3 Tips for the Best Winter Hiking Experience

Hiking in the winter can have its challenges but it can be very rewarding as well. Temperatures can vary throughout the winter season which can present conditions from ice to slush and even mud. Without proper preparation for winter hiking, a great day can quickly turn into a miserable and wet one. These 3 tips will ensure you have the best winter hiking experience so you can continue to enjoy your hikes year-round.

tip #1

Bring proper clothing

Freezing temperatures, strong winds or surprise sun can all affect what your day of hiking will be like. If you underdress or overdress the entire experience can be miserable. To avoid this, it’s important to wear layers according to the weather forecast and bring extra clothes in case.

When I go hiking during the winter, I like to bring extra shoes, pants, socks and a shirt which I keep in the car. The extra items are for after the hike to avoid sitting in wet or sweaty clothes for the drive home. On the hike, I make sure to wear my waterproof hiking boots, warm leggings, gloves and layers for my top.

I like to overdress for the conditions because I know I can and do take off a layer or two. But the wind and weather can be finicky in the winter creating an unexpected chill in the air. I like to be prepared and always make room in my bag for the additional layers I’m not wearing at all times. During winter hikes, I prepare for my hikes and wear the items listed below which I have linked to specific items and brands I recommend.

Anything marked with an * asterisk is an item I don’t usually wear or bring with me. I also want to note, I’m like a furnace naturally so I usually don’t wear a lot of heavy-weight items. I only wear extra warm layers if I expect temperatures below -12 degrees celsius.

tip #2

Bring Your essential gear

Since purchasing my trekking poles, I don’t go on a hike without them. It might just be that I am super clumsy and prone to falling, but my trekking poles have saved me many times. And when I didn’t need them, they were a life saviour to my hiking companions – especially on icy trails. Crampons are another must to bring along on your hikes because you never know when a patch of ice just might be the thing to take you out.

On my last hike, I watched three different people wipe out. While they had hiking shoes on, they weren’t wearing crampons and did not have trekking poles with them. And on a previous hike at Johnston Canyon I saw numerous people without hiking boots or crampons – it was like watching little kids on a slip and slide. On uneven trails, especially covered in snow it can be quite slippery. I find trekking poles provide me with extra stabilization on the rocky terrain while crampons help on icy trails.

While I may feel like I can walk on water with crampons and trekking poles, do not let yourself be fooled. Always be careful and pay attention because you can fall on a dime. But if you do fall, laugh it off – they say laughter is the best medicine. And if you go hiking with some friends that are unequipped for the weather, they will be begging to use your crampons and trekking poles.

tip #3

Hike with An open and positive mindset

Sometimes nature has other things planned for us and the winter can be especially unforgiving. Icy roads, unclear paths and snow-covered roads are all things that can get in the way of the hike you have planned for the day. Roads in the mountains don’t get cleared as quickly as they do in the city. Seasonal road closures are common on roadways in the mountains. What does this mean? Well, you might have a long hike ahead of you for starters.

I like to use the AllTrails app on my phone to scope out my next hike and always look at the latest comments. The nice thing about AllTrails is if others are using the trail, you can see the latest comments they made about trail conditions. Make sure to read the comments so you can prepare for the trail conditions. Maybe you need crampons or maybe you choose a different trail altogether. I find the information on most trails in AllTrails does have up-to-date information, including if you need to add another 5km+ to walk through the closed road.

Weather conditions can change overnight or the most up-to-date information may not be available. If a road is unexpectedly closed, or you find yourself halfway through the hike and unable to continue forward; don’t let it bring you or the day down. Stay positive and be ready to PIVOT (yes, just like Ross said in Friends) either to a new trail or head to the nearest town to enjoy a hot chocolate and some retail therapy. I like to create an adventure out of everything, even what may seem like a typical outing. So if the hike starts going south, don’t let it get you down, instead, laugh it off. In the end, you’ll have a funny story to tell and laugh about later. So, don’t let a bump in the road ruin your day spent outdoors.

Do you have any tips for winter hiking? Let me know in the comments.