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