Camping Gear & Equipment, Hiking Gear & Equipment, Trekking & More

Hiking in the winter can be a very rewarding experience. During winter months, many trails transform into solitary, snow covered landscapes with breathtaking scenery, overwhelming silence and glimpses of wildlife that are not present during the warmer summer months.

These ten winter hiking destinations offer the best winter has to offer.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA
Be sure to check out Yosemite Falls during your hike. The base of the waterfall forms an ice cone that can grow to be 330 feet tall and covers four acres! Winter wildlife like coyotes, Sierra hares and several bird species can be seen more easily in the snow covered landscape. The good news is that the bears are all hibernating!

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING
Winter is a great time to view the popular Old Faithful Geyser. Crowds are rare in the cold months and the contrast between the hot springs and layers of snow and ice add an interesting dimension to the park that can only be seen this time of year. Your hike could get you a few pictures of trumpeter swans, coyote, bighorn sheep and elk.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, COLORADO
Visiting the Rockies in the winter provides you with spectacular views of snow capped mountains, pine trees laden with mantels of snow and herds of elk.

CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK, OREGON
In the winter, Crater Lake is a breathtaking vision of sapphire blue surround by a blanket of pristine white snow. The contrast adds a dramatic feel to the landscape and local wildlife flock to the lake to drink. A Weekend in the park includes ranger-led snowshoe hikes through the Crater Lake region.

SMOKEY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, TENNESSEE
Because of the heavy snowfalls and bitter cold temperatures, hiking in the Smokies is often reserved for the summer months, but winter hiking in this park offers a multitude of waterfall trails and cascading streams that are just as beautiful in the winter as they are in the summer!

HOCKING HILLS STATE PARK, OHIO
This state park offers an annual winter hike every year in January. The trails are kid and pet friendly and the waterfalls have been known to freeze solid!

SAN GREGORIO LAKE, NEW MEXICO
This rarely traveled winter hike offers contrasting landscapes of flat, open meadows and dense forest areas as you travel to San Gregorio Lake, framed in a layer of snow blanketing the surrounding meadow.

ACADIA NATIONAL PARK, MAINE
This national park boasts views of the Atlantic Ocean from the snow covered trails. White-tailed deer, red fox and the pristine white snowshoe hare all thrive in this winter habitat.

DENALI NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA
Winter in Alaska may mean fewer daylight hours but it also means natural light shows from Aura Borealis. These Northern Lights are a sight to behold!

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, NORTH CAROLINA
Hilton Head Island is less crowded in the winter months and hiking between the sound and the Atlantic Ocean provides glimpses of wild horses, ducks, birds and a multitude of other non-hibernating wildlife. The quiet of the sound contrasts with the roar of the breaking waves just a short hike away.

Winter hiking takes a great deal of planning and carries an added risk of hypothermia and frostbite to the usual hiking dangers like encountering wild animals, falls, injuries and getting lost - just to name a few.

WARNING - Using compasses and maps of the area are essential, and are important items to carry at any time of the year.

Before setting out on a winter hike, be sure to prepare properly, let someone at home know where you will be and read up on winter hiking tips and precautions. Happy hiking!

Hunting and fishing during winter months require a whole new set of safety considerations.

Hunting and fishing excursions often involve crossing bodies of water. This creates a very serious potential for accidental drowning, hypothermia and frostbite.

How to Cross a River Safely

Flash floods can occur at any time. Keep this in mind when traveling in unfamiliar territory. If you are in doubt, wait it out! Winter water crossings should be avoided whenever possible because of the added risk of hypothermia. But, if you must cross, these tips will help you do it safely.

*Never cross in fast flowing or white water where you cannot see the riverbed!

*Watch out for submerged trees, slippery rock bottoms and drop offs.

*Always cross a body of water at the widest and shallowest point possible.

*Choose a long stick to help you gauge the depth of the riverbed before stepping out further.

*Loosen your backpack backpack or gear straps before wading into the water so you can quickly ditch them if you get into trouble.

*Always wear your shoes or boots into the water. Avoid cotton socks cotton socks in the winter as they are slow to dry, hold moisture and do not keep you warm when wet.

*When crossing, face the opposite shore or upstream and cross slowly by letting your feet guide you along the riverbed.

*Keeping your eyes focused on the shoreline will help ward off vertigo.

*If you fall or get swept away by the current, ditch your gear, roll onto your back with your feet downstream and let the current carry you as you swim towards the shore. If necessary, protect your head from knocks by clasping your fingers behind your head and bringing your elbows together in front of your face. Once you reach land, get warm and dry as soon as possible.

Preventing Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a serious threat during bitter cold winter months. When combined with the possibility of encountering icy waters, the risk increases tremendously. Knowing the symptoms of hypothermia and how to prevent it could save your life or the life of another.

Early hypothermia presents as uncontrolled shivering, mental sluggishness, and uncoordinated, stiff body movements and slurred speech. As it progresses into the severe stages, shivering may stop, muscle rigidity begins, breathing, pulse and blood pressure slow and a comatose state soon follows.

To help prevent hypothermia, never drink alcoholic beverages when out in the cold.

Alcohol slows circulation. Dress in loosely layered clothing made of synthetic materials to help trap body heat.

If your clothing becomes wet, get to a sheltered area, out of the wind. Remove wet clothing and replace it with dry items or cover up with a dry blanket.

Pay special attention to your hands, feet and head, keeping these areas covered at all times. Avoid wrapping clothing too tightly around limbs as this can inhibit your blood flow to the area. Never warm up too quickly. While the temptation is to plunge into a steaming bath, bringing your body temperature up slowly is best.

Preventing Frostbite

Covering exposed skin especially in windy conditions is the best way to safeguard against frost bite. Skin protections can help to some degree but covering up your nose, fingers and toes is the biggest step in keeping frostbite away.

Keeping an eye on your environment and being prepared for an emergency will help keep you safe while hunting and fishing during the winter. Always let someone know where you will be and when you expect to return. Safety comes first when hunting and fishing in the winter months.

As the holidays approach, you may find yourself wondering what to get that snow-loving skier or snowboarder on your list.

Here are a few great gift ideas that are sure to be welcomed with open arms and wide grins.

THE MOTOROLA AUDEX JACKET produced by Burton is one hot gift for any snow lover. This snazzy polar jacket will keep you warm on the slopes while keeping you entertained with your favorite tunes. Speakers are included in the hood of the jacket and the lapel has a built in microphone so you can make or receive calls hands free with your Bluetooth enabled cell phone safely stored in your pocket. The jacket connects to your music loaded cell phone, MP3 player or iPod. Choose from brown, black, white, green or pink. Prices start at around $250.

R.E.D.’S PROTECTION ORDINANCE HONEY AUDEX AUDIO PADDED HAT provides stereo quality ear pads imbedded in a stylish and cozy hat complete with a fleece lined headband and mesh top. The hat features one touch mute and is compatible with any MP3 or CD player. This model sells for around $60.

The 20/20 HELMET CAM allows you to record your treks through the wilderness while leaving your hands free. It comes with a rechargeable battery pack and mounts to any standard helmet with Velcro. It’ll cost you around $240.

An MEC BROOKS DRY BAG is always a welcome gift for any outdoor lover. These durable dry bags are made of environmentally friendly thermoplastic elastomer instead of PVC. They come in various sizes and run $10-$30.

MEC ESPRESSO SUNGLASSES are designed to be light, comfortable and form fitting. They hug your head and are designed for outdoor sports. Blocking out UV rays is important on the trails and these sunglasses rise to the occasion. Choose from a variety of frame and lens colors. Available for around $25.

The ADVENTURE MEDICAL FIRST AID KIT is designed especially for safety conscious snow lovers. The supplies are packed inside a lightweight, waterproof and airtight bag. The kit contains enough first aid supplies for two people and costs around $23.

The BILT DESIGNS COMMERCIAL DRIVE VACUUM CUP keeps your favorite beverage hot for up to six hours so you can warm up after a day in the snow. You can pick one up for under $10.

WARREN MILLER’S ‘THE POWER OF SNOW’ DVD COLLECTION is a boxed set of four DVD’s that chronicle extreme snow sports throughout the world. Filled with catchy music and loads of fun, these videos are sure to entertain that snow lover on your Christmas list. Sells for around $54.

FREESTYLE AUDIO’S MP3 PLAYER is waterproof and shock proof. It is durable enough for skiing or snowboarding yet lightweight. You can choose from three different storage sizes and it comes with watertight ear buds. The 1 GB model sells for around $129.

The HIGHGEAR ALTI TECH 2 ELECTRONIC NAVIGATION DEVICE combines an altimeter, compass, thermometer, and chronograph alarm into one small unit so your snow lover can always find their way home. Starts at around $99.

These great gifts can all be purchased online or from retail outdoor supply stores. If you are still stuck for a great snow worthy gift, you could always buy a few lift passes or a nice big bottle of sun block for your skier or snowboarder.

Skiing and snowboarding gear can be expensive, and a gift certificate towards a new board or pair of skis is always an option as well. Include a homemade packet of trail mix or cocoa and your gift may be the favorite one they receive this holiday season.

As winter months approach, we can look forward to a beautiful blanket of crisp pristine snow and crystal blue skies overhead, but the beauty of freshly fallen snow can be deceptive. Heavy snow fall can mean plummeting temperatures, impassable roads and massive power failures for those who live in the Snow Belt.

Being prepared for a winter emergency is the best way to increase your chances of survival should the snow leave you stranded or without power.

What to Carry in Your Car’s Winter Survival Kit

• Space blankets are reflective tarps that fold up into compact bundles. They reflect your body heat back to you, helping to keep you warm when stranded.
• Several wooden matches in a waterproof container
  are always good to keep on hand. Throw in a metal can and use these items to melt snow for drinking water.
• A small radio and two flashlights should always be included. Pack away fresh, extra batteries or invest in hand crank powered models.
• Keep chocolate bars, unsalted nuts and several plastic bottles of water for emergency rations. A small cup, trail mix and hot cocoa mix are good additions if you have the room.
• An old cell phone can be used to call 911 even if there is no calling plan. You just need a charged battery or the means to charge it in an emergency.
• A small toolkit with common wrenches and sockets, pliers and a tire iron is good to keep in the car year round. Throw in a few extra fuses, a quart of oil, transmission fluid and power steering fluid to help get you to a garage if a leak occurs.
• Instant heat hand warmer are great for winter survival kits and are fairly inexpensive. They only provide heat for a few minutes, but can save fingers and toes from frost bite.
• Thick, dry socks, an extra hat and gloves are useful to change out wet garments in cold weather. You may even want to carry a full change of warm clothing and an extra heavy jacket.
• Candles and a pocket knife are good additions to your winter survival kit as are a few plastic garbage bags that will double as a dry ground covering in bad weather.
• A first aid kit, tire chains, jumper cables, extra gasoline, a tow chain, a collapsible shovel, two cans of compressed air for flat tires, a windshield scrapper and local maps are all good items to carry in your vehicle’s winter survival kit.

What to Pack for Your Winter Survival Kit at Home

• An alternate heat source is a must. Fire wood or kerosene heaters are common choices.
• Blankets are always welcome when the power goes off.
• A hand powered can opener and several cans of food you can eat cold should be included as well as several gallons of drinking water. Include five gallons of water for each person in your home.
• The standard radio, flashlight and batteries go into your home kit as well.
• A dry chemical fire extinguisher should be included in case of a fire.
• Matches are useful for lighting candles and relighting pilot lights on appliances, the water heater and the furnace once power is restored.
• Candles are essential for light once the power fails, but remember to use them with caution. Keep the open flames covered with glass globes if possible to prevent an accidental fire.

These items can make surviving the dangerous effects of a heavy snowfall possible. While they may not keep you comfortable and entertained, they will keep you alive in the event of a winter emergency.