Who among us has not had romantic visions of hiking through a snow-dusted forest and mindfully connecting with nature and yourself? All it takes is a few scrolls through your social media feed to see that idyllic scene you’ve been dreaming of. Take, for example, the Beaver Valley Wednesday Walker crew who posted this inspiration-worthy photo of the Siegerman Side Trail:
What we often do not see is the preparation that goes into winter hiking. Physical fitness, route research and planning, trail preparedness and appropriate equipment all play a role in an enjoyable winter hike day.
Winter hiking can be much more physically demanding than its summer counterpart. Soft snow can double the effort needed for every step, ice can make footing unstable and breaking trail in deep snow may be more work than you bargained for. Know your limits and start small if you are a new or sporadic hiker. Be flexible in your hike agenda and recognize that you may not travel as far as originally planned.
Remember your mother telling you that you can always take off a layer, but you can’t add a layer that you don’t have? Turns out this is true not only for your clothing layers but for your equipment “layers” as well. Maybe you need those crampons, maybe you don’t. Is today a snowshoe day? To bring the hiking poles or not to? Are the gaiters sufficient or should I put on snowpants? If you have the convenience of bringing all the extras and deciding at the trailhead what you need, then err on the side of excess and bring a little more.
Finally, a positive attitude can go a long way when things don’t go your way. Humility and humour help in every situation as “City Girl” shares in this alltrails.com review of the trails at Hoggs Falls.
If you are thinking of hitting the trails this season and want to take some of the guesswork out of the trip, consider joining one of our guided hikes. Our hike leaders scout trails, take note of weather conditions and know where hidden hazards may lie. Check out the hike schedule, join a hike and make some good, hard or funny memories of your own!
