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Page 4 Since 1943 USMMADon’t let the cold weather keep you from enjoying the outdoors this vacation.Indeed, for many experienced mountaineers, winter can be the best hiking season ofall. There are fewer people on the trails, the bugs are gone, and the lack of foliage allowsfor spectacular views. Yet the unique aspects of winter hiking demand greaterawareness and preparation. Here are some pointers that will hopefully improve yourwinter experience:Before the Hike: If you have never been on a winterhike, familiarize yourself with less demanding terrain. Thiswill allow you to experiment with clothing and gear, testyour stamina, and appreciate the differences between winterhiking and other seasons. Climbing mountains by yourselfis never recommended, especially in winter. If you can’ttag along with an experienced winter climber, consider participatingin a group hike. In any case, leave details of yourplanned route and stick to your plan! Cell phones may ormay not work in the area. During the climb keep your phoneoff and the batteries warm to increase the chance of the deviceworking. Also keep in mind that it can take most of theday to assemble a rescue party and get to an injury location.Review avalanche safety material and hypothermia treatment procedures. Obtaina local forecast for the region and know who to contact in an emergency. Establisha “turn-around time.” Winter days are short and temperatures fall quickly after sunset.Beware that the last half-mile to the summit may take much longer than anticipated,especially in adverse conditions. Remember that it’s a long way back to the trailhead ifyou are tired, especially if it becomes dark. In other words, head back sooner than youwould in other seasons. Don’t let “summit fever” overcome sound judgment. Themountain will always be there another day!Clothing: Low temperatures are usually not an issue as long as you are moving.In fact, if you are wearing too much clothing, you may quickly overheat. Whenyou stop, however, your body will quickly cool down. That being said, a hiker’s biggestenemy is often moisture, whether from perspiration or precipitation. Wear a hoodto prevent falling snow from getting down your back and try to minimize the timesnow remains on your clothing. Snow can eventually soak through even the most expensiveGore-Tex parka. On very cold days, beware when you remove your backpack.If you have been sweating or if the back of your pack is wet from melting snow, it canfreeze within minutes.Layering is key to being comfortable. The Appalachian Mountain Club recommendsstarting out with three layers. The base layer (closest to the skin) should besome sort of moisture-wicking long underwear and a wicking turtleneck (perhaps witha zipper at the neck to regulate your body temperature). Silk and cotton should beavoided because they are not moisture-wicking fabrics and will not dry when they getwet from perspiration. A popular saying among outdoorsmen is “cotton kills” becauseof its propensity to cool the body when wet.The second layer is for keeping you warm. This can be either a wool sweater(an excellent insulator even when wet) or a fleece jacket. On most days, this layer willbe taken off once you get warmed up. On your legs, wear either water-resistant hikingpants or nylon wind-blocking pants. The pants should also have side zippers along thefull length of the leg so you can regulate your body temperature. The long zippers willalso allow you to get your pants on over your boots easily. Many people wear runningtights with a pair of shorts over the top so they can have pockets. A pair of wind- orwaterproof pants can easily be donned over tights when the temperature drops. Runningtights come in different thicknesses, allowing you to wear what is most appropriatefor the temperature.A wind/water resistant jacket will serve best for your top layer. The wind/rainjacket you wear during the warmer months should suffice as long as you also bring aheavy (Gore-Tex or coated nylon) jacket to keep warm during hiking breaks. An extrajacket will also be useful should an emergency occur on the trail. On windy days, abase layer and the wind jacket may be all that is needed. If you decide to buy a hikingjacket, let the salesperson know what activities you are planning to do. Jackets madefor skiing and snowboarding have too many insulating layers for hiking.If it is very cold (below 30 degrees), it’s a good idea to carry even more layersincluding an extra pair of hiking socks. Always put your warm layers on as soon asyou stop for lunch or any other extended break longer than a minute or two. Keep inmind that it is easier to stay warm than it is to get warm once you feel chilled.Hands and Feet: Hands and feet are the most vulnerable to cold. At a minimum,glove liners should be worn at all times while outside, even if they seem a nuisancewhen adjusting equipment. It is easy for hands to get cold and takes a relativelylong time to warm them up again. You should bring several pairs of liners becausethey get wet as you perspire. Waterproof mittens or fleece gloves should also be wornduring the hike.Proper socks and boots are critical for an enjoyable hike. For socks, most peoplewear a sock liner and a wool or performance type of sock. Men’s nylon dress sockswork well as sock liners. When buying boots, make sure they also allow for a warmpair of socks over a liner while leaving some wiggle room for your toes. Know thetemperature rating of your boots. They must be warm, comfortable, and not cut offcirculation. Boots should be waterproof. Stream crossings can be high in winter andsometimes stepping on an underwater rock is safer than stepping on an icy exposedrock. Water resistant, knee-high gaiters are another must. Gaiters prevent snow fromgetting into your boots and help keep your legs warm. You should also consider carryingcrampons or Microspikes because trail conditions are not always predictable.Crampons will keep you from slipping on hard-packed or icy trails. Practice puttingthem on and taking them while wearing your glove liners.Snowshoes are required in areas with deep powder. Find a snowshoe with abinding that is easily operated. You should also seek the smallest snowshoe that suitsthe snow conditions. The length is dependent on your combined body and pack weightin relation to the depth of the snow. Talk with other hikers and salespeople. Whateveryou purchase should have crampons on the bottom to allow you to grip into the snowor ice while going up and down hill. Poles are also very useful for walking in snowshoes.Winter HikingBy MIDN Tyler Driscoll, Staff WriterFace/Head: Some form of head cover is absolutely necessary. Wool and fleecehats work the best. Some people prefer a headband instead of a hat. Hikers are constantlyputting hats on and taking them off to keep from overheating. If you prefer woolhats and are prone to sweating, you can try wearing a fleece headband under your hat tokeep the hat from getting wet. A balaclava is lightweight and works well for keepingyour entire face and neck warm. You may also consider a neck warmer if it is truly cold.Other Equipment: Some items that are optional in the summer become morecritical in winter. For example, sunglasses are a must when glare levels are high. Hikingpoles are also very helpful. Although very surefooted hikers can get away without poles,you may encounter water crossings that can only be navigated with the assistance ofpoles. Don’t forget a bandana. Your nose will get drippy on a cold day and tissuesshred easily. It is also nice to have some sort of insulating pad to sit on at lunch time. Afoam pad will prevent contact with the snow and keep you warm. A headlamp (and abackup) with extra batteries is also essential due to the short days. Be sure to turn yourbatteries to the opposite poles to keep your lamp from accidentally turning on in yourpack. Again, extra batteries should be carried close to the body and kept warm on colddays or they will deplete. Lithium batteries are well worth the investment because theylast much longer and hold up well in the cold. Over time you will add to your personallist of “essential items” to bring. This may include matches, a first aid kit, and an emergencyfood kit. In any case, it is highly recommended that you bring enough gear tosurvive a night in the woods.Food: Eating should be an ongoing process during the course of the day. Morefood and drink are needed in winter than in summer. Although you may not feel thirsty,you will be losing fluids just as fast as you do in the summer. Often times you will needto force yourself to drink. A dehydrated hiker will get cold faster, and faces the samerisks that occur in the warmer months. On a strenuous, 12-hour day you may want asmuch as three quarts of liquid. Remember that water freezes so store it deep in yourpack. To avoid ice formation, heat your water before starting out and insulate the bottlesto preserve the warmth (an old wool sock works well for this purpose). Turn the bottleupside down to prevent the water from freezing at the neck. Some people also bring athermos with a hot drink.Consuming enough calories is also a challenge on cold days. Any hiker thatdoes not eat enough will get chilled and run out of energy very quickly. Keep somekind of food handy in your pocket. Food carried in your backpack may also freeze. Ifyou plan to be out in extreme weather, put your lunch in an insulated bag. Don’t expecta lunch break to last longer than about 15 minutes. On days below 30 degrees, it couldbe even shorter.Route Information: A topographical map and compass is crucial. A GPS canhelp too, provided you are experienced in its use and can keep the unit from freezing. Asudden cloud, snow gale, or fog cover may make the compass your only means for findingthe route out in reduced visibility. Jot down the “back bearing” (bearing from thesummit to the timber line) on a piece of paper in advance. In a whiteout above tree line,you may know which way is up, but it can be very difficult to determine which way toreturn if your tracks have blown away.Hazards: Beware of the unique hazards winter presents. “Spruce Traps” formwhen snow drifts over pockets of air beneath branches. These traps tend to collapsewhen unsuspecting climbers walk on the weakened areas, even when wearing snowshoes.Removing oneself can be a soaking and exhausting task. Trees and shrubs maybe covered with snow and markers can be hidden. As mentioned, your return journeymay be more difficult than expected if strong winds or snow erase your tracks and youhave to break trail again. Occasionally, (even during extremely cold weather) brooksand rivers may be fast flowing or the ice not strong enough to support your weight. Becareful during water crossings.On a typical day, temperatures rise until mid-afternoon before dipping precipitouslyafter sunset. Even on a very cold day, you will notice a drop in temperature in thelittle dips/valleys along the trail. Wind becomes a huge factor above the tree line, sometimesreaching extreme velocities despite little wind at lower elevations. On the otherhand, clear and calm days may result in the warmest temperatures being above the treeline.Before pushing on to the final assent, stop at tree line for some food and someadditional clothing layers. You will certainly be better prepared to face the exposed conditionsat the summit. As mentioned earlier, your tracks can disappear amid strongwinds above tree line making your safe retreat a challenge. Be smart.Some winter climbers have gotten into serious trouble by leaving their backpacks orsnowshoes at lower elevations before the final steep summit climb. This is never recommendedbecause the contents may be needed most in the exposed conditions above treeline. No one wants to face an emergency on the summit, especially without proper gear.Final Thoughts: Although this may seem like a lot of information (and equipment),winter hiking is definitely worth the extra work. Appropriate clothing and gear,accurate route information, and little planning can yield an extremely enjoyable winterexperience. Talk with seasoned winter hikers about what to expect and how to prepare.Finally, check out the many websites and guides that discuss winter hiking, such as“Winterwise: A Backpacker's Guide” by John M. Dunn. Enjoy!Note: The information provided in this article is not intended to be a completeguide but an introduction to the sport of winter hiking; it should not replace or contradictguidebooks published concerning the subject.