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HIKING & CAMPING
Winter Clothing,
Equipment and Destinations
By Tony
Goodwin
 |
Dedicated hikers
and backpackers who routinely start in April and continue into November
already have a pretty good idea of how to deal with a wide range of temperatures,
sometimes in the course of a single day. The four winter months, however,
present some additional challenges for backcountry travelers that require
some specialized equipment and techniques to successfully master. Deep,
soft snow requires snowshoes or skis, and can slow progress to a virtual
crawl. Conversely, hard crust after a thaw requires crampons, but can
sometimes lead to faster travel times since the trails are smoother than
in the summer. Additionally,
winter temperatures can drop to more than 100 degrees below body temperature,
making for a tremendous variation in the clothing needed whether resting
or exercising; and the penalty for becoming overheated is clothing that
can literally freeze right on the wearer.
Despite all these
potential difficulties, however, winter travel is increasingly popular,
and any reasonably experienced hiker can simply add a bit of gear to their
collection to hike and climb year-round. By contrast, winter camping requires
additional equipment and some techniques unique to winter. (Did you know,
for instance, that failing to properly stir a pot full of snow could cause
the stove to burn a hole in the pot?) Thus new winter campers are probably
best advised to take a few trips with an experienced friend; but day hikers
should be able to go out, buy some snowshoes and an extra insulating layer,
and start off on some modest hikes.
Snowshoes
The first essential piece of equipment is a pair of snowshoes since one
can never assume there will be a broken track hard enough to walk without
flotation. Furthermore, "postholing" makes for much more difficult
and dangerous conditions for later snowshoers and skiers. As a result,
skis or snowshoes are now required by regulation in the High Peaks Wilderness
Area whenever there is more than eight inches of snow on the ground.
The most popular
and widely available snowshoes today have an aluminum frame with neoprene
decking (webbing, if you will), and usually come with a built-in crampon
for traction on hard surfaces. The smallest models are suited only for
walking on packed trails such as are found at a cross-country ski center.
Using these smallest models in unpacked snow will produce huge holes in
the snow as though a Sasquatch had "postholed" a trail. All
but the lightest backcountry travelers should thus choose a snowshoe at
least 10 inches wide and 24-30 inches long. Winter campers will usually
want a shoe 12 inches by 36 inches. Even with the proper-sized snowshoe,
however, one still sinks in enough so that in fresh snow it is important
to frequently rotate the trail-breaking duties to avoid fatigue and overheating.
Walking on the level is a very simple technique to learn, but as the slope
gets steeper one must walk a bit like a cat stalking its prey, keeping
the body upright so that ones weight pushes straight down on the snowshoe.
This is especially important on soft snow since the crampons are of little
help until the snow becomes very firm or icy.
Clothing
Clothing for winter hiking follows the same basic principles of a wicking
layer (synthetic long underwear), an insulating layer (wool or pile sweater
or pants) and a windproof layer (nylon or Gore-Tex pants and parka). A
huge "Michelin Man" down parka is fine for standing around and
is also useful in an emergency as an alternative to carrying a sleeping
bag; but such a parka all alone is of little use when moving since several
other layers are needed to keep from becoming drenched with perspiration.
Temperature control is most difficult on the lower body given the greater
difficulty in changing layers. To make this a bit easier, all lower layers
should have zippers to at least be able to change without removing boots;
and a pair of insulated overpants with full side zippers is especially
useful.
The most important safety consideration in the winter is how to keep an
injured person warm while waiting for help to arrive and during the evacuation.
The standard admonition to always carry a sleeping bag is today "honored
more in the breach than in the observance;" but it is still important
to keep this requirement in mind. In general, if each member of the group
has sufficient clothing to keep at least alive (as opposed to comfortable)
through an unexpected night out, then the group probably has enough insulation
to give to an injured party member. Add a small foam pad and a waterproof
tarp for an extra measure of security for very little additional weight.
The above discussion also argues for groups of four to six in the winter
both to share the weight of emergency gear and to provide for a group
of at least two to go for help.
Destinations
Now that we're all dressed and equipped, where shall we go? The first
couple of snowshoe hikes should probably be less than full day outings
on terrain that is not so steep as to require more advanced snowshoe techniques
such as step kicking. Popular routes have the advantage of usually providing
a packed trail. Anyone who wants to become a "serious" snowshoer
should find some unbroken route so they can experience the slower pace
and lowered expectations these conditions require.
Some popular beginning
backcountry snowshoe trips include Cascade and Rooster Comb Mountains
in the High Peaks. Both hikes are 2.5 miles to the summit and have a few
steep pitches near the top of otherwise easier grades. Cascade also offers
a short stretch above timberline where crampons (other than those on the
snowshoes) may be required for the feet and a facemask and goggles are
required to prevent frostbite. In the central Adirondacks, Blue Mountain
near Blue Mountain Lake is a popular 2-mile one-way snowshoe hike. The
southern Adirondacks offer some of the best true beginner snowshoe trips
including Hadley Mountain near Lake Luzerne with mostly gentle grades
for 1.8 miles to the summit. Black Mountain east of Lake George offers
spectacular views of the lake after a 2.5-mile hike. In the southwest,
at just under one mile, Bald Mountain near Old Forge offers one of the
best effort-to-view ratios anywhere.
Those who are intrigued
by their first winter hiking experiences and want to take on some greater
challenges are advised to buy at least one book on the subject. The best
book currently available for northeastern mountains is Winterwise, by
John M. Dunn, published by the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK).
Tony Goodwin, a resident of Keene, is currently director of both the
Adirondack Trail Improvement Society (ATIS) and the Adirondack Ski Touring
Council, which maintains the Jackrabbit Trail. He is also author of Classic
Adirondack Ski Tours and since 1984 has been the editor of ADK's
Guide to Adirondack Trails: High Peaks Region. Tony has been snowshoeing
and skiing since 1966 when he camped on the summit of Skylight with a
group from the ADK's Winter Mountaineering School - a trip for which he
was woefully unprepared.
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