By Lynn Dombek
The Associated Press
The solitude, quiet and frozen cold of a winter landscape are great reasons to head outdoors in January and February. You can snowshoe, ski, trek or go sledding.
But the backcountry in winter can also be a challenging landscape, and if things go wrong, they can go wrong fast.
That may sound scary, but as long as youíre prepared, you might be surprised by how satisfying and exhilarating it can be to slow down and closely observe the environment and your place in it.
Here are a few tips on safely enjoying backcountry activities in the winter.
Planning
Iíve done most of my winter trekking and camping in New England, already a remote and beautiful place, but doubly so when the temperatures dip well below zero and snow covers the landscape.
Preparation is your most important step. Outdoor clubs are a good resource for the novice and experienced hiker alike. They have loads of free information on their websites, and for small membership fees they typically offer discounts on backcountry lodging, sponsored trips, classes, maps and gear.
The Appalachian Mountain Club and The Mountaineers cover the East and West coasts respectively. Both have resources useful for any cold climate, and links to other national and international outdoor groups.
Most state parks and the National Park Service websites are full of tips, lists and trip ideas for any season. And youíll encounter far fewer visitors than summer.
For instance, Yellowstone National Park saw over a million visitors in July, but in January just 61,100 made the trek. Of those, only 97 were backcountry campers.
Al Nash, public affairs officer at Yellowstone, characterized winter weather in Yellowstone as ěmild or really challenging.î When we spoke in mid-December, it was a balmy 11 degrees and sunny there, which Nash found delightful. He was exuberant about the park in winter, but also cautious. ěWe encourage people to expand their comfort zone, but do it in steps.î
Getting dressed
Getting dressed for winter activities is all about layers. Put them on and take them off to regulate your body temperature. Generally you should employ the three-layer system: base, insulating and shell.
The base layer is typically a synthetic because the material absorbs little water, wicks moisture away from your skin and dries quickly. Silk is a good non-petroleum based alternative, and thereís also wool. Steer clear of cotton; it absorbs water and dries slowly, a sure recipe for hypothermia.
Wool or fleece are good choices for an insulating layer because they keep you warm and dry out easily. Goose down can be used if youíll be in extreme cold, but it wonít keep you warm if it gets wet.
Your shell layer protects against wind, snow or rain. As with every other piece of gear, you can get a shell in many different flavors: windproof, water-resistant, breathable, non-breathable and soft.
One of the most important reasons to dress in layers is to manage perspiration.
Most synthetics will wick moisture away from your skin, but once you stop moving around, moisture is going to make you cold. And once you get cold, itís harder to warm up; hypothermia can become a real danger.
Distance
Generally, winter travel takes longer than treks in other seasons. Plan on covering a third of the ground you normally would in non-winter conditions. If thereís snow, it simply takes longer to plow through it, and youíll spend more time just finding the trail.
So start slowly. Short day hikes under a mile can still be incredibly satisfying.
In addition to Baxter State Park, Maine has miles of logging roads that are unplowed in winter, perfect for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing (if you donít mind sharing with the occasional snowmobilers!).
The roads also make it easier to pull a sled, instead of hauling all your gear in a backpack. An expedition sled, or pulk, can run upward of $600, but you can easily build your own using a heavyweight plastic sled, small PVC piping and some rope.
So never mind the drudgery of winter at home. Drop that snow shovel and get out to the backcountry. Youíll be glad you did.
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If You Go.
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB: Snow Sport Resources, http://www.outdoors.org/recreation/snow/index.cfm
THE MOUNTAINEERS: http://www.mountaineers.org
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE: http://bit.ly/gVzfqq
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY OUTDOOR ACTION PROGRAM TIPS: Guide to winter camping, http://bit.ly/eulq3Z
BAXTER STATE PARK: Winter use information includes safety tips, gear and clothing checklists. http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/pdf/BaxterStateParkWinterUse.pdf . Gear recommendations include pack boots with wool liners, high-reaching gaiters, snowshoes or heavy-duty touring skis, insulating mittens, mitten shells, thin wicking sock liners, insulating socks, insulating balaclava that covers head, wicking innerwear, insulating jacket or sweater, insulating pants, light wind/rain shell, sunscreen, lip balm, trekking poles, snow goggles, fire-starting material including waterproof matches (butane lighters can fail in cold), axe, compass.
The Associated Press
01/03/11 12:52