Fall was in the air. Temperatures on these local hike days were decidedly lower now. Fleece pullovers and beanies were appearing on my companions as the earth began to change it’s tilt. Marcia said “I cant wait until we get some snow.” I frowned. Winter was a season you spent inside.
” Must be cold to hike in winter” I said. ” Bob was just behind me. “You just have to dress for it.”He said it simply and softly. He was such a mellow person and a seasoned hiker. I trusted his opinion. Marcia piped back up from the front of the group. “Winter hiking is the best“
It’s been almost ten years later, and Marcia was right. winter hiking is my favorite. How to get into winter hiking and prepare for it is a post for another day. But Please let me make my case for this special time of year.
- You’ll have the trails to yourself: Well, perhaps you won’t be completely alone, but yeah, the crowds of summer will be significantly thinned, and you’ll secure a spot at the trailhead! (If it’s plowed.)
- The views and landscape are amazing: The snow draped forests, icy rivers and streams, windswept fields and capped peaks are a canvas that mother nature paints only for those who dare to enter this frozen realm.
- It’s peaceful: Are you an introvert? Want to get away from it all? Need some quiet time? To stand by the edge of a frozen lake, watching a light snow fall in utter silence must be experienced first hand.
I was not a lover of the winter months as an adult until I began to get outdoors on the trails. Now, those long dreary months waiting for spring are an active season that passes more quickly. Here in New England, we’re lucky to be able to experience all four seasons and their unique beauty. I hibernated in winter for many years.
I’ve been roused from my slumber and not a moment too soon.
An Unmapped Route: A Hiker's Blog 