also need to
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| | However, if you understand how dead air
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| monitor your perspiration. It's easy to
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| | space insulates, it will seem obvious to
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| get wet from sweating during a hard hike.
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| | you that you can use a pile of dry leaves
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| This sweat will chill you fast once you
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| | or grass as an emergency blanket. Once,
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| stop moving. Remove those layers as you
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| | while backpacking along the Manistee
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| warm up, to prevent sweating.
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| | River in Michigan, setting up my tent on
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| Have proper clothing. What should you
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| | a pile of dry bracken ferns allowed me to
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| have with you when hiking? Avoid cotton,
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| | stay warm with no sleeping bag when it
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| for starters. Synthetic underwear, like
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| | was almost freezing.
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| polypropylene, is a great invention, in
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| | Think about these things before you are
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| all it's newest forms. "Wicking" pants
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| | out there. Proper preparation is what
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| and tops work well. Always have a hat and
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| | will make your winter backpacking trip a
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| gloves. Dry socks can prevent frostbitten
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| | safe one.
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