The winter season has its dreary side, short daylight, grey sky’s, and long dark days. It can certainly give you the winter blues, and make you long for the spring to arrive so you can tackle those favorite trails again. However, it does not have to be this way, if you prepare yourself mentally and prepare yourself for the weather, you can have a very enjoyable hike in the winter. It may involve snow or just colder wetter trails.
The beauty of hiking during the winter is that most trails are quiet and you can enjoy that trail in a way that you have not done before. With the addition of snow, you can take your hike to a snowshoe level, or even just sport your crampons and tackle those snow packed or icy trails. You will find a completely new appreciation for your favorite trails, the views will be different, the sounds of nature are different, and you will see things that you did not notice during the other seasons.
Worried about getting too cold, dress in many layers, you will start out cold but as you get further into your hike, you will start to heat up; this is when you can layer down. As you near the end of your hike or when you take a rest break you will start to cool off, now you can layer up again.
Remember day light hours are not as long during the winter, please make sure you leave enough time to return during the daylight.
Always carry the essentials and know how to use them.
Mentally it can be tough to get motivated during the winter, my suggestion is just get outside, start with a small hike, most of the time that’s all you need, once you are outside and moving you’ll forget about reclining in that chair. Take photos while you are out, they can be an inspiration to get you out the next time. Arrange with friends or family to meet them for a hike, peer pressure is not normally associated with a positive but in this case, it is.
I hope that this blog and the pictures will help motivate you to get out and explore this winter.