Fall Hiking Checklist (for your fridge)

Fall is an ideal time to hike, thanks to milder temperatures, vibrant foliage, crisp air, and smaller crowds compared to the summer. Here’s a downloadable checklist for your fridge, plus some tips to prepare you for a safe and enjoyable fall hiking season.

WEATHER

Always be prepared for wind, rain and even snow, which can be found in the high summits as early as September - more commonly in October and beyond. The weather in New England can be unpredictable and it’s important to re-check the forecast before setting out on a hike. Check the National Weather Service for an accurate forecast at www.forecast.weather.gov.

WHAT TO WEAR

Layering is key when hiking in the shoulder seasons (fall and spring). The saying goes “Be Bold, Start Cold” - the idea is to start with minimal layers to reduce sweating and add clothing as you hike and heat up. Mountain summits can be shockingly cold and windy, so you’ll want to pack a hat, gloves, puffer, and windproof shell for the top…even on a warm, fall day when you’ve started the hike in a t-shirt. In addition, always be prepared for rain with a raincoat, since staying dry is a crucial part of staying warm.

A few words about cotton: Don’t wear it. When cotton fabric gets wet, the fibers shrink down and stick together, eliminating its ability to insulate. Wearing synthetic and wool is a smarter way to go, since these fibers maintain insulating air pockets, even when wet. Synthetics and wool also wick moisture from your body and dry much faster than cotton. Examples are Polypropylene, Thermax, Patagonia Capilene, polyester-spandex, nylon-elastane, and polyester-nylon.

• Base Layer - Moisture-wicking synthetic or wool blend. Avoid cotton!

• Mid Layer - Insulating fleece, puffer or wool sweater

• Outer Layer - Waterproof and windproof shell

• Pack extra insulation - Raincoat, hat, and gloves

• Socks - Wool blends keep feet warm when wet, Darn Tough or Smartwool

• Footwear - Supportive, waterproof hiking boots.

• Microspikes - for gripping snow/ice on higher elevation hikes during shoulder seasons. If you’re hiking bigger mountains in October, bring them.

HUNTING SEASON

During hunting season, always wear safety orange clothing (hat, vest, or jacket…plus a vest for your dog). New England hunting seasons vary from state to state, but in Maine, active hunting season is mid-September through early December. November is firearm season for deer, so don’t visit any trails without blaze orange during that month.

The good news: Sunday hunting is illegal in Maine, so that’s the best day for hiking if this information gives you anxiety.

Check these sites for hunting laws specific to each state:

• Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife https://www.maine.gov/ifw/hunting-trapping/hunting/laws-rules/season-dates-bag-limits.html

• New Hampshire Fish and Game https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/dates-and-seasons

• Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/hunt/hunting-and-trapping-seasons

• Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife https://www.mass.gov/hunting-regulations

• Connecticut State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection https://portal.ct.gov/deep/hunting/ct-hunting-and-trapping

• Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management https://dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/fish-wildlife/wildlife-hunting

Happy fall hiking!