Cold-Weather Hiking: Staying Warm and Dry on Winter Trails

Winter trails can be the most beautiful of the year: quiet forests, fresh snow, crisp air and views that stretch for miles.

They also leave less room for error.

Short days, slippery ground and cold that punishes wet clothing mean that small problems can grow quickly.

You do not need to be a mountaineer to hike in winter, but you do need a slightly different approach.

Here is how to plan, dress and move so you stay warm and dry, and how to spot trouble early.

Plan for Short Days and Slow Miles

Daylight is your most limited resource in winter.

Check sunrise and sunset times, set a firm turnaround time, and plan to finish well before dark.

Carry a headlamp with fresh batteries regardless, since batteries fade faster in the cold.

Expect to move more slowly than in summer.

Snow, ice, extra clothing and heavier boots all add effort, and breaking trail through fresh snow can cut your pace dramatically.

A route that takes three hours in summer may take much longer in winter, so choose shorter, more familiar trails than usual.

Snow can also hide the trail. Paint blazes, signs and even the path itself may disappear under drifts,

so bring a map and compass or a navigation device and know how to use them.

If your route crosses or runs beneath steep, open slopes, avalanches may be a risk.

Check the local avalanche forecast where one exists, and do not travel in avalanche terrain without proper training and equipment.

Manage Sweat Before It Manages You

In winter, the biggest threat to staying warm often comes from inside your clothes.

Sweat soaks your base layer on the climb, and the moment you stop, that moisture pulls heat from your body.

Staying dry matters as much as staying warm.

• Vent early: Open zippers, take off your hat or switch to lighter gloves as soon as you begin to warm up.
• Shed layers for climbs: Remove your insulated jacket before a long uphill, even if you feel chilly for the first few minutes.
• Slow down: A steady pace that keeps you just below sweating beats repeated sweaty bursts.
• Layer up at every stop: Put on an insulated jacket the moment you stop, before you start to feel cold.
• Carry dry spares: Keep an extra base layer top, socks and gloves in a waterproof bag.

Dress for Winter Conditions

A winter layering system looks like a heavier version of what you wear the rest of the year.

Start with a midweight wool or synthetic base layer, top and bottom.

Add a fleece or light insulated jacket for moving, and carry a warm, hooded puffy jacket for breaks and emergencies.

A waterproof or windproof shell jacket and pants protect you from snow, wind and wet brush.

Extremities need special attention, because your body reduces blood flow to your hands and feet when it gets cold.

Wear a warm hat and carry a spare.

Use a system for your hands, such as thin liner gloves for dexterity, insulated gloves for general use and warm mittens for the coldest moments.

A neck gaiter or balaclava protects your face from wind, and goggles or sunglasses guard your eyes against wind and bright snow glare.

For your feet, choose insulated, waterproof boots with enough room for warm socks without squeezing your toes, since tight boots restrict circulation.

Gaiters keep snow out of your boot tops and help keep your lower legs dry.

Get a Grip on Snow and Ice

Winter footing ranges from powder to packed snow to glassy ice, often on the same trail.

Match your traction to the conditions:

• Traction devices: Slip-on chains or small spikes that stretch over your boots grip packed snow and icy trails, which are common on popular routes after freeze-thaw cycles.
• Snowshoes: Spread your weight in deep, soft snow so you do not sink with every step.
• Trekking poles: Add balance on slippery ground. Fit them with larger snow baskets so they do not sink too deep.
• Crampons and an ice axe: Designed for steep snow and ice, and only useful if you have been trained to use them.

Watch for ice hidden under fresh snow, and take extra care on bridges, boardwalks and rock slabs, which often freeze first.

Check recent trail reports so you know which traction to bring.

Keep Food, Water and Batteries Working

Cold makes it harder to eat and drink enough, even though your body burns extra energy staying warm.

Pack snacks that stay chewable in the cold, such as nuts, cheese,

chocolate or soft bars kept in an inside pocket, and eat something every hour.

Hose-style hydration systems often freeze in the tube, so many winter hikers switch to wide-mouth bottles.

Insulated bottle covers help, and carrying bottles upside down keeps ice from forming first at the lid.

An insulated flask of a warm drink is a real morale boost at a cold summit.

Batteries lose charge quickly in low temperatures.

Keep your phone, spare batteries and headlamp in an inner pocket close to your body,

and switch your phone to power-saving mode to stretch its battery.

Recognize Hypothermia and Frostbite Early

Hypothermia happens when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it, and it can occur well above freezing,

especially when you are wet, windblown and tired. Early signs include uncontrollable shivering, fumbling hands, slurred speech, stumbling,

poor decisions and a change in mood. Many hikers remember these as the "umbles": stumbles, mumbles, fumbles and grumbles.

If someone shows early signs, act immediately.

Get them out of the wind and wet, replace wet clothing with dry layers, insulate them from the ground,

add a hat and warm jacket, and give food and a warm,

non-alcoholic drink if they are alert and able to swallow.

If shivering stops while the person is still cold, or they become confused or very drowsy,

treat it as an emergency: call for help, handle them gently and keep them insulated.

Frostbite most often affects fingers, toes, ears, nose and cheeks.

Warning signs include numbness and skin that looks white, grayish-yellow or waxy and feels unusually firm.

Protect the area, do not rub it, and seek medical care.

Avoid rewarming it if there is a chance it could freeze again before you reach help.

Build a Winter Safety Margin

Winter adds weight to your pack, and that weight is your margin.

Along with the usual essentials, carry an extra insulating layer,

a foam sit pad to insulate you from snow during breaks, an emergency shelter such as a bivy sack,

and a reliable way to start a fire.

Leave a detailed trip plan with someone at home, and keep in mind that help can take longer to arrive in winter conditions.

Most important, be willing to turn around.

Deep snow, fading light, rising wind, cold hands or a tired partner are all good reasons to head back early.

The trail will still be there on a better day.

Winter Rewards the Prepared

Cold-weather hiking repays careful planning with quiet trails and stunning scenery.

Plan for short days, manage sweat, dress in warm layers, bring the right traction,

keep food and water from freezing and learn the signs of hypothermia and frostbite.

Get those basics right, and winter can become one of your favorite seasons on the trail.