Your backpacking vacation doesn’t have to be contained to just the summer months. Winter hiking can be just as thrilling and invigorating, as well as testing your skills throughout the hike. Be sure to remember a few key facts when taking a winter hike and you should have a safe and enjoyable vacation.

What to Wear

The one thing to remember for winter hikes is to layer. This will help you to keep your temperature at a safe rate and give you easy ability to regulate it if necessary. The normal thought is to have three layers: an inner liner tight against your skin, insulation, and a waterproof outer liner. Always wear a hat because that’s where a lot of body heat is often lost. Gloves are also an essential part of the outfit, but make sure you can use your fingers for everything you need to. Your shoes should also be waterproof to avoid frostbite. Carry extra clothes in case some of them do get wet because you don’t want to be wearing wet clothes on the hike.

Where to Stay

The basic answer is a tent, but what kind? You need to make sure your shelter can handle the extreme conditions you are going to be putting it through. There will likely be snow, and possibly storms depending on the climate, so make sure the tent is sturdy enough to handle that. Try to find a sheltered area to set up your site so that you are protected from the wind. Anchor your tent with rocks if the ground is too frozen to handle the stakes. It may be a good idea to bring along snow stakes as well because normal tent stakes are often unable to handle the ground conditions.

What to Eat

Bring along food that is easy to make. Camping is not the time to make a three-course meal. Drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated. Dehydration is of concern even in colder climates. Insulate your water bottles so that they don’t freeze. A block of ice will do you no good when you are thirsty. Be sure to allow extra time for your food and water preparation as opposed to summer months.