{"id":9984,"date":"2024-01-29T22:20:13","date_gmt":"2024-01-29T15:20:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=9984"},"modified":"2024-01-29T22:20:13","modified_gmt":"2024-01-29T15:20:13","slug":"10-winter-hiking-mistakes-to-avoid-per-outdoor-pros","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=9984","title":{"rendered":"10 Winter Hiking Mistakes To Avoid, Per Outdoor Pros"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">I<\/span>f there\u2019s one misconception I\u2019ve long held about hiking in the winter, it\u2019s that, well, you shouldn\u2019t do it. To me, hiking has always been a fair-weather thing\u2014something for a balmy spring day, or a brisk fall one, or even a breezy summer one (provided it\u2019s not sweltering). But winter? To me, the blustery conditions and cold temperatures simply presented too large of an obstacle to enjoying the substantial time in nature and aerobic activity that hiking entails. So you can imagine my intrigue when The Ranch\u2014a Malibu, California-based wellness retreat famous for its <em>lengthy daily hike<\/em>\u2014invited me to experience a preview of its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/the-ranch-hudson-valley\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/the-ranch-hudson-valley\/\">soon-to-launch program in New York\u2019s Hudson Valley<\/a>\u2026 in November.<\/div>\n<div class=\"\">\n<hr\/>\n<div class=\"experts-in-article noskim py-[24px] px-[40px]\">\n<p>Experts In This Article<\/p>\n<ul class=\"!ml-[18px]\">\n<li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carolinejusterfitness.com\/about\/\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.carolinejusterfitness.com\/about\/\">Caroline Juster, CPT, CFSC<\/a>, personal trainer, online fitness coach, and fitness writer <\/li>\n<li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.owlsskills.com\/about\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.owlsskills.com\/about\">Jessie Krebs<\/a>, wilderness survival expert, former Air Force SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) specialist, and owner and head instructor at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.owlsskills.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.owlsskills.com\/\">O.W.L.S. Skills (Outdoorsy Women Learning Survival Skills)<\/a> <\/li>\n<li> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/john-bottino-72711a17\/\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/john-bottino-72711a17\/\">John Bottino<\/a>, general manager at The Ranch Hudson Valley <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<hr\/><\/div>\n<p>To back up a bit: The initial decision to launch a <a href=\"https:\/\/theranchmalibu.com\/health-and-fitness-programs\/the-ranch-hudson-valley\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/theranchmalibu.com\/health-and-fitness-programs\/the-ranch-hudson-valley\/\">new Ranch location within driving distance of New York City<\/a> <em>hinged<\/em> on the area being hike-able year-round, in order for guests to be able to partake in the same daily hike as their counterparts have always done at the sunny Malibu location. The idea was to demonstrate that with the right gear and clothing, you actually could reap all the physical and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/mental-health-benefits-of-hiking\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/mental-health-benefits-of-hiking\/\">mental health benefits of hiking<\/a> during the winter, contrary to common misconceptions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn a lot of places, people just haven\u2019t been exposed to the cold for that long, and they don\u2019t know if they can handle a winter hike,\u201d says personal trainer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carolinejusterfitness.com\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.carolinejusterfitness.com\/about\/\">Caroline Juster, CPT, CFSC<\/a>. She admits that dealing with substantial snow and ice on a hike requires \u201ca more advanced skill set,\u201d she notes that there are also plenty of places where you can hike in the winter and <em>not <\/em>encounter these kinds of elements.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline text-h5 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/winter-hiking-mistakes\/\" current-title=\"10 Mistakes People Make When Hiking in the Winter, According to Outdoor Pros Who Really Like\u2026 Hiking in the Winter\" current-image=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/WG_Snow-Day_Editorial_What-Most-People-Get-Wrong-About-Hiking-in-the-Winter_feature-425x285_418x278_true_70.webp\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-07-29\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/winter-hiking-mistakes\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/winter-hiking-mistakes\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/winter-hiking-mistakes\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Such was the case for my hike with a few other journalists at The Ranch Hudson Valley on that November day. It was 45\u00b0F, and there was no snow or ice on the ground. But while it still wasn\u2019t a day that I\u2019d normally opt to, well, work out outside, I was surprised to find my two hours of cold-weather hiking were\u2026 pleasant? I had fretted about the cold only to find that my puffer was too<em> hot <\/em>to wear throughout the hike (mistake #1) and assumed I\u2019d be too uncomfortable to really enjoy it (mistake #2).<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cPart of the beauty of hiking in the cold is that you can work up your internal body temperature and get moving, and still stay cool.\u201d \u2014Jessie Krebs, wilderness survival expert<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cI want to encourage people to get out there in the winter because it really can be so rewarding,\u201d says wilderness survival expert <a href=\"https:\/\/www.owlsskills.com\/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.owlsskills.com\/about\">Jessie Krebs<\/a>, former Air Force SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) specialist and owner and head instructor at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.owlsskills.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.owlsskills.com\/\">O.W.L.S. Skills (Outdoorsy Women Learning Survival Skills)<\/a>. And if you take the appropriate precautions to avoid common winter hiking mistakes, the chillier temps can even work in your favor: \u201cPart of the beauty of hiking in the cold is that you can work up your internal body temperature and get moving, and still stay cool,\u201d says Krebs.<\/p>\n<p>Below, you\u2019ll find the 10 most common mistakes people make when hiking in the winter (along with the misconceptions that lead to them), so you can feel prepared the next time you\u2019re debating a winter hike\u2014which you should definitely take.<\/p>\n<h2>10 common winter hiking mistakes and misconceptions to avoid (and what to do instead)<\/h2>\n<h3>1. Mistake: Wearing <em>too<\/em> heavy of a jacket<\/h3>\n<p>You want to make absolutely sure you\u2019re warm enough on your hike so you decide to throw on your heaviest puffer\u2026 which leads you to the illusion that you probably don\u2019t need many layers beneath it. The thing is, as you start moving around and heating up, you&#8217;ll also quickly start sweating, says Juster. And that\u2019s not ideal, given that sweat will evaporate when you take your puffer off, leaving you <em>freezing.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Instead, you want to dress in lots of layers so you can add and subtract easily when you get cold or hot, and regulate your temperature without sweating, says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/john-bottino-72711a17\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/john-bottino-72711a17\/\">John Bottino<\/a>, general manager at The Ranch Hudson Valley. And take note of the fabrics you choose, too: \u201cAnything that\u2019s touching your body should be a synthetic technical fabric or a non-cotton natural material,\u201d he says, \u201cbecause cotton is absorbent and will hold onto moisture if you start sweating.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Your outermost layer <em>can <\/em>be a hefty puffer, but it\u2019s best to find one that folds easily and pack it in your bag, rather than wearing it from the outset. \u201cThere\u2019s a saying in the hiking community, \u2018Be bold, start cold,\u2019\u201d says Juster. That means you should wear a lighter outer layer to start, like a fleece, to wick more moisture as you\u2019re getting moving, she explains. \u201cBut then as soon as you stop hiking to have a drink or eat, you want to take off the fleece, and put on your puffer.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>2. Mistake: Wearing leggings or other tight clothing<\/h3>\n<p>Stretchy, form-fitting clothes might seem like a good choice for an athletic activity, and maybe you think they\u2019ll look cutest in the photos (just me?)\u2026 but that\u2019s a no-go for cold-weather hiking. \u201cPeople have the misconception that it\u2019s the clothes on their body that keep them warm, but it\u2019s actually the dead airspace that the clothing is holding <em>near you<\/em> that gets warm,\u201d says Krebs. With things like leggings, you\u2019re creating very little of that airspace, meaning it\u2019s easier to get cold more quickly. Instead, Krebs recommends wearing loose-fitting hiking gear.<\/p>\n<p>This way, you\u2019ll have more dead airspace between your clothes and your body. If you wind up having to stay out longer than you\u2019d planned and are getting cold, you can even stuff that airspace with things like grasses or punk wood, says Krebs. And if not? Well, at least you were prepared for the worst. \u201cI\u2019d rather be a live, shapeless lump than a cute corpse,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Mistake: Assuming you won\u2019t get *that* thirsty in the cold<\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re like me, you associate dehydration with overheating and sweating and summer\u2014but your body needs just as much water on a winter hike as it would on a summer one. \u201cEvery time that we use energy to heat ourselves up, to hike, to move, we&#8217;re also using water to convert that energy,\u201d explains Krebs. Not to mention, dehydration in the winter can thicken your blood, making it tougher for it to circulate to all your key organs as well as your extremities\u2014which increases your risk for developing hypothermia or frostbite, respectively.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cEvery time that we use energy to heat ourselves up, to hike, to move, we&#8217;re also using water to convert that energy.\u201d \u2014Krebs<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>It\u2019s the reason why all of us journalists on the winter hike at The Ranch were required to take two liters of water with us (in the form of a <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.skimresources.com%3Fid%3D104860X1561639%26xs%3D1%26xcust%3DSTMSFT-1148091%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.camelbak.com%252Fshop%252Fhydration-reservoirs%252Ffusion-2l-reservoir-with-tru-zip-waterproof-zipper%252FCB-2575.html%253Fdwvar_CB-2575_color%253DClear&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fwinter-hiking-mistakes%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.camelbak.com\/shop\/hydration-reservoirs\/fusion-2l-reservoir-with-tru-zip-waterproof-zipper\/CB-2575.html?dwvar_CB-2575_color=Clear\" data-type=\"affiliateLink\" data-aff-intermediate=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=104860X1561639&amp;xs=1&amp;xcust=STMSFT-1148091&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.camelbak.com%2Fshop%2Fhydration-reservoirs%2Ffusion-2l-reservoir-with-tru-zip-waterproof-zipper%2FCB-2575.html%3Fdwvar_CB-2575_color%3DClear\">Camelbak Fusion Reservoir<\/a>, or &#8220;bladder,&#8221; in a special backpack). For the record, I initially thought a simple water bottle would&#8217;ve been fine, but it <em>was <\/em>nice to have constant access to water via the drinking tube rather than having to reach into a bag.<\/p>\n<p>One thing to note, according to Juster: Depending on how cold it is, it\u2019s possible for the water in one of these bladders to freeze in the hose, so it\u2019s a good idea to add a little salt to your water to lower the freezing point, or consider bringing a wide-neck water bottle, too. You can also plan to use a filter (like the <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSawyer-Products-SP128-Filtration-System%2Fdp%2FB00FA2RLX2%3Fref_%3Dast_sto_dp%26amp%253Bth%3D1%26tag%3Dwgtrx12151-20%26asc_refurl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.wellandgood.com%252Fwinter-hiking-mistakes%252F%26asc_source%3Ddirect%26asc_campaign%3Dno-campaign&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fwinter-hiking-mistakes%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Sawyer-Products-SP128-Filtration-System\/dp\/B00FA2RLX2?ref_=ast_sto_dp&amp;th=1\" data-type=\"affiliateLink\" data-aff-intermediate=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Sawyer-Products-SP128-Filtration-System\/dp\/B00FA2RLX2?ref_=ast_sto_dp&amp;amp%3Bth=1&amp;tag=wgtrx12151-20&amp;asc_refurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fwinter-hiking-mistakes%2F&amp;asc_source=direct&amp;asc_campaign=no-campaign\">Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System<\/a>) to treat water to drink if you know you\u2019ll encounter a stream or lake on your hike\u2014but again, there\u2019s the risk that the water you come upon is frozen, so it\u2019s a good idea to have a backup plan in that case.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Mistake: Thinking it\u2019s \u201cjust a day hike\u201d and not bringing any gear<\/h3>\n<p>A surprising truth: Day hikes are the most dangerous, from a survival perspective, according to Krebs. \u201cThat\u2019s because people think they\u2019re just going to go out for two or three or four hours, and so they don&#8217;t take the basic gear they\u2019d need to survive overnight,\u201d she says. But then, maybe you get injured and can\u2019t make your way back before dark, or it starts to snow, and that makes it so you can\u2019t find the trail back\u2014and now, you suddenly wind up needing to spend the night outside.<\/p>\n<p>In this scenario, Juster says you ideally want to have one of each of the <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.avantlink.com%2Fclick.php%3Ftt%3Dcl%26mi%3D10248%26pw%3D316961%26ctc%3DSTMSTV-1029157%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.rei.com%252Flearn%252Fexpert-advice%252Ften-essentials.html&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fwinter-hiking-mistakes%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/learn\/expert-advice\/ten-essentials.html\" data-type=\"affiliateLink\" data-aff-intermediate=\"https:\/\/www.avantlink.com\/click.php?tt=cl&amp;mi=10248&amp;pw=316961&amp;ctc=STMSTV-1029157&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rei.com%2Flearn%2Fexpert-advice%2Ften-essentials.html\">10 core hiking essentials<\/a>, in addition to any critical medications: some form of navigation like a compass or a GPS device, a headlamp, sun protection, a first-aid kit, a knife, some way to make fire, a small emergency bivy (aka sleeping bag), some food, some water, and an extra layer of clothing.<\/p>\n<p>But if you\u2019re just choosing two for what you expect to be a short hike in clear conditions, the most important are the navigation or signaling device\u2014so you can get out of there in an emergency\u2014and the water, says Krebs.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Mistake: Overestimating your ability to use your phone<\/h3>\n<p>Even if you think you\u2019ll have phone service (which you very well might not), it\u2019s not a great idea to rely on your cell phone as your primary source of communication, signaling, or direction when hiking in the winter. What if you drop it into snow? Or it just runs out of battery? (During my experience at The Ranch, we were all provided with battery-operated walkie-talkies in case we needed to contact one of the guides in an emergency.)<\/p>\n<p>While Juster recommends downloading an offline map on Google Maps or the AllTrails app for scenarios where your phone is still functional but just not getting service, she also suggests having a paper map of the trail and a compass. If you know you\u2019ll be hiking often in areas without service, she says it may also be worth splurging on a satellite communication device like a <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jdoqocy.com%2Fclick-100155342-15205098%3Fsid%3DSTMSFT-1148091%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.garmin.com%252Fen-US%252Fp%252F561269&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fwinter-hiking-mistakes%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.garmin.com\/en-US\/p\/561269\" data-type=\"affiliateLink\" data-aff-intermediate=\"https:\/\/www.jdoqocy.com\/click-100155342-15205098?sid=STMSFT-1148091&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.garmin.com%2Fen-US%2Fp%2F561269\">Garmin InReach<\/a> (or seeing if there\u2019s a nearby outdoor gear store where you could rent one).<\/p>\n<h3>6. Mistake: Mistiming your hike so it ends after sunset<\/h3>\n<p>Consider this your reminder that the sun sets early in winter\u2014so, a perfectly suitable hike for a July day could run you straight past sunset in December. And if you\u2019re planning a day hike in cold temperatures, you probably don\u2019t want to be out trekking still after dark.<\/p>\n<p>In the same realm, Juster says it\u2019s also worth noting that because of the low angle of the sun in the winter, \u201cit can get pretty dark in a forest or wooded area even an hour or two before the sun sets, so your visibility is going to be decreased.\u201d Insert here the importance of that headlamp noted above, as a means of lighting the trail back at dusk.<\/p>\n<h3>7. Mistake: Trying to just keep hiking if you start feeling very cold<\/h3>\n<p>Old hiking wisdom might\u2019ve suggested just continuing to charge ahead if you started to feel extremely cold or shiver uncontrollably\u2014but that\u2019s actually very dangerous, says Krebs. \u201cYou\u2019re much more likely to get injured if you\u2019re on the move, especially if you\u2019re tired at night.\u201d Plus, you\u2019re using up a lot of water and burning a lot of calories by continuing with the cardio, and perhaps worst of all, you\u2019re not holding onto the heat you\u2019re creating, she adds.<\/p>\n<p>When you walk or make other big full-body movements, you\u2019re essentially fluffing your clothing in different directions, which causes you to \u201cexpel all that nice warm air you just created and pull in the cold air,\u201d says Krebs. Not good.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, she suggests \u201cusing macro muscles to do micro movements\u201d in this scenario. Find something to sit on (ideally, a sleeping bag or foam pad, but branches or brush can work), curl into the fetal position and then clench your arms to your side, your hands into fists, and your legs together very tight; then, hold for five seconds before releasing and repeating. \u201cThis will start to generate a lot of heat, which you\u2019re keeping by your body because you\u2019re not moving around and giving it all away to the environment,\u201d says Krebs.<\/p>\n<p>This is an especially important exercise to do if you notice that you\u2019re starting to have what Krebs calls the \u201c-umbles:\u201d Stumbling, mumbling, and fumbling are all signs of impending hypothermia (a condition where your core body temperature decreases)\u2014which, it\u2019s worth noting, can totally happen in temperatures as high as the 50s, she says, particularly if you\u2019re not dressed in enough layers, have been out for a long time, or have gotten wet with rain or snow.<\/p>\n<h3>8. Mistake: Failing to account for extra muscle fatigue<\/h3>\n<p>Just as the extra heat can make a hike feel tougher in the dead of summer, the extra cold can have a similar effect in the winter. After all, your body has to work overtime to keep you warm in the winter, which expends energy, and the air is less dense in the winter, so you\u2019re inhaling more air with less oxygen, says Bottino. Meaning, \u201cyou could feel more winded during a winter hike, just because your body isn\u2019t used to these circumstances,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re also walking through snow, Bottino says you\u2019re in for quicker muscle fatigue (the extra resistance is similar to walking on sand), and same goes if you\u2019re walking on patches of ice and testing your balance. Which is all to say, don\u2019t make the mistake of choosing a trail that already challenges you in mild weather to tackle in frigid temperatures or icy or snowy conditions.<\/p>\n<h3>9. Mistake: Just choosing the wrong footwear<\/h3>\n<p>Speaking of ice\u2026 you\u2019re definitely going to want a pair of traction spikes (like these <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.skimresources.com%3Fid%3D104860X1561639%26xs%3D1%26xcust%3DSTMSFT-1148091%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.llbean.com%252Fllb%252Fshop%252F514536%253ForiginalProduct%253D124362%2526amp%253BproductId%253D1775816%2526amp%253BattrValue_0%253DRed%2526amp%253Bsku%253D1000046391%2526amp%253Bpla1%253D0%2526amp%253Bqs%253D3155277%2526amp%253Bgad_source%253D1%2526amp%253Bgclid%253DCj0KCQiAh8OtBhCQARIsAIkWb68Q01UILgtvOD4HN9-VI61oLC6rIEZZ4tFnJULlztKqAzRm7GbufTgaApIUEALw_wcB%2526amp%253Bgclsrc%253Daw.ds%2526amp%253BSN%253DPDPStackedRecs_07%2526amp%253BSS%253DA%2526amp%253BSN2%253DImageSwatchTest_06%2526amp%253BSS2%253DB%2526amp%253BSN3%253DPLPPersonalization_03%2526amp%253BSS3%253DB%2526amp%253Bnoaa_region%253Dnortheast&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fwinter-hiking-mistakes%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.llbean.com\/llb\/shop\/514536?originalProduct=124362&amp;productId=1775816&amp;attrValue_0=Red&amp;sku=1000046391&amp;pla1=0&amp;qs=3155277&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAh8OtBhCQARIsAIkWb68Q01UILgtvOD4HN9-VI61oLC6rIEZZ4tFnJULlztKqAzRm7GbufTgaApIUEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;SN=PDPStackedRecs_07&amp;SS=A&amp;SN2=ImageSwatchTest_06&amp;SS2=B&amp;SN3=PLPPersonalization_03&amp;SS3=B&amp;noaa_region=northeast\" data-type=\"affiliateLink\" data-aff-intermediate=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=104860X1561639&amp;xs=1&amp;xcust=STMSFT-1148091&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.llbean.com%2Fllb%2Fshop%2F514536%3ForiginalProduct%3D124362%26amp%3BproductId%3D1775816%26amp%3BattrValue_0%3DRed%26amp%3Bsku%3D1000046391%26amp%3Bpla1%3D0%26amp%3Bqs%3D3155277%26amp%3Bgad_source%3D1%26amp%3Bgclid%3DCj0KCQiAh8OtBhCQARIsAIkWb68Q01UILgtvOD4HN9-VI61oLC6rIEZZ4tFnJULlztKqAzRm7GbufTgaApIUEALw_wcB%26amp%3Bgclsrc%3Daw.ds%26amp%3BSN%3DPDPStackedRecs_07%26amp%3BSS%3DA%26amp%3BSN2%3DImageSwatchTest_06%26amp%3BSS2%3DB%26amp%3BSN3%3DPLPPersonalization_03%26amp%3BSS3%3DB%26amp%3Bnoaa_region%3Dnortheast\">Kahtoola Microspikes<\/a>) if there\u2019s any chance you\u2019ll be walking on ice or packed snow, says Juster. These are attachments you can add onto any shoe or boot that have small spikes along the bottom to give you better grip on slippery surfaces\u2014so you don\u2019t go belly up.<\/p>\n<p>And don\u2019t forget to choose a *waterproof* hiking boot if there\u2019s any chance you\u2019ll be trekking over snow, getting rained on, crossing streams, or otherwise getting into wet conditions, says Krebs. Better yet if it\u2019s a boot with an insert you can pull out and wring out if it gets wet, she adds, to avoid the painful winter hiking mistake of being stuck with wet feet in the cold.<\/p>\n<h3>10. Mistake: Thinking your hike won\u2019t be as scenic in the winter<\/h3>\n<p>Sure, you\u2019re not going to get fall foliage or dazzling greenery in the winter, but a wooded trail dusted in snow can be its own kind of multi-sensory experience, says Bottino: \u201cIf you\u2019re lucky, you\u2019ll get the visual beauty of snowflakes, the muffled sound of feet on snow, maybe even the smell of a fire burning in the distance.\u201d Plus, there\u2019s the added peace and quiet of taking a trek when fewer people are likely to be around, he says, and you can really, truly disconnect.<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimers__after_content mb-[18px] mt-[16px] pt-[16px]\">\n<div class=\"relative mt-[8px] pt-[10px] pl-[0px]\">\n<p>\n            Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If there\u2019s one misconception I\u2019ve long held about hiking in the winter, it\u2019s that, well, you shouldn\u2019t do it. To me, hiking has always been a fair-weather thing\u2014something for a balmy spring day, or a brisk fall one, or even a breezy summer one (provided it\u2019s not sweltering). But winter? To me, the blustery conditions &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9985,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9984"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9984\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}