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Hey friends!
The days are getting longer, and January is behind us 鈥� but winter is still in full force. That鈥檚 why Out There is coming to your inboxes today with a special edition all about winter hiking.
Snow on the ground (and for some of us, an aversion to skiing) shouldn鈥檛 have to mean staying inside. We鈥檝e got trail recommendations, layering tips and more to help you get out before mud season.
鈥� Sophie Stephens & Zoe McDonald, digital producers
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Hitting the trails
Sometimes the hardest part of getting outside on these chilly days is figuring out where to go, which is why we asked the 开云体育 audience to send recommendations. And although we love the idea one Instagram user shared (go to Costa Rica), we鈥檙e interested in keeping it a bit more local.
So, Zoe and I went out on a warm (OK, slightly above freezing) Friday to check out a few spots.
First, we hiked the highly recommended in Bolton 馃嵂. This trail is part of the Catamount Trails, a 300+ mile stretch of walkable paths.
The trail followed a gradual incline featuring lovely views. It doesn鈥檛 require much equipment 鈥� but we do recommend lots of layers for the cold temps (more on that later) and microspikes, if you have them.
The Catamount Trails are also used for cross country skiing in the winter, so make sure to share the path and try not to muddle up those skinny ski tracks you see.
After our stop in Bolton, we took a scenic drive to one of the most well-known spots in Vermont: Camel鈥檚 Hump 馃惇.
In the summer, there鈥檚 a lot of rock and flowing streams to scramble along. In any season, it鈥檚 a hike you shouldn鈥檛 do unprepared.
But in winter? The trail transforms with the snow, and mountain views become visible. The first mile of the trail doesn鈥檛 require much equipment 鈥� microspikes felt like enough for two digital producers. But there鈥檚 also no harm in bringing some hiking poles, cross country skis or even snowshoes.
That鈥檚 what John Remy, from Huntington, was doing when we bumped into him on the Burrows Trail.
By noon he had already snowshoed up and down the Camel鈥檚 Hump summit. He told us he was training for a snowshoe race, but that didn鈥檛 stop him from enjoying the winter landscape.
"What I like the most is getting further up and it's just totally quiet,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou mostly hear your breath breathing, and it's great."
In other news
A guide to winter hiking terminology:
馃ゾ Packed down: A packed down trail is exactly what it sounds like. By using the trail, people have compacted the snow, making a clearly defined trail. This can become slippery, so you may want microspikes when the trail is packed down.
馃暢锔� Postholing: This is when your boots or poles sink into deep snow, leaving a big hole and impacting trail quality for others. Attempting to posthole your way through a trail can be exhausting and dangerous. This is a highly discouraged practice 鈥� you can even be fined for it in . Experts say to wear snowshoes or skis if you want to use trails with deep snow.
馃 Blowdowns: Because many trails are not maintained during the winter months, fallen trees, or blowdowns, are common. Take note of widowmakers 鈥� trees or branches that have partially blown down, but may be suspended higher up in the canopy 鈥� as high winds or heavy snow could cause them to fall completely.
馃尐锔� Whiteout conditions: Snowy conditions, especially at high elevations, can make visibility difficult. Always check the weather ahead of your hiking trip. If you鈥檙e hiking somewhere that could have whiteout conditions, it鈥檚 best to make sure there鈥檚 someone experienced with the terrain and potential conditions in your group. These conditions also make it all the more important that you carry a map and compass.
馃懀 Rotten snow: Old, leftover snow. This can happen with multiple freeze-thaw cycles. 鈥淪now on top is melting, but there's that bit that's left. 鈥� While it may look compacted, it may not be. You might break through that surface, kind of get wet, muddy feet. So it's best to avoid that,鈥� says Emily Mosher, visitor services manager with the Green Mountain Club.
馃Д Layering: This is a winter hiking must. There鈥檚 even an acronym, the :
- W 鈥� Wicking layer (AKA your base layer, ideally made of fabrics like Merino wool, and never cotton.)
- I 鈥� Insulating layer (This layer keeps you warm. Think: mid-layers like fleece pullovers or thicker wool sweaters, as well as insulated clothing like down jackets.)
- S 鈥� Shell layer (This layer keeps you dry. Rain or snow pants and a waterproof shell jacket will help keep snow out of your inner layers.)
- E 鈥� Extra layer (This is what you might keep in your bag for when you reach your destination, such as a down jacket. Depending on how strenuous your hike is and how much you sweat, you may want to pack extra glove liners, socks, an extra hat and even extra base layers.)
馃Г Packing tips: It鈥檚 important to stay warm and dry when walking around in snow for long (and short) periods of time. Here鈥檚 some supplies to bring ():
- Layers 鈥� It鈥檚 important to go out in more than just a winter coat and pants, and to think about more than just staying warm. (Quick tip: cotton = bad) See above!
- Gloves 鈥� Waterproof, insulated gloves and wool liners are best to keep you warm and dry.
- Microspikes 鈥� These shoe additions are like a superpower that give your feet much better grip in slippery conditions.
- Hat/ear muffs/balaclava/buff 鈥� Anything to keep your head and ears warm (and bonus tip: if you have facial or ear piercings, take extra care to keep them warm and covered. Metal jewelry exposed to cold temps will cool faster than your body, which can be painful)
- Water 鈥� Fill up your biggest water bottle, and then fill up another water bottle for good measure 鈥� Just because it鈥檚 cold doesn鈥檛 mean you aren鈥檛 sweating and losing fluids.
- Snacks 鈥� Anything shelf-stable that you wouldn鈥檛 mind eating if it freezes on the trail. And, always pack extra.
- Physical maps/compass/satellite communicators/phones 鈥� These essentials can help keep you on the trail, or help you contact someone who can help you if you lose your way. It鈥檚 a good idea to let at least two people know your hiking itinerary and when you expect to arrive back. Also, don鈥檛 rely on your phone as your sole source of communication or directions 鈥� cold conditions can cause your phone鈥檚 battery to die much more quickly.
- Emergency warmth 鈥� It鈥檚 a good idea to carry a bivy sack 鈥� which is a lightweight emergency shelter that looks like a sleeping bag 鈥� or an actual sleeping bag that you can use to stay warm in an emergency situation.
- Headlamp 鈥� It gets darker much earlier during winter, so you鈥檒l want to keep a headlamp in your bag (in an inner pocket so the batteries stay reliable).
鉀� TIP: Use a wide mouth water bottle and store it upside down in your pack to prevent it from freezing. Consider wrapping your water bottle in some extra layers or a dedicated insulation pouch.
Other packing items to consider:
- An inhaler, if you use one
- Eye drops, if you wear contacts
- Hand warmers
- A closed-foam sleeping pad to sit on during breaks
- A thermos of hot tea or cocoa
Get out there 鈥� and on a trail聽
Here鈥檚 a non-exhaustive list of some great winter hiking trails to check out around the state:
- in Barre: Highly recommended by John from Huntington and Redditors, the Millstone Trails meander through historic granite quarries around Barre.
- Rail trails: The is used for all types of winter recreation, from fat biking to snowmobiling. They鈥檙e also great to hop on for a brisk winter walk.
- in Goshen: This trail, located in the Moosalamoo Recreation Area, circles around the beautiful Silver Lake. Depending on conditions, you may need snowshoes. Another good, robust trail in this area is Falls of Lana.
- : As Doctor_of_Rockology wrote in our : 鈥淛ust because it鈥檚 winter doesn鈥檛 mean you can鈥檛 still enjoy a brisk hike up Mount Philo. Snowshoes open things up a bit.鈥�
- in Charlotte: The trail starts behind the Charlotte Central School and is a favorite Sunday hike of Zoe鈥檚. The elevation stays pretty low but you still get a nice incline 鈥� plus some good views of the Champlain Valley, nearby Mount Philo and the Green Mountains. It鈥檚 dog friendly, too!
- in Underhill: Emily Mosher of the Green Mountain Club recommends Nebraska Notch, especially if you鈥檙e looking to check out the nearby Long Trail. 鈥滻t's an easier hike, great for snowshoeing, and then you have some options to get some other views on the Long Trail there as well, too,鈥� she says.
- in Burlington: These trails near UVM are on the shorter side, so they鈥檙e great for a quick lunch break hike. The trails can get icy after a thaw, so bring microspikes.
- : I mean, in summer and tell us it isn鈥檛 adorable.
- near East Dorset: In this out-and-back hike, you can hop on the Long Trail/Appalachian Trail from Route 11 and head up the mountain. You can take the trail to the summit of Bromley Mountain where you might encounter skiers from the nearby Bromley Mountain Ski Resort.
- in Shrewsbury: This easy out-and-back hike takes the Long Trail south across the Clarendon Gorge.
The Green Mountain Club organizes group hikes around the state for free. and RSVP information.
One last thing: Snowshoeing
Depending on how packed down a trail is, how high in elevation you plan to go and how much it has snowed recently, you may need snowshoes.
鈥淧robably anything over about 6 inches of snow, you'll probably want to have snowshoes with you,鈥� Mosher says. 鈥淚t just helps you to stay above some of that snow, saves you from having to break through and trek through heavy, potentially wet snow. It also helps to protect the trail and the environment, as well, from getting too compacted.鈥�
钾凾滨笔: Don鈥檛 have snowshoes? Head to an outdoor outfitter to rent some or contact a local library. Many libraries around Vermont have snowshoes and other outdoor items available to borrow as part of their Library of Things.
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开云体育's biweekly dose of all things environment.
Credits: This week鈥檚 edition of Out There was put together by Sophie Stephens and Zoe McDonald, with editing from Lexi Krupp.
