For most of my life hiking in the winter just did not sound appealing. The cold, the wind, and the ice don't sound inviting. Every once in a while my family would take a snowshoeing trip in Rocky Mountain National Park. But, taking an hour out of a normal day for a winter stroll wasn't a common thought.
But now I say, don't knock it till you try it.
Hiking is a favorite summer hobby of Coloradans and is a free source of exercise and stress relief. With just a few tweaks to your preparations, you can take this activity into winter.
Molly Hamant, the Interpretive Program Coordinator with Bear Creek Nature Center, gushes about the beauty of winter hiking and how quiet and new the trail can feel.
She says there are 3 main tips for hiking in the winter.
1. Hydrate! When you are cold and you are bundled up, drinking water can be easy to forget. But staying hydrated is just as important in the winter as in summer.
2. Wear many light layers. Your base layers should be a sweat-wicking t-shirt or long sleeve shirt. Then add on several lighter but insulating jackets/coats that you can adjust based on your body temperature.
3. Prepare for ice on the trail with hiking poles or microspikes. Microspikes can be attached to the bottom of your hiking boots for extra traction.
Bear Creek Nature Center is hosting Winter Trails Day with a scavenger hunt event on Saturday, January 8th, 2021. It is free with no reservation required and will be ongoing from 9 am to 4 pm.
Expect to hike a 1-mile loop looking for clues and finding some treasures in nature. Find all the details you need to know on their Facebook page.
