Whitecap Mountain, Rumford Maine

This was my first big, snowy hike of the season, and it provided everything I was looking for after the Christmas holiday: quiet trails, gorgeous views, and a great workout. I love the holidays - the lights, the time with family, the excitement of our kids - but it's a busy, overstimulating time of year. I'm always eager to get to the mountains for a good, replenishing hike when it's all over.

When planning a winter hike, there are several things to consider:

• Snowshoes or microspikes? Use microspikes for packed, traveled trails and snowshoes for deeper snow and whenever you're the first on a trail.

• Exposure - Choose hikes that are more protected, reducing exposure to wind

• Trailhead closures - Access roads may be unplowed or closed during winter months, so some trailheads are only accessible during the summer and fall.

• Headlamps and emergency gear - Due to shorter days and the potential to run out of sunlight on a hike, always pack a headlamp, extra layers, and plenty of food.

• Dressing in layers - Believe it or not, sweating happens quickly on a winter hike. To avoid getting wet and staying damp/cold, always wear a moisture-wicking, non-cotton base layer (wood or synthetic blend) and pack plenty of extra layers, plus a shell for wind at the summit.

• Insulate your water bottle - Frozen water is hard to drink. Prevent this by putting your water bottle in an insulated sleeve. Another option is to pack a hot beverage in a thermos. Coffee is a fun treat on any hike, but make sure your main source of hydration is decaffeinated, to help you stay hydrated.

There are several routes to choose from when hiking Whitecap, but my two friends and I chose the Starr and Lles Trail loop. What we didn't realize, was that we'd be breaking trail on the western side of the loop (the Starr trail), since all of the other hikers had opted for the quicker out-and-back on the eastern side (the Lles Trail). If you decide to hike the full loop, don't do what we did and leave your snowshoes in the car - believe me, you'll need them. We did wear micro-spikes and managed ok, but snowshoes would have been helpful for the sections of deeper snow drift.

This hike begins with an easy climb before reaching the base of the loop at 0.3 miles. From here, we took a left, following the yellow-blazed Starr trail clockwise. This route is sheltered from the wind, so we started to heat up pretty quickly, dropping layers as we hiked. It is harder to find your way along a snowy path if you're the first one on it, so paying attention to blazes is hugely important. I was also using my All Trails GPS for navigation whenever we couldn't spot the next blaze. There are several gorgeous viewpoints along this trail, so even if you don't reach the summit, you'll be glad you came.

Female winter hiker on Whitecap in the snow in Rumford, New Hampshire.

At 2.0 miles, you'll reach the top of the loop. From here, continue northeast along the orange/red trail for another 0.7 miles to the summit. Here you'll enjoy 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains, including the Mahoosuc Range to the west with the White Mountains beyond, the Mexico Hills to the east, and the ski slopes of Sunday River Resort.

Due to the wind, your stay at the summit will be brief before returning to the top of the loop. From there, take a left onto the orange-blazed Lles Trail. This eastern side of the loop should be well-packed, since more hikers choose this option in the winter.

I was surprised to see a handful of people skinning (uphill skiing) up the mountain as we made our descent. What I later learned from a sign at the trailhead kiosk is that these trails are part of the Black & White Glade: backcountry ski trails connecting Whitecap Mountain to the Black Mountain of Maine ski resort. These discoveries are always thrilling to me - a reminder that people are enjoying all kinds of outdoor adventures and to learn about them, you just need to get out there yourself.

If you're looking for a mountain to hike in the winter, this is a great option. Remember, hiking in snow requires a lot more energy and time, so shorter mountain hikes are preferable to longer ones this time of year. Here are some helpful details. Reach out with questions and enjoy your winter hike!