Winter Hiking Tips
There are special considerations for winter hiking, and the first one is obvious: Have enough warm clothing. In fact, if you are going to be hiking more than short distance from the car, it’s a good idea to have some additional dry clothing in a day pack. If you become wet you can quickly become hypothermic unless you have something dry to change into. Here are a couple more tips for hiking in winter.
1. Have enough water. Your body may be using more water than you realize in the cold air. This is especially true in the dry southwest. Bring too much just to be safe. It’s easier to get chilled when dehydrated.
2. Bring fire starters. Even if it is just an hour-long hike up an easy trail, it’s a good idea to have a way to start a fire, in case you fall into water or get lost and have to spend the night out there.