Later this winter (December) a small group of us will tackle our second official winter hike in the Sierra National Forest. While this is a shorter trip than the previous (and at lower elevation) we still expect to be challenged by the elements.
I’m a fan of very warm weather. Winter hiking isn’t something I was ever interested in. I barely want to go snowboarding for very long because of the cold, however, I have consistently gone for 30 years in short trips to avoid long exposure to freezing temps.
When I was invited to this winter trip I said no. Why would I subject myself to the one thing I constantly avoid by over-layering even in summer? My response was effectively, “Good luck, stay warm, hydrate, don’t die. I’ll be on the couch, under several blankets, being squished by dogs, enjoying the heat.”.
The Snowmass-Maroon Bells Wilderness mid-October changed that.
Not straight away mind you. In the midst of that trip, not seeing the sun for three straight days because of rain and snow, I was ready to avoid the cold more than ever. We were physically miserable for 12 hours being frozen and slightly unprepared for the storm systems that came in.
The physical challenges were conquered after several hours in the tent with a chance to get warm enough. It was the mental game that soon felt overwhelming, insurmountable, and hopeless. The unknown of whether we would get a break in the storm. Knowing we had to put on wet gear, in 26′ F temps (-3.3′ C), and not knowing what the far side of the mountain had in store for us.
If we risked the hike out and missed the shuttle, or if the storm got worse and we were pinned down, could we manage through the next evening no longer having dry gear.
This is where the magic happened. The decision that we could face the discomfort, that we had the energy to push through another hard day, and to focus on managing and helping each other towards our successful outcome, recreated a mental image of what I could handle.
We made the hard decision and a mountain pass and a few hours later and we were rewarded with the sun in the sky.
A week later, after much reflection, and much better preparation, I elected to face the elements again with my friends.
Your gear selection (like having crampons), your “systems” to manage your needs (to ensure warmth, hydration, nutrition), and your appropriate level of backups are very key to a successful trip.
From the last winter expedition to the future one I reinvented my set-up, optimized my weight, and improved my cold and wet gear. My goal was to increase the ability to handle the rain, the cold, and cut weight to better manage the possibility of a harder trek through snow.
You can download a copy of my 15 degree F backpacking system with a breakdown of every item. I did indeed weigh everything (often in grams and converted them into pounds). A deep dive into all the gear is planned for the future.