This article was written by former Trails, Grounds and Facilities Supervisor, Darin Radatz, and first appeared in the Winter 2018 Summit View. For past editions of the Summit View, click here!
The snow, ice and cold of winter have arrived but that does not mean the hiking season has to be over. With planning and proper preparation, a winter hike can be a safe and enjoyable experience. Please keep the following in mind when planning an outing:
Check the Weather – Look specifically for precipitation, wind speed and daylight hours.
Start Small and Start Early – Be reasonable about the distance and difficulty of the trail. While it may be easy to hike 10 miles in summertime conditions, you may run into ice or deep snow on the same trail in the winter.
Safety Gear – Put these in your backpack:
- 1st Aid Kit
- Trail Map
- Compass
- Multi-Tool
- Hand Warmers
- Full Water Bottle
- Granola Bars
- Headlamp
Crampons or Snowshoes – For icy trails such as Sweet-fern and Vulture’s View, use crampons, which are a traction device that is attached to footwear to improve mobility. For snow over 4 inches, use snowshoes which distribute weight so you don’t sink in the snow.
Buddy System – Hike with a friend and make sure to tell another of your hiking plans. Remember to also let them know when you have returned from the trail safely.
Wintertime Navigation – Use Trail Blazes, which are the rectangular paint markers found on the trees on the trail route. The trail map will indicate the blaze color of the path you choose. Distance between blazes varies, however if you have gone as much as a quarter mile without seeing a blaze, STOP. Retrace your steps back to find the last blaze. After a new snow, or on more remote trails within the management area you may find that trail blazes are the only way to be certain you are on the correct path.
Hot Tea or Cocoa – Having an insulated thermos of a hot drink will warm you up and provide a nice break!
Don’t Forget – The Mount Agamenticus park and trails are open year round, dawn to dusk. Summit access road gate hours from October through March are 7am-sunset. Weather conditions may cause temporary road closure!
Happy trails and be safe!
Last modified: March 7, 2021
