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