I love the winter.
In fact, I love winter far more than the summer, making me accursed by most people. So when Ben and I started to think about going back to the Adirondacks for some more hiking, I wanted to make sure it was good and snowy when we went.
Note: Ben wrote a little about our first foray in 2018 to the Adirondacks (we call them the Addy’s, because we’re cool). You can read about that here.
We had a hard time finding a weekend this year that worked, since life can be so busy - but we finally settled on the weekend after Valentine’s Day - our wives both had something snarky to say about that, but we packed the car and drove up Friday night for the weekend.
As we hiked that weekend, I thought about how hiking is very different in the winter than it is in the summer. I know that’s probably intuitive but I thought it would be worth giving some tips on what to expect and how to prepare.
But first, to answer the question - why hike in the winter?? Because it’s awesome. It just is.
It’s chilly when you get out there, sure - but before long, your body and face warm up, and you realize how beautiful winter really can be. Last year (2018), our first real hike set the standard for what I loved about winter hiking. As we neared the top of that first summit, climbing through snow and over small frozen waterfalls, it honestly was breathtaking. Not the summit and views, but the trail itself…it began to weave through a thickening forest of evergreens that was blanketed in snow that had been softly falling all day. It was amazingly beautiful - it was literally like “walking in a winter wonderland”, as the Christmas song goes.
Getting to the summit can make you feel small, with all of the grand tapestry of nature around you.
Gear
You obviously need more gear for winter hiking - a t-shirt and shorts won’t cut it. Layers are really important because you will feel the temperature shift as you go. You’ll warm up and may want to cool down a bit, and then you’ll reach the summit and need to add layers back on. That’s okay.
Hat. A warm one. A stocking hat, ideally. The hat is also one of the easiest piece of clothing to adjust when you’re hiking, to cool down or warm up. When I’m warm, I either take it off or just pull it up to the top of my ears. When I’m cold, I pull it down to cover my ears completely. It’s amazing how much difference just the hat can make
Gloves. Ben is going to hate me here because I’m always talking about how awesome the gloves I have are. But I love these gloves. If you like photography, one of the frustrations in the winter is to find a pair of gloves that keep your hands warm, but also allow you to handle your camera. I’ve found such a pair of gloves, and they are marvelous. They are essentially mittens with a thin glove liner inside - but the index finger area on each hand unzips so you can stick your index finger out to manipulate camera controls, or stick your whole hand out. So whether you use a camera or not, they are wonderful. They are very warm when it’s all zipped up, and it’s very easy to stick your hand out if you get too warm, to control your temperature, The gloves are called Swany Toasters.
The best gloves ever, in my humble opinion.
Thermals. A good pair of breathable thermals for your top & bottom half.
Snowpants. I find snow pants to be so comfortable and warm - I don’t wear anything under them but my thermals. There are many different kinds you can get - I recently started wearing a new kind that doesn’t “swish” when you wear them - very comfortable, warm, and water repellent.
Breathable shirt. You definitely don’t want to wear cotton. You’ll be sweating and the heat will have no place to go, and you’ll know it. Something breathable and warm is good, there are tons of options.
Winter jacket. I have been wearing the same 800 fill Montbell jacket for years. I wear it everywhere during the winter, including hiking, and am always warm and comfortable. They can be a little pricey but I find it very versatile, the best winter jacket I’ve ever owned.
Boots. There are so many options - I have a pair of regular hiking boots that are also waterproof, and that’s what I wear no matter what. Find something that is comfortable and waterproof.
Face protection. I always carry one but almost never use it because you honestly do get warmed up. However, when you get to a summit and the wind is blowing, it is nice to have and very easy to carry…better to have it than not.
Socks. I usually just wear wool socks. Ben wears waterproof socks. Again, lots of options, but find something that is comfortable and won’t bunch up on your toes.
That’s the basics. But for winter hiking, you’ll need a little bit more.
Microspikes. I wish I could tell you how incredible these are but you’ll need to experience it for yourself. Don’t go hiking in the winter without them, we found out the hard way. You buy these and just pull them on over your boots - they are like magic. Packed snow and ice are so easy to walk on, up and downhill. Essential for winter hiking in the snow.
Ben relaxes at the top, with those stylish red spikes on, and a little mood snow to make the day even better!
Snowshoes. If you get off of packed snow, you need snowshoes. You can actually get a pretty cheap pair of them online. This past trip, we went on our first hike without them, wearing just our spikes, and man….it was far far more difficult and tiring without the snowshoes. You don’t want to posthole your way through a trail, sinking to your knees every other step. Spikes do nothing in deep snow, you’ll want snowshoes.
Poles. Very helpful to have - a decent pair of extendable poles are really cheap online and help with balance as you go.
Backpack. I have a few backpacks, and you’ll need to find one that works for you - it depends on what you’re interested in. You’ll want something that can hold extra layers of clothing, some water, snacks, etc. For our most recent trip, I got a new Lowepro camera bag - quite big actually, I was able to fit my camera, an extra lens, my drone, water bottle, tripod, etc. I could have carried much much more but then it would have been heavier than I wanted. Pack what you need, but not more than that.
Make sure you have what you need, before you leave the harbor!
That’s pretty much it. You may say, why would I want to have to get all of that, pack it, and carry it, when I can just hike in the summer without almost any of it? Because winter is far better than summer, is my answer! But also because you’ll see things in a new perspective, the same places will be new and different in a very beautiful way! Climbing to the top of a summit and seeing all of the green trees (or fall foliage) is awesome. Being at the top of the same summit, feeling the wind blow, the fog and clouds, the bare trees, it’s just as beautiful in a different way! And it’s an adventure too!
Even bare trees can be beautiful, especially when viewed from above! (or by drone)!
It’s all about Leaving the Harbor, isn’t it? So get out there and do it!