COLD-WEATHER HACKS
Don't let winter keep you from hiking the trails.
By Nick Tilley
W
inter has arrived in the Midwest and, with it, cold, snow, ice, and wind. Time to batten down the hatches and hibernate until spring, right? HECK. NO. Winter also means no bugs, wide- open views, and less crowds on the trails. To help you get seasonally prepared, we've compiled a list of hiking hacks to keep you warm, safe, and steady during the cold-weather months. So, grab that wool beanie and a pack of hand warmers. Let's get outside! Your body expends energy to keep itself warm, which means you'll likely be burning more calories in colder temps. Carry extra food and eat more frequently. Stash snacks in warm-yet-accessible pockets, so you can get at them easily when you need to. You won't be perspiring as much as you would during spring or summer, and as a result, you won't naturally drink as much water. To avoid dehydration, pre-hydrate and remember to drink more while on the trail. Use wide-mouth bottles that you can easily pour hot water into before the hike. Store these bottles in insulated pockets or near insulating clothing inside your pack, so they don't freeze. If you're out in freezing temps, flip your water bottles upside-down, so the tops don't freeze shut. If you use a hydration bladder, insulate your reservoir tube and be sure to blow the water in the tube back into the reservoir between sips. This will prevent the tube from freezing and/or breaking. Say NO to cotton! It's become a mantra in the outdoor arena, but it's even more important during winter months. If cotton gets wet, it stays wet - and wet and cold is a dangerous combination. Stick with a synthetic layering system to stay warm (and dry). Use trekking poles for slippery conditions. They might seem unwieldy at first, but once you get the hang of using them, the poles will help keep you stable and upright. Take multiple layers of gloves. Your hands may get sweaty, and having a secondary pair of gloves will keep them dry (and warm). No extra gloves? Wearing latex gloves inside fleece gloves will prevent the fleece from getting wet. Waterproof footwear is a must in cold and/or snowy conditions, since wet feet are
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terrain January/February 2022
hiking
Use trekking poles and traction devices for balance and grip.
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