Winter hiking: How to beat Jack Frost
Carl Chinnery Nature Trail at Unity Village
With the exception of extreme conditions, your outdoor enjoyment can continue all season long.
By Roy Harryman
Publisher • Kansas City Hiker
When snow or cold hits, it’s time to hang up the hiking boots for the season, right?
Not necessarily.
Although everyone has different preferences, it’s easy to keep active outside with a few simple modifications.
And on the bright side, there are several advantages to winter hiking.
No bugs
That’s right! How many times have you been annihilated by no-see-ums (AKA chiggers), ticks and mosquitos? Those last two can carry serious diseases in addition to being just plain ole’ annoying. No DEET, no itching, no hassles.
No poison ivy, poison oak, etc.
Now, I have to qualify this statement. In my understanding, these plants actually are still alive but go dormant during the winter. However, if you were to lay down in poison oak or wrap a poison ivy vine around your face, you could still get a rash. So don’t do that (if you were thinking about it).
No crowds
That’s right. You’ll mostly have trails and parks to yourself on cold or snowy days. But you’ll be surprised how many people are still out.
Fresh perspectives
When leaves fall, you get a different perspective. This is particularly true if you want to experience scenic views from hilltops. When foliage is at its most dense, visibility is limited. You could be looking out toward an epic view but can’t see anything but leaves. Now you can.
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area, Blue Springs, Mo.
How to stay warm and safe
First we may have to unlearn the lessons our mom taught us. Remember when she used to make you wear your parka and rubber boots while waiting for the school bus? That’s not what you need. If you only have one layer, and it’s a 30-pound wool parka, then you’ll quickly overheat. Then you’ll sweat and get really cold.
Tip #1 Dress in layers.
Start with an “undercoating” of long underwear, yoga pants, bicycle pants or something like that. Then a t-shirt. From there you can add additional layers. Bring additional items (a scarf, hat or light jacket) in a backpack. Then you don’t have to carry it. Plan on switching layers on and off throughout the hike. You’ll be surprised how warm you can get when you’re moving, even when it’s frigid outside. The goal is to avoid sweating, because perspiration will immediately become ice cold on your body. In extreme cases, this could lead to hypothermia. Let’s avoid that. An item that may not be in your winter wardrobe is a balaclava. It’s made of thin material and is not as hot and bulky as a ski mask. I often wear it under a baseball cap because stocking caps tend to make me overheat.
Tip #2 Protect your fingers and toes.
Your torso can be blazing hot while your hands and feet are getting frostbite. For some people, this isn’t an issue. For others, it’s an extreme danger. Fortunately, there are several solutions. The old-school answer for hands is to simply wear mittens. By keeping your fingers together (instead of separated by gloves), the blood flow keeps them toasty.
However, if you need your fingers free for a camera or some other dexterous use, this will be annoying. I’ve found touch-screen friendly gloves to be highly practical, although they’re not as warm as mittens. Often I use them in combination with Hot Hands. In my experience, these can get so warm that you have to take the gloves off and merely hold the warming packets. Hot Hands generally last about 8 hours. There are several varieties, including foot warmers, gloves and different levels of heat. However, if you’ve left a box of them sitting in a closet for years, they may be out of “steam” because they have a finite shelf life.
If you want a more permanent solution, you can carry a heater (no extension cord required!). A wide variety of USB-charged, battery-powered heaters are available. Of course they can only hold a charge for so long. That means you need to consider this when planning the duration of your winter hike. Finally, you can also use a flameless fuel heater, like those created by Zippo. Be sure to read the directions and don’t do anything crazy like using gasoline or you’ll blow yourself up.
Legacy Park, Lee's Summit, Mo.
Tip #3 Bring water. This sounds counterintuitive, but if you’re exercising, you’re using water. And if you don’t have it, you can get dehydrated. So drink up. Heck, why not bring some hot cocoa or coffee along too?
Tip #4 Watch your step.
Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean it’s icy. But sometimes a walking surface can surprise us. If your shoes have become “bald” like worn tires, you could become an unintentional gymnast or acrobat when the ground gives way beneath your feat. To be safe, wear shoes with traction. Trekking poles are another option. Not only do they steady you on unstable surfaces, but they transfer some of the weight-bearing load from your knees to your torso. That can be advantageous if your knees need a little relief. Like all gear, you can spend a little or a lot. So read reviews and invest wisely.
Tip #5 Don’t forget about that runny nose
For many of us, cold weather automatically activates the drip, drip, drip of our nose. It can get annoying and … gross. Whether you bring tissues or a handkerchief, you’ll be glad you did.
Tip #6 Know when to pack it in.
Although we don’t like to admit it, all of us have limitations. If it’s 10 degrees, the wind is howling at 25 miles per hour and ice is underfoot, it might be time to go to the gym instead. Your risk of frostbite is higher and if you twist an ankle, your journey to get help just became a lot longer and more inhospitable.
But let’s end on a positive note. There’s no reason for Jack Frost to spoil anything but the absolute coldest Kansas City days. We don’t live in Northern Michigan or Saskatchewan. Winter is open season for hiking here in Missouri and Kansas. So make adequate preparations and don’t miss a day.
Roy Harryman is the publisher of Kansas City Hiker and loves having the trails to himself.