It might be obvious that hiking in the winter is different than the summer, but I’m going to point it out anyway. Winter hiking requires you to pack your bag differently and think twice about which trails you hike.
Here are 5 tips for having a great experience hiking during the cold months.
Leave a trip itinerary with a friend who knows who to call if you are late in returning
It gets dark earlier. Plan to hike earlier in the day and always bring a headlamp.
Wear layers and proper footwear. Invest in waterproof boots to keep your feet warm and dry. Plan ahead and know whether you might need snowshoes or yaktrax. Dressing in layers makes it possible to shed layers (to avoid sweating) when hiking and add layers when stopping to rest.
Eat and drink frequently. Dehydration hastens the onset of hypothermia. Do not underestimate the amount of food and water that you’ll need. Snowshoeing, for example, burns about 600 calories an hour.
Check avalanche conditions at https://utahavalanchecenter.org/ The trails you do regularly in the summer are different in the winter. The direction the slope is facing, the type of snow pack, wind etc are all conditions that affect avalanches. Always check the website before you go.
Dripping Rock is a hidden gem in Spanish Fork, Utah. The trail starts on the south side of the road next to the Spanish Oaks Golf Course. There is a small parking lot for you to park and begin. The trail runs alongside the river with several options to go down to the water throughout.
This is where we headed down to the river
You can go down to the river early on your walk or wait until the bridge. Both are really fun options. We chose to go down early on our hike and make our way through the river, stopping at all the areas the rock drips. The kids were in heaven.
I recommend water shoes or hiking sandals. Walking in the river is really fun but the rocks make shoes necessary. It’s not difficult to walk in the water. My three year old did great. The water stays shallow and slow moving the entire walk up to the bridge.
If you aren’t interested in the swings or jumping off the little waterfall you can stay down river where the rock dips. Less crowded and lots of room to play.
After playing at the dripping rock for awhile, we decided to go the bridge and find the swings. It’s only .7 mile from the parking lot to the bridge.
We ended up spending the most time at the bridge. My kids couldn’t get enough of the swing and the jump.
When it was time to head back home they all asked if we could come back the next day. Dripping Rock is our new favorite place to play in the summer heat.
Yosemite National Park has been on my bucket list for years. I asked Ben if we could go this year and he said he would prefer to go just the two of us without kids because of the long drive. Maybe next year we could pull that off. Fast forward a few months and our friend, Joe Baker, asked Ben to accompany him and his son on an epic boys trip. Ben immediately said yes. I then convinced my parents to come with us so that I could go with my other 3 kids and explore Yosemite as well.
The plan was for Ben and Kyle to spend two days on Lost Arrow Spire while the rest of us hiked and explored other areas of Yosemite. The week before the trip Joe’s wife, Ann, invited me to camp up at the top of Yosemite Falls with the rest of the group. My parents agreed to watch my other 3 kids and I went with Ben and Kyle up the falls.
The hike up to Yosemite Falls was an extremely hard hike. It is almost 4 miles and over 3,000 feet elevation gain. It is steep! It was hot and I was carrying a heavy pack. I never complained because my 10 year old was doing it right along side me and he never complained. He’s a stud.
Once we got to the top of the falls we took a break. We spent hours swimming in the water and cliff jumping. It felt amazing! We were grateful the water was low and we were able to play in it.
After our break, we packed back up and started the 1/2 mile hike to Lost Arrow Spire. Once we arrived at the spire it was GO time. Ben and Kyle harnessed up and waited until the team of people was ready for them. (There was an entire team of people helping make this happen. Guys had gone up the night before and set up the rappels, traverse, and port-a-ledges. The team also included a film crew. We couldn’t have done it without them!)
At sunset, it was time to rappel over to the spire. Kyle was nervous but he was brave. I yelled to him and asked him how he was doing while he was on the traverse. He yelled back and said that he was good. That put my mom heart at ease.
Ready for bed 2700 feet up
After watching the boys cross over to Lost Arrow Spire and get settled in, it was time for me to set up my camp for the night. It was pitch black by the time I headed up to find a spot. Thank goodness for headlamps! I set up my tent, cooked my dinner, and called it a night. It was my first time camping overnight by myself. I ended up sleeping better than I ever have camping before. It was awesome! It was also the opposite of Ben’s night.
The next morning I radioed Ben on our walkie talkies to see how their night went. He told me that it was the worst night of his life. He didn’t sleep at all. He joked that the first thing he was going to do when we got home was sell the port-a-ledge. I got to talk to Kyle and cheer him on for the big day that was in front of him.
After packing up my little campsite I ate breakfast and headed down to the cliff’s edge to watch the boys jumar, rappel and traverse back over. When I got to the edge they were playing the card game old maid and shooting nerf guns at each other. (They tied a string to the balls of the nerf gun and were able to shoot the balls without loosing them. GENIUS!)
Me with the boys in the background. Can you spot them on the port-a-ledge?
After the nerf guns and card game they flew a kite. It was quite a sight. Anyone in that part of the park could see the kite flying.
After packing back up they had to make their way up the spire and then over the traverse before jumaring their way up to yesterday’s starting point. It took a while.
Two very cool dads and two very brave boys!
I loved watching my boys!
All that was left was to hike back down. We stopped at the pools to play for a few minutes and filter water before making the long trek down. What a day!
If I hadn’t been there to witness this adventure in person I wouldn’t have believed the magnitude of it all. Our friend Joe is a big dreamer. He came up with all of this and all I can say is WOW! We feel privileged to have been able to experience it.
When the opportunity to adventure comes along. Take it!
Here is everything that I brought with me on my epic 4 day backpacking trip in the Tetons. (Minus food)
1. Beanie. I have this cute Carhartt one from Amazon.
2. Sunscreen. Travel size and on a carabiner is the best. Everyone used my sunscreen because it was clipped on the outside of my backpack and was always accessible.
3. Outfit #1. Athleta t-shirt with sleeves. Sleeves were really nice because they saved my shoulders from the backpack rubbing on my skin. Columbia zip-off pants/shorts. I bought my pants from Amazon. I’ve been avoiding the zip-off pants/shorts for years but finally gave in and bought a pair. I’m so glad I did. Pants and shorts in one was very convenient. I highly recommend them for camping/backpacking.
4. Wilderness Wash. Laundry soap, dish soap, body wash, and shampoo all in one. I never washed my clothes or my hair during this particular Teton trip but I used this to wash my dishes and it worked great. I ended up putting a small amount in a different container to save space and weight. This bottle will last several adventures.
5. Pistil hat. This is my favorite hat. Cute and comfortable. I hung this on the outside of my bag.
6. First Aid kit. I got this small and portable first aid kit on Amazon. I added some Tylenol and ibuprofen to the kit.
7. Outfit #2. Athleta t-shirt with sleeves. Nike spandex shorts.
11. Water Filter. I carried 2 liters of water each day. Each night I would have to filter water from a stream for cooking and for my water the next day. It would be impossible to do a backpacking trip without a water filter.
12. Jet Boil. A jet boil is defiantly something to save up for and purchase. It boils water in one minute and is perfect for meals, hot chocolate, etc. Light and small this is a necessary backpacking item.
13. Goal Zero solar panel. This is how I charged my phone and Garmin GPS. I hooked it onto the outside of my pack and it charged while I hiked. It was awesome!
14. Garmin GPS mini. This garmin tracked my miles, allowed me to send text messages and my location to my husband each day even when I didn’t have service. This garmin also has a SOS feature where if I ever get into trouble I can send out a message and the authorities will be notified.
15. Down Coat. This particular coat is my favorite and I’ve blogged about it before. This coat keeps me warm all winter long and is versatile for all of my different adventures. It packs down small and is lightweight making it the perfect backpacking coat.
17. Big Agnes Backpacking Tent: This tent is amazing. 2 person, ultra-lightweight, easy to set up, and dual doors.
18. Backpacking Exped Sleeping Pad. This pad rolls up small and is ultra-lightweight. Insulated to keep you warm on cold nights. Comes with a pump bag to inflate quickly.
19. Backpacking blow up pillow. Packs down tiny enough to fit in my sleeping bag and not take up any extra room.
20. Rain Fly: This is something you hope you don’t need to use but always want to have. This will keep your pack and everything inside it dry if it rains.
21. Rope: This is important to hang your food in a tree to keep animals at a distance. I brought a small 30 foot paracord. I never used it because I had a bear canister the entire trip. If you are going somewhere that requires a bear canister I would leave the rope at home.
22. Camelbak Water Bladder: I chose to go with a 3 liter bladder but I found that I only drank 2 liters each day.
23. Backpacking Sleeping Bag: This is my favorite sleeping bag. It is ultra-lightweight, sized for women, and keeps me extremely warm. With a temperature rating that goes down to 15-degrees I found myself warm each night only sleeping in my sports bra and shorts.
24. Multi Tool: I used this tool several times during my trip. You never know when you will need a knife, pliers or any of the other tools this set includes. Always a good idea to bring tool along.
25. Columbia Pack-able Rain Jacket: I forgot to take a picture of my jacket but if you follow me on social media at all you know I never hike with out this jacket. It’s waterproof, lightweight design packs into your hand pocket for convenience and it is the perfect jacket when a coat is too much. I use mine ALL the time!
26. Hiking Poles: I also forgot to take a picture of my hiking poles. These are the poles I have. They are perfect for summer hiking and winter skiing. (Comes with attachments for both.)
27. Osprey Women’s Aerial AG 55 Backpack: This is the backpack I have. It is a 55-liter backpack and comes with a convertible top lid day pack which is a feature I have used on each of my backpacking trips. It’s nice to have a day pack to explore without the weight and bulk of the big pack. This pack is designed for women and has waist straps to keep the weight off your shoulders. It has pockets galore and easy access to your phone or snacks on your waist. One of my favorite things about this Osprey pack is that it comes with a lifetime warranty. That means if anything breaks on it they will repair it or replace it! And right now it is $100 off!
These are great items to save up for and ask for gifts.
Finding a beautiful trail that leads to a great destination is key to making a hike enjoyable. The Wind Caves Trail does just that. The trailhead is located above Cache Valley in Logan Canyon and leads to stunning views of natural arches and caves overlooking the valley. The hike is just under 4 miles long and is surrounded by wild flowers and large trees that offer just enough shade to stave away the heat.
As we began hiking the trail the women chatted with one another about their hobbies, families, careers, and the people they love. Having just met one another at the trail head they were curious about each other’s lives. Some of them had come with a friend or sister but most of them had come alone. The fear of not knowing if they would find someone to connect with quickly dissipated. All of the women instantly opened their hearts to one another and began to find a common ground and connected.
Along the trail there were portions that were a bit more difficult as it was narrow with a cliff on each side. For those women who had come without much hiking experience beforehand they put their best foot forward and kept hiking even though they worried about their ability to reach the end of the trail. They pushed themselves physically and were delighted to see the view at the top of the climb.
There is something remarkable that happens to us when we force ourselves to do hard things. Women had come not knowing if they would make a friend or be able to endure the hike. Having to face both of those two fears in the same moment brought about an inner strength that connected them. Within a mile up the trail new friendships had been made and courage was found.
At the top of the trail we reached the wind caves. We climbed the arches, examined the rock formations, and explored the caves as we freed our minds of the worries of the world. It was exhilarating to stand atop the arch with narrow rock below our feet. We then relaxed and enjoyed the spectacular vistas. Being in nature had a powerful impact on our minds as we realized how big the Earth really is and truly see the beauty of the trees, the flowers, the blue sky, and most importantly the people we experienced it all with.
Finding a beautiful trail that leads to a great destination is key to making a hike enjoyable. The Wind Caves Trail does just that. The trailhead is located above Cache Valley in Logan Canyon and leads to stunning views of natural arches and caves overlooking the valley. The hike is just under 4 miles long and is surrounded by wild flowers and large trees that offer just enough shade to stave away the heat.
As we began hiking the trail the women chatted with one another about their hobbies, families, careers, and the people they love. Having just met one another at the trail head they were curious about each other’s lives. Some of them had come with a friend or sister but most of them had come alone. The fear of not knowing if they would find someone to connect with quickly dissipated. All of the women instantly opened their hearts to one another and began to find a common ground and connected.
Along the trail there were portions that were a bit more difficult as it was narrow with a cliff on each side. For those women who had come without much hiking experience beforehand they put their best foot forward and kept hiking even though they worried about their ability to reach the end of the trail. They pushed themselves physically and were delighted to see the view at the top of the climb.
There is something remarkable that happens to us when we force ourselves to do hard things. Women had come not knowing if they would make a friend or be able to endure the hike. Having to face both of those two fears in the same moment brought about an inner strength that connected them. Within a mile up the trail new friendships had been made and courage was found.
At the top of the trail we reached the wind caves. We climbed the arches, examined the rock formations, and explored the caves as we freed our minds of the worries of the world. It was exhilarating to stand atop the arch with narrow rock below our feet. We then relaxed and enjoyed the spectacular vistas. Being in nature had a powerful impact on our minds as we realized how big the Earth really is and truly see the beauty of the trees, the flowers, the blue sky, and most importantly the people we experienced it all with.
