Backpacking For Beginners

Surviving Your Winter Backpacking Trip

Many hikers are well versed in safety procedures in warm weather conditions. Cold weather backpacking can bring unexpected dangers into the mix.

As cold weather sets in we tend to be less active and this lets our body become softer as we cut back on exercise. If you are like me, I tend to forget that planning a winter outing has added risk since colder temperatures will put an extra strain on your heart. It quickly becomes apparent that scheduling shorter walks and hikes will reduce the risk of injury for even the best campers. If the snow cover is deepening as you hike, many conditions that are not encountered during warm weather such as unexpected dropoffs, Hypothermia and frost bite suddenly need to be considered.

Knowing that a winter storm or cold wave is a possibility should give you pause and make a backup plan a good idea. Many hikers who ignored the warnings never made it back and endangered the people who run rescue operations that could have been avoided. Always check in with any ranger stations and park personnel. This helps them keep track of who is under their jurisdiction at any given time.

Layered clothing is probably at the top of the list when backpacking in cold weather. This can really be a life saver if the weather turns ugly. Loose lightweight apparel can still be very warm when worn correctly. Insulating your body with layers lets you adapt to rapid temperature shifts.

Slowing the pace and taking more frequent rests may seem costly if you find yourself in an emergency situation, but lowering exertion levels may be best in the long run.

BackpackingForBeginners.net is dedicated to keeping you outings safe, no matter what the weather, so follow the Boy Scout motto and Be Prepared!

As you most likely already know, backpacking requires the lightest gear that can be carried safely if you want to get the most from you adventure. That being said, the proper winter jacket and gloves or mittens can make a huge difference in winter weather. Doing some online research can be a great time saver, but finding a local outfitting store may help in those hard to fit situations. There is a lot to see and do in winter that can make great memories if proper care is taken.

Home / About Us / Contact Us / Privacy Policy / Sitemap

This entry was posted on Monday, January 4th, 2010 at 5:37 am and is filed under Backpacking For Beginners. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.