Winter Hiking Checklist

My husband suggested I create a hiking checklist for myself, since I have a loooong history of forgetting important items when setting out on my adventures. Like the microspikes I forgot to bring on our recent hike in the snowy Whites. Or my wallet, which I left at home while traveling to Vermont for hiking research.

Lists have become my lifeline, because my brain is not always functioning like that of a grown ass adult. If you’re anything like me, I hope this hiking hack helps. Print the list, laminate it, and stick it to your fridge. Or fold it up and tuck it somewhere safe, then forget where you put it - which is likely what will happen to me.

Before I share the list (it’s at the bottom of this post if you’d rather cut to the chase and scroll straight to the bottom), let’s have a little chat about winter hiking. If you haven’t tried it yet, this is your year! Snowy hikes are the most breathtaking and peaceful of all the seasons. Snowy hikes will teach you to not hate winter. But knowing what to wear and pack is crucial for safety and comfort.

Here are 6 quick, winter hiking tips for those of you venturing out for the first time:

1. Avoid cotton. If you get wet from sweat or snow, cotton will hold onto the moisture, keeping you damp, cold, and uncomfortable. Instead, choose wool or synthetic clothing, which continues to provide insulation, even when wet.

2. Be bold, start cold! Add layers as you go. Starting with all of your layers, then sweating a lot will leave you, again, damp, cold, and uncomfortable. Start with fewer layers, you’ll warm up quickly.

3. Always bring microspikes. This goes for fall hiking in elevation as well. A trail can start with dirt and warm temps, then lead to a snow & ice-covered summit. I love my Kahtoola microspikes because they stay on my boots and are great at grabbing onto the snow.

4. Carry your water bottle in an insulated sleeve. Water will freeze during a winter hike! If you can’t drink it, you’ll risk dehydration, which is bad news.

5. Bring a thermos of coffee, tea, or hot cocoa. Frequent snacks and hot beverages will keep you warm and hydrated with plenty of fuel to keep you going.

6. Tell someone where you’re hiking and share your route beforehand. Do this in any season, but especially winter. If you get stuck out there, it will be easier for help to find you quickly if they know where to look. And time matters a lot when it’s cold.

There’s much more to share when it comes to winter hiking, but that’s for another time. The purpose of this post was to share a downloadable Winter Hiking Checklist. Here it is: