Compared to hiking in the summer, winter hiking requires a much higher level of preparedness, especially when venturing to higher elevations.
In winter, if something goes wrong, the consequences are much more severe.
Winter conditions can be expected at higher elevations in our mountains from October through June. Shorter days, colder and wetter weather, snow, ice, deadfall and obscured trails are all hazards that can present significant challenges.
Whether hiking in summer or winter, always carry the 10 essentials listed on the Coquitlam Search and Rescue website (www.coquitlam-sar.bc.ca) and make sure you have the skills to use those items.
Always make a trip plan and leave that with a responsible person in case you are overdue.
Don’t delay in calling for assistance (call 911) should you get into trouble. The earlier the search team is activated, the more options SAR have to carry out a safe rescue.
And remember, search and rescue is FREE.
WHAT TO WEAR
The big enemy is the cold, especially when combined with wet conditions (or sweat-soaked clothing). Extra layers are essential to combat the threat of hypothermia. Base layers should be lightweight, quick drying and have the ability to wick moisture away from the body. Polyester garments are good for this.
Mid-layer clothing should provide good insulation and still perform well when damp. Fleece or wool work well here.
In colder conditions, two base and mid layers may be required and it’s always a good idea to carry spare dry clothes for an unexpected night out on the mountain. The outer shell layer should be both waterproof and windproof. A good robust Gore-Tex jacket and Gore-Tex pants are recommended.
Staying dry is essential to staying warm. The Gore-Tex keeps the rain out but to avoid becoming sweat-soaked, strip down to the minimum number of layers to stay warm when working hard, preserving the spare layers for breaks and periods of slower movement.
A good pair of waterproof leather boots with good tread are essential, along with two pairs of socks (a thin wicking pair and a warmer/thicker pair). Gaiters are also very useful for keeping snow and other debris out of your boots, and will also help keep feet dry in heavy rain and creek crossings.
Down jackets can be extremely good at keeping you warm in cold conditions but down is useless when wet, so only use a down jacket when the temperate is below freezing or you’re sheltered from the rain.
Deep snow on the trails will slow you down and the likelihood of losing a trail is much higher in the snow. Couple this with much shorter days and the chance of spending an unplanned night on the mountain in winter is much greater.
Before starting the hike, it’s always worth asking yourself “Do I have enough in my pack to survive a night outside.” Apart from sufficient clothing, carrying a sleeping bag, insulating pad and some form of emergency shelter (Gore-Tex bivy sack, group shelter, tarp, etc.) will increase your chances of surviving the night.
DON’T SLIP
Safe travel on snow and ice requires special skills and equipment. On shallow, angled, deep unconsolidated snow, snowshoes are the best way to get around. Good walking poles with large diameter baskets will also aid progress.
But when the terrain becomes steep, snowshoes can become a liability rather than a help, especially when traversing across a slope. There have been cases of snowshoers sliding to their deaths because they kept them on whilst negotiating inappropriate terrain.
As a rule of thumb, if you feel yourself sliding too much, then it’s time to take the snowshoes off. Crampons can provide great traction on steep icy slopes, but most of the time, micro-spikes are good enough to prevent slippage on ice. Micro-spikes are attached to the boot via flexible rubber material, and so have the advantage of not requiring a stiff-soled boot to stay on.
An ice axe (walking variety) is also highly recommended. The primary use for an ice axe is self arrest on a steep icy slope, a lifesaving technique that is best practised beforehand. They are also useful for cutting steps in steep snow, extending reach (for a high handhold), probing, and can also be used as a sturdy walking stick.
Avalanches kill people in B.C. every year and, under the right conditions, any steep slope (even in our local mountains) could slide. When venturing into such terrain, avalanche beacons, probes and shovels are necessities. A good avalanche safety training course is recommended as without the theory, the equipment is useless. As a rule of thumb in the local mountains, stick to easy angled slopes (less than 25 degrees) and avoid areas that are exposed to steeper snow-covered terrain above.
BE PREPARED
Researching a hike before leaving is always a good idea, but especially in winter. Always take a good paper map and plan the route with contingencies beforehand. Look for trip reports online to see what other people have experienced on your chosen route, and if there is a guidebook for the area, refer to that. The more up to date the information the better, as trail conditions change over time.
Most importantly, check the weather forecasts. weather.gc.ca, www.theweathernetwork.com/ca and www.wunderground.com are three of the best sites for doing this, and it’s always a good idea to check all three to get a more complete picture. Look further than the next 12 hours as you might be delayed or end up spending the night out. Also factor in that low-level rain might mean higher level snow. For every 100 m elevation gain, expect a 0.5 C to 1 C temperature drop.
Finally, take plenty of calories with you, enough for both your planned outing and extra in case you get stuck. Food not only provides energy for activity but is also metabolized to create body heat. A shivering body (stage one hyperthermia) will increase the metabolic rate by up to 400% but without calories to burn, that process doesn’t work very well.
For emergency supplies, choose high calorie density foods such as marzipan and chocolate. Look on the packets and ensure you have at least 3,000 calories in reserve. A flask of hot beverage will provide a warming boost, as will a small stove for fresh brew ups.
Our backyard mountains are special places in winter. Have fun and be safe.
--Steve Chapman, a Coquit-lam Search and Rescue volunteer and the creator of a map of Tri-City trails, wrote a column last year for The Tri-City News on local hikes. Here, he talks about hiking in winter.
