Winter Hiking Advice

I decided to get out of camp and take a stroll down Trillium. For the most part, the last mile is clear. There are still patches of ice and snow. This section in the picture was the iciest section I saw. The icecicles clinging to the rock wall made for a beautiful winter display. It was a chilly day up top. The high was 35 with a low of 18. It is already 31 this morning. The day is looking like it is going to be a bit warmer with bright blue skies.

I had someone ask about hiking in these conditions. They wanted to know the proper clothing to wear to stay warm and dry. Layers is the key word. You want to be able to regulate your body temperature by adding or taking off layers of clothing. When I started hiking up on Friday, I was bit on the cold side. I quickly warmed up. I was able to add layers as I got to the top and that helped me stay dry and comfortable. You want to make sure you have extra dry clothes to change into when you reach the top. You will become chilled when you stop moving. I always carry my hat and gloves in my pocket. This way they are easily accessible when I need them. If you are day hiking, make sure you know what time it is and what time the sun is setting. Please make sure you have enough time to hike down. If you enjoy night hiking and have a dependable flashlight, no problem. I have met to many hikers in the past couple of weeks that did not pay attention to the time and did not plan on hiking in the dark. Please, be prepared for every scenario. The last advice I have is drink, drink, drink. I am talking about water. Even though it is cold out side, make sure you stay hydrated. I see more cases of dehydration on this mountain then any other medical issue. It does not matter the temperature out side, you still need to drink plenty of water. I hope you will get out and enjoy this beautiful time of year. Happy hiking and stay safe.