Welcome back all you summit seekers. I'm about to say three words that are going to blow your mind. Are you ready?

Prepare. For Winter.

Did you panic? Did you freak? Because honestly, when Dave and I talk about winter hiking, most people gasp. They clutch their chest and they act like someone at the table just asked, “Can you please pass the jelly?”

Did you get that reference?! I get it. It's not for everyone. But if that wasn't you, or your response, are you smiling? Did a grin light up on your face from ear to ear? Did you get a little wave of adrenaline rush through you and say, Yes! If so, you are our tribe.

And get ready, because this is going to be your prep for winter hiking. So, let's get to it.

 

 This will be part one of two, to get you winter hiking ready. This post will go over all of your prep work, your clothing and how to layer properly and all the additional gear required to hike in snow and winter conditions.

Part two will be a bonus episode. to this one, and we'll include all of our tips and advice for winter hiking and overnights in freezing cold temps. Now, before we dive in, let me make this clear. Winter hiking is not something that you can decide to do on a whim, if you are new to it. It requires a ton of preparation, research, and proper gear.

Being miles back in waist deep snow and freezing cold temperatures is not the place you ever want to find yourself realizing you didn't think this through. I'm not by any means saying this to discourage you, but to scare the crap out of you. Yes, seriously. Hiking in the backcountry requires preparation, no matter the season.

Which is why, if you've been following along here, you've already learned what the 10 essentials are to have on hand and how to responsibly hike in the backcountry. Today’s post is going to take that to the next level and prepare you for doing it in the winter. There are a few key differences between hiking in the summer and hiking in the winter.

Very simply put, it's weather, right? In the summer, you have the sun and heat. In the winter, you have the cold and snow. Except the cold and snow create much harsher and unforgiving conditions. . As the weather gets harsher, your risks go from elevated to extreme in extreme weather.

I mean, that goes for summer too. We got caught in a terrifying thunderstorm, which you'll hear all about when we discuss our Blake and Colbin hike. But in winter, extreme conditions need extreme preparation.

STEP 1: Route and Trip Planning

So, the first thing to go over when you're preparing for your hike goes back to your first leave no trace principle, plan and prepare. Just like you would in any other season. You're going to plan out your route. You're going to pick where you're going. You're going to research the trail. Are you familiar with it? Is this new territory for you? If so, be very tedious in your preparation. Hiking in the snow is absolutely beautiful. In fact, it has this magical other worldly feel, and it will get you hooked. However, it does make for very difficult route finding.

So unless you know your route well, research it very carefully. Know how long the trails will be before your next split. Know the direction you're going. Study your map because in freshly fallen snow, everything looks the same. And on windy days, your own footprints can be covered over by the time you descend. So, it really becomes imperative that you do your homework before you set out.

Now, I'm sure some of you are thinking, Oh, I'll just follow the footprints in front of me, right? Sounds simple enough? That's a major choice to avoid. Don't assume that the people in front of you knew where they were going. I can tell you firsthand, I was blindly following footprints up the Wolfjaws, and I was following the path in front of me, mesmerized by the beautiful blanket of snow covering everything.

Guess what? I was so distracted, I didn't realize the path that I was following was going towards upper wolfjaw, and my plan was lower. Sometimes you can get, I don't know, maybe even a quarter mile away before those footprints even stop completely. Those footprints may have been from people that were on the route realizing they were going in their wrong direction. Or maybe they were going in the wrong direction for their plan that day and yours can continue. That's why it's really critical to know where you're going before you set out.

STEP 2: Research Trail Conditions

So, your next step. After your planning is evaluating the trail conditions.

Now, not just the day of, but the days leading up to it, even a week beforehand. Find out what the conditions have been a week to a few days leading up to your hike. Has it snowed recently? Has there been a warm up? Has there been a thaw? If it has snowed, have the trails been broken out? All of these conditions will change your hike drastically.

If there's been freshly fallen snow, you could be breaking trail. Are you physically prepared for that? Hiking in the snow requires significant amount of energy to begin with. You could be burning double, sometimes triple the calories, especially if you're breaking trail. Now, breaking trail means that no one has ventured that way since the most recent snowfall. Sometimes it's just an inch or two. Sometimes it could be up to a foot of snow. So with each step, you're digging your own path into the snow. And it definitely adds another level of exertion. I've seen a lot of people say that they've turned around because they just have been too tired to continue while breaking trail.

I'll admit, I won't go out if I have to break trail. Okay, maybe for a mile on flat terrain or something not too difficult, that would be okay. I wouldn't mind but trudging up some of these really steep sections breaking trail and two feet of snow, I can tell you what, I'll wait the hike out a week. And thank you to the brave souls who go out and do that!

We really do appreciate you. Now on the flip side, has there been a warm spell or a big thaw? In those situations, you might need to prepare for a lot of ice. That's going to require some good microspikes and crampons.

STEP 3: Proper Clothing Layers

Let's talk clothing and layers. Let me first explain why this is imperative. You never know what the mountains will throw at you! Say you’ve planned out your next hike for the day, but nothing in the forecast said it's going to be snowing. You’ll need to make sure you have outerwear. Because if it's snowing, you're going to need proper wind and waterproof protection to keep you from getting wet. Sometimes it's even still raining in the winter on warmer days, or it'll be raining down closer to the base and snow up top. So, you're going to get wet. Prepare for that. Being wet and cold is a recipe for disaster. Temperature is always going to be a big factor when you're hiking in the winter.

Hiking in 30 degrees and bright sun is an absolutely perfect day for winter hiking, but it's completely different from 60 mile an hour winds, negative 10 to 20 degrees, and snow and rain. Those are really quite different circumstances, so it all boils down to having the proper layers. Basically, your entire time hiking in the winter, outside of admiring its beauty, is adding and shedding layers.

You're working a little hard, and you start to sweat, de layer. You're going above tree line, and it gets windy, put on a layer. If it's snowing, put on your ski goggles. If your head's getting hot, take off your hat. You start going up steep terrain, you start sweating, take off a layer. You get to a shady part of the mountain, add another layer. That's how your entire day goes. You'll be adjusting accordingly throughout the day to keep you comfortable, but not sweating. Big tip to remember here is to make sure you're not too layered up from the start of your hike. You want to start colder than comfortable. Remember that.

If you're too warm from the start of your hike, you're going to start sweating immediately and then starting your day off wet and cold. Wet and cold equal hypothermia, and hypothermia happens fast. It can get serious even within the hour, so it's not something to take lightly.

  Consistently pay attention to your body and how much you're sweating. If you need to stop and take off your pack for a minute and let your back dry out, do so. If you need to switch from heavy gloves to lighter gloves, do so. Sometimes just unzipping your jacket or taking off your hat can help for a quick cool down whenever you're sweating. It's really beneficial. And again, you do not want to sweat. Having layers, being properly dressed and being properly packed. is critical. So now let's talk about those layers.

BASE LAYERS

You're going to start with your base layers. Base layers need to be form fitting, but not uncomfortably tight. Close enough to your body that you don't want any cold air circulating under it, creating a chill or draft on your skin. Ideally, you should be choosing synthetic or wool, including your socks, but never cotton. There's a saying, cotton kills. Absolutely avoid cotton because once it gets wet, it will not retain heat, and it never dries. Base layers are meant to keep the moisture off your skin. So if your base layer is cotton and it gets wet, you're going to be cold and wet the entire time.

MID LAYERS

Now your next layer, is going to be your mid layer. They go over your base layers, and they'll be a fleece or a light jacket, insulated hiking pants. While base layers wick away moisture from your skin, the point of your mid layers are to provide insulation. Now, figuring out what you like will be a bit of trial and error. I have found that I like a good base layer on top. With a breathable long sleeve shirt is best for me to start. I'll add a fleece if I get cold or remove it if I get warm. But having a couple different layering options is a great way to help keep your body temperature regulated. Like I said, start cooler than comfortable. I find with a good base layer and just a long-sleeved shirt, I'm ready to get moving pretty quickly, which keeps me at a comfortable temperature once I start to warm up.

Pants, on the other hand, is a little trickier. You won't be able to change them as easily with your boots and snowshoes on. So, this is where you'll have to do, a little trial and error to figure out what your preferences are. On warmer days or when there's bright sun forecasted, I like a good base layer and a soft-shell hiking pant. On colder days, I reach for my insulated pants.

Now Dave wears his base layers and his year-round hiking pants on every hike. Dave hikes very hot. He's even gone shirtless many days, even in the winter. So that shows you how figuring out what's comfortable for you is going to vary person to person.

TOP LAYERS

Now next is going to be your top layer. This is usually going to be your puffy jacket. On days where you have full sun and no precipitation, you could even get away with just this for big summit push. This also goes on anytime you need to take a break or you get a chill from not moving. Your top layers are a quick layer to just throw on to warm you until you start moving again. Generally, though, they are too warm to keep on while you're doing the bulk of your hiking, but they're there if you need them.

OUTER LAYER

That brings me to your final layer, outerwear shells. You’re going to want as a non breathable, waterproof, windproof barrier. This layer is meant to keep you from getting wet on the days that it's actively snowing or raining, or when you're moving through tight treeline and you're being brushed up by all the trees with the snow on them. Ideally, you'll want to add these only when necessary because Due to the fact that your outer layers aren't breathable, they will trap in heat and make you sweat. You might want to consider going with lighter top layers and just your outer shell if you're doing most of your hiking that day in wet conditions. Do you see why it's important to pack proper layers? Most of your day will be adjusting the clothing, so make sure you have it with you.

SOCKS< FOOTWEAR & ACCESSORIES

Now, finishing off your layers are going to be socks, boots, and accessories. Let's start with socks. Socks should again be wool or a good moisture wicking synthetic, but I strongly suggest Merino wool socks. And again, never cotton. . Merino offers fantastic insulation, keeping your feet warm without being bulky. And they regulate heat, so it keeps your feet from getting sweaty and wet. And just like in any other season, make sure you carry an extra pair.

The other accessories that I like to have on hand are hat and neck warmers. I generally use an alpaca hat that I received as a Christmas present that i absolutely love but I do have a spare smart wool cap that stays in my pack as a backup. I also wear a neck warmer or a neck gaiter. These are really nice to , keep the wind off of the back of your neck or cover up your face when it gets windy. They are also really great at night if you're sleeping in a tent and you're not sleeping in a hooded sleeping bag. They keep you from getting any drafts. So the next two categories are going to be gloves and boots. We're going to talk about them separately because they are absolutely vital.

So gloves first.. Gloves are another thing that are gonna help regulate your temperature. I usually hike in just glove liners because my hands get very hot and sweaty when I hike. So I'm generally good with just the liners. My hands are usually warm enough. But if there's heavy snow or rain, I have waterproof mittens that are just basically an outer shell for my hands. So just like you layer up your body with your waterproof outer shell, my hands get layered up too.

So since I generally hike with pretty warm hands, I'm good with just my glove liners and the waterproof mittens over them if it's, if it's wet out. bring my heavier gloves when I get closer to the summit, or if it's very windy or if we're taking a break, I'll switch out. Dave on the other hand usually always has his heavy gloves on from the start becuase his hands get cold quickly.

And now finishing off our clothing are going to be boots. Boots are going to be a tricky subject because it's going to be a preference of what you like. In the summer, I prefer not wearing hiking boots.

I wear trail runners. And for a majority of the season, that's what I wear. Unless it's cold and winter weather. Now, some people's feet run really hot, some people, their toes get really cold. Your preference of what you like to hike in is really going to come in play here. Some people prefer insulated versus non insulated, again, that's a personal preference.

I always choose a good insulated boot. My ovos are fantastic in the winter. Whatever you do choose, they need to be waterproof. You do not want your feet getting wet while hiking in the winter. Now, whatever your choice is, you're going to need something substantial. Something sturdy enough to handle the spikes, crampons, and snowshoes that go on your shoes..

WINTER GEAR

 Okay, so now you're dressed. But let's talk about the rest of what goes on your feet.

Now in winter, you're going to need traction. There is no way around this. Winter in the Adirondacks means snow and ice everywhere.

There are three categories of traction. There are spikes, crampons, and snowshoes. Notice I did not say yak tracks. Yak tracks have no business being in the mountains in the winter. Yak tracks are good for walking in the mailbox on an icy driveway, but that's about it. Do not even attempt climbing these mountains in Yaktrax. You will find yourself in a really dangerous position.

What you need are actual micro spikes. Mine are Hillsounds, and I absolutely love them. There's another brand called Katulas, and I do have their cramponss. Spikes go on your boots. Like I said, you need to have some sort of sturdy footwear in order for these to go on, because they do go on with a tight fitting elastic, so they're going to be very snug and secure to your shoe.

Now, microspikes have just enough bite to make you feel secure while you're walking on the ice. They're good for climbing over rocks and thin ice. Anytime you need to have better traction on whatever section of the trail you're climbing. Now, if you're getting to thick ice, you know that scary, dense, break your leg fall kind of ice, you might want to consider switching over to crampons.

These are more intense spikes. Now, I personally can't stand the ice. I love the snow, and I love hiking in the winter, but I'm absolutely terrified of the ice. So my spikes go on a lot. Dave can sometimes go a bit longer because he can tolerate the ice better than I can, I tend to reach for my spikes pretty quickly and if the ice does get a little scary, I go for the crampons. There was a situation and, we learned our lesson. We were probably being a little lazy and didn't put on our spikes when we were going up Sawtooth Mountain. In fact, we were actually warned by a couple coming down that said to us, “it's icy up there. You're gonna want your spikes.” . So we said, “okay, we've got them. Thank you”. But ignored it. I don't know why we ignored it. Like I said, I'm pretty sure we were just being lazy. Considering it was the beginning of October, we thought maybe they were over exaggerating. They were not. We got stuck, and you'll hear about that when we talk about our lower Great Range hike.

But it was quite the lesson learned. And one that I will definitely make sure not to ever let happen again. That's why my spikes go in my pack probably October 1st, and they stay in there until May. The cold and ice linger a lot longer in the Adirondacks, so make sure you have them in your pack.

The next category for traction is crampons. When the ice gets more dense, And your spikes aren't giving you enough Bite and grip on the ice Crampons come in really handy here.

Your last option for traction, and actually these are not optional, are snowshoes. Now, snowshoes are required in the Eastern Peaks to be worn any time there is 8 inches of snow., the DEC does patrol the area and will ticket you. Yeah, believe it or not, they will ticket you,

There's even a possibility of jail time, if the rangers choose to exercise that option. Which goes to show you , how important it is to have snowshoes. Now, not only have rangers been known to tickle people for not having them, but They will also turn you away from continuing if they feel it's unsafe. I've seen a bunch of reports of people who have gotten to the point where they've come across a ranger and the ranger did turn them away from proceeding because they did not have their snowshoes.

It's not just for your own safety, it's for the safety of others, and for keeping the integrity of the trail.

Snowshoes, naturally groom the trails. When you wear your snowshoes, they make a nice little trench and make it a lot safer for everyone to use. They Keep you from sinking in the snow. Yes, if there's very, very deep snow and you're breaking trail, you will sometimes post hole even with your snowshoes. That's unavoidable. But with time, everyone else following the same trail will help it carve out a nice, beautiful, safe path for everyone to use.

If you're not using your snowshoes and you are post holing, you're making very dangerous conditions for those , who are following you. Sometimes you cannot see the hole until you're right up and it's underneath you. And that's exactly how you step down and twist or break an ankle.

I mean, it's very dangerous for others to follow if you're post holing through the snow. Personally, now this is just me. But I cannot stand when there's post holes on the trail. Some people just shrug it off and have no problem. But here's my personal issue with that. I'm barely five foot tall, so my stride is not the same as an average stride. So if I'm trying to follow a trail where there's been an average sized guy with a normal stride, my feet wind up having to navigate three or four steps in between that normal stride. I even have a difficult time trying to navigate Dave's footprints if we're breaking trail. So, when I come across post holes, it really takes the fun out of it for me. It's very frustrating and very difficult to navigate sometimes. So, remember, everyone is out there to enjoy themselves. Do the right thing. Put on your snowshoes.

Now, let's talk snowshoes. Snowshoes vary greatly by brand and details and, and features on them. Personally, I love ours. We have the MSR Lightning Ascends, and they're fantastic.

They are so light and comfortable, I could wear them all day and not have any problem. Whatever shoe you do choose, make sure they have a heel lift. That'll help with very steep inclines and help keep your calves from burning out!   There are first couple of minutes where your stance is a little awkward as soon as you put them on, but after a few minutes of walking in them, you barely notice them. Now a really big thing to keep in mind with your gear is invest properly in your gear. Like I mentioned earlier, ice and snow create , extremely dangerous conditions. This is not where you want to cheap out.

Winter hiking can be expensive. In fact, it is expensive, I'm not going to lie. But if you're not ready to shell out the money on purchasing these items, a lot of the items can be rented at the High Peak Cyclery, or at the Cascade Information Center, at the Welcome Center, or the Mountaineer. There's a lot of options to rent gear, so that you don't have to shell out hundreds and hundreds of dollars just to try out a winter hike. But, whether you purchase or rent, you need to remember that quality will save your life on these mountains. There was a post I saw on our, Adirondack Facebook group a couple weeks ago. There was a gentleman that shared his picture of his broken microspikes. Now these spikes were something that he had purchased on Amazon, trying to save a few bucks, and as he was trying to descend a rocky cliff, They broke. I mean, they just shattered. Fortunately, he had a spare with him, and he was able to get off the mountain safely, but that could have been a disastrous situation for him. He even shared the pictures.,

Now the last two accessories that go along with your gear, Which are not 100 percent mandatory, but I would strongly, strongly encourage. Are gaiters and poles.

Gaiters are usually waterproof They go on , before your traction equipment goes on. , gaiters go on your pants over your boots. They keep the snow off the bottom of your legs, they keep your pants from getting wet, and they keep the snow from getting into your boot. They wrap around your ankle, and they go up, well, mine go up to my knees because I'm short, but they generally go up mid calf. Now depending on how deep the snow is that you're going to be walking through, you might want to consider taller gaiters to keep your legs dry from trudging through deep snow. They also keep your pants from getting ripped up from your spikes or crampons, so they're really great to have.

Our last piece of equipment are trekking poles. Poles, again, are a preference, but personally, I won't hike without them. Whatsoever. In any season! I think trekking poles are an absolute must have in my book. And I will turn around and head back to the car if I realize I forgot my poles.

Think about how agile animals are. They have four points of contact at all times, right? Well, poles give you that advantage as well. They give you multiple points of contact when you're climbing, and they also make it so much easier on your knees during the descent. I love them.

Most trekking poles will come with two sets of baskets. that you can use a regular tip in the warmer months, but you're going to want to switch out to the snow baskets in, in the winter. They keep your poles floating on just about an inch or two of the snow so they're not dropping all the way down into the deep snow and you're pulling them out with each step. And they give you a bit of an assist trudging through the deep snow.

Now that we've covered all of your clothing and all of your gear, we're going to wrap up by saying Remember to test out all of your gear before you go out. If you've bought crampons, try them on. If you have spikes, practice using them. If you have snowshoes, , adjust your shoes to your feet.

Make sure you learn how to put them on and take them off before you get onto the mountain. When you're hiking and you have to stop and change your gear, you get cold very quickly. This is not the time you want, to be learning how to use your equipment. You want to change your gear very quickly, in a quick manner, and move on before you get cold.

 Okay. You're all ready, right? You've done all of your preparation. . You have the proper layers, you have socks, boots, spikes, crampons, snowshoes, poles, gaiters, hat, neck warmers, gloves,. We've planned our hike. We've researched the trail and weather conditions. Our gear is chosen. We know how to use it properly. We know our clothing needs and how to layer them appropriately. Now let's talk about what goes into your pack So let's load up our packs. Our packs are always going to start with the 10 essentials.

You can go back to episode two, if you're unsure about that, but the 10 essentials. Go in your pack every hike, every season. We're now going to talk about the things that you need to have on hand in addition to that. These are the extras to have in your pack. I always have an extra pair of base layers, socks, an extra hat, and a pair of ski goggles for the summit.

Yes, I know you're not actually skiing, but they do keep your eyes protected from the snow and the rain, and unfortunately, sometimes those brutal heavy winds. I don't bring my good ski goggles. They stay on my ski helmet. But these don't have to be very high end because you're not really looking at the slopes where you need to have the polarized lenses. Goggles just keep the wind and the snow out of your face.

The final piece of equipment that we bring with us during our winter hikes is a satellite communicator, (GPS), we have a Garmin inReach Mini. It's a satellite communicator and it does have an SOS button should we need to communicate or call for help. It will send out our exact GPS location for emergency personnel to find us quickly. It also does have some preset text messages that we can check in with family and friends if need be for those that are following along or have our trip itinerary and we need to check it. We tend to bring this more in the winter because of the harsher conditions.

And Dave does hike a lot solo when I'm at work. So it gives me peace of mind that I can get in touch with him and he can check in periodically. If you do carry a GPS with you, make sure you've learned how to use it properly before going out on the trail. Know how to call for help, know how to use the settings, and make sure it's properly charged before you set out. So, with all that said, you should be well prepared to head out for your next adventure, even in winter conditions. Our next post we're going to give you our tips and tricks on hiking in the winter, and some advice we found helpful for overnights as well.