Is there anything I should know to deal with winter conditions hiking? I've never been hiking with a significant amount of snow or ice, but am planning to do some in January in the Appalachians around VA, WV, MD, and/or PA.
you will need yak trax or micro spikes for your bootsrecommend a balaclavaI guess snowshoes if its deep snow but that's not super likely but you are gonna go really slowly if there's more than a few inches of snow or you are meandering around iceelleber knob is open until the end of Feb (gate) and you can drive right to the top if you have proper tires and 4wd
>>2854663Thanks, I'll be getting some microspikes and already have a balaclava. Are poles a good idea?
>>2854662Microspikes are fantastic. I've heard that Hillsounds have a more aggressive treat but they're also prone to balling more than Kahtoolas, I've only used Kahtoola so I can't speak on other brands from personal experience. Snowshoes are also extremely helpful, and it's considerate to other hikers to wear them instead of cratering the trail with postholes. Modern snowshoes aren't very heavy either, just make sure you get ones with the heel lifter bar for going uphill. I think some parts of the Appalachians require snowshoes if there's more than a few inches of snow on the ground.>Is there anything I should know to deal with winter conditions hiking?It's paradise. The stakes are somewhat higher than summer hiking, so use your better judgement and if the weather is hairy stay below the treeline. Days are much shorter, you absolutely need to have a light source and start earlier than in the summer. It's important to stay dry, don't overdress and sweat; bring an extra base and mid layer in case though.
>>2854664Depends do you like falling or not? Do you like making your legs do all of the work?
>>2854664yes, I like mine from Diorite Gear with the cork tops. Expensive, but worth it. That said, you can do stuff without them if you have waterproof gloves. You can also just get Chinesium ones, but the quality ones are nicer, more sturdy. I found that spikes were too cumbersome so I use yak trax instead.
>>2854668Thanks, I'll look at some poles, but probably hold off on getting them for now.
>>2854666Thanks, I'll look at Hillsound and Kahtoola. Looks like snowshoes are pretty expensive, so I'll hold off for now and avoid areas with heavier snow.>It's paradise. The stakes are somewhat higher than summer hiking, so use your better judgement and if the weather is hairy stay below the treeline. Days are much shorter, you absolutely need to have a light source and start earlier than in the summer. It's important to stay dry, don't overdress and sweat; bring an extra base and mid layer in case though.Ok, this is good to keep in mind, I know being wet below freezing is dangerous, so the extra base and mid layer makes sense. I'll keep to shorter hikes to start with and get used to things.
>>2854669You can get poles for cheap on Amazon, and if you like them, can consider getting nicer ones in the future. I recommend them a lot for maneuverability and especially for any trails with steps. The only downside to poles is if you have trails where its so steep you have to grab onto stuff you will have to tuck them away for that.There's some interesting trail mysteries in PA I could use someone to solve. Apparently you can get to this beautiful view:https://endlessmountains.wordpress.com/2024/10/28/hike-to-grays-run-vista-loyalsock-state-forest/from Bodine Mountain Road but I've never seen anyone talk about it or where exactly to park or if there's any sort of social trail.
>>2854662>for trails with icy sections or hard packed-down snowYaktrax are more suitable for flat paths (think icy sidewalks or bike paths). Microspikes are the way to go on icy/packed hiking trails with easy-to-moderate slopes. Katoolah is the standard brand. Trail crampons are preferable for steeper slopes (an example in your region is some of the more hardcore routes in Pine Creek Gorge, Pennsylvania). Hillsound is the standard brand for these. Proper crampons with frontpoints probably won't be needed in that region unless you're ice climbing up waterfalls in Northern PA or adjacent parts of NY (Catskills, Finger Lakes). >for areas with snow on the groundI'll usually put snowshoes on if there's over a half-foot of snow on the ground. You can see "current" snow depth levels here:https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/nfs/files/r05/publication/R5_SnowDepth_Map.htmlI put "current" in quotes because this map is usually 24-48 hours behind. I always cross-reference with radar maps to see if any weather systems have passed through recently. Always carry snowshoes if you think you *may* need them. Better to carry the extra weight and not need them than wish you had them in the middle of your hike. You probably won't be doing any backcountry winter hiking right away, but if you find yourself doing that in the future, it would be worth investing in a mini handsaw for self-rescue in case you fall into a spruce trap and get your snowshoes caught in branches. You don't want to be stuck in place on a frigid day, in a backcountry area with no cell service. Don't ask me how I know this. Speaking of cell service, Caltopo has a cell coverage layer that will tell you if service will be unavailable in the area you're hiking. The large national forest where I got stuck had no cell coverage so calling for rescue wasn't an option. (continued)
>>2854699Mountain-forecast.com is a good source for predicted weather conditions at the base and summit of mountains (temperature, windchill, wind speed, precip). Winter hiking in the Mid-Atlantic may not be as serious as in some places, but you still need to be prepared. Dress in layers, remember "be bold, start cold," avoid cotton, bring EXTRA pairs of socks, and two headlamps as well. Packing a towel to occasionally wipe sweat from your skin isn't the worst idea in the world either. For extra peace of mind, you could also pack an emergency thermal blanket and bivvy. I have a Word document listing everything I need for serious mountain hiking in the northeast, and you can do something similar for your region. There's an abundance of information online re: winter gear so I won't list everything since this post is long enough as it is. Don't forget preparations for the drive itself. I always have a snowshovel, winter sleeping bag, and military blanket in the back of my vehicle from November through April in case of an emergency. I'm probably forgetting some things but this will help get you started. Winter is an amazing time of year to hike (fewer people, no bugs or ticks, and easier off-trail exploration). I'm sure you'll love it! >>2854671>Looks like snowshoes are pretty expensiveFor the states you listed, you're not going to need MSR Lightning Ascents or their equivalent. A $50-100 pair from Amazon or Costco will get you around fine. I've logged hundreds of miles in my backup pairs in comparably hilly terrain, and only use my MSRs in higher-consequence mountains in New York and New England.
>>2854699>>2854700Thanks for the resources. I'll start putting together a packing list. Looks like I can get a cheapo set of snowshoes + poles for around $100, so that's probably what I'll do.
>>2854699lol yaktrax are fine for steep slopesI wouldn't climb an actual mountain in the himalayas with them, but they are absolutely fine for snowy/icy switchbacks in gorges and such >Microspikes are the way to go on icy/packed hiking trails with easy-to-moderate slopesthey hurt your feet more and get shit stuck in them if there's rocks or mudIn fact I find yak trax great, even if there's not snow, for clambering up and down steep hillsides to get to the bottom of waterfalls
>>28546622854662 (OP) #WARM, waterproof boots are a must. If you plan to hike on a mountain, microspikes are a must (they can be handy on any frozen terrain).If you expect snow deeper than your boots go, get gaiters. Snow WILL otherwise get into your waterproof boots, turn to water and ruin your day.
