Tips for Winter Hiking With Your Pup
Once I got a dog, I knew with the right measures, she’d be able to enjoy the outdoors too. Here is what works for us when we hit the trail:
The first thing people tell you when you move to New England is that winter is brutal. Obviously I didn’t grow up here, so I didn’t have the experience of shoveling for hours in the morning or having to walk to school in freezing temperatures. That might be why winter is such a beauty to me.
As someone who grew up without a single snowflake (except that one time Dallas turned into a winter wonderland), the winter season is a novelty to me each year. I keep wondering when I’ll turn bitter toward the season, but it hasn’t happened yet. Here’s why I think it hasn’t: I discovered winter activities.
Hiking is one of my favorite things to do, so I had to try it out in winter. Once I got a dog, I knew with the right measures, she’d be able to enjoy the outdoors too. Here is what works for us when we hit the trail:
Tip 1: Know your dog’s capabilities.
You know your pet best and know what they can handle. I never underestimate a dog’s ability given that most love being in the wild (and I’ve seen a Dachshund hike the same mountains my Aussie does), but obviously there are limits based on breed and size.
From a young age, my pup was conditioned to the trails. At three and four months she was trained on short, local hikes with little to no elevation gain. Slowly, she worked her way up. She can crush any mountain and elevation gain. It didn’t come as a surprise when she started to take on 4,000 footers in New Hampshire and New York. But we definitely didn’t venture off on one before we knew she was ready.
If you don’t have the White Mountains in your backyard, there are still ways for you to mimic an intense hike without the massive peaks. Here’s how:
Find a long trail, ideally with decent elevation gain. You can add difficulty in three ways: (1) do the trail twice (or more), (2) add a backpack to your dog’s back with water bottles inside, and (3) hike in various weather conditions or seasons.
Tip 2: Pick an appropriate hike.
Whether you’re starting off hiking with your dog, or you and your dog are more seasoned out there, the hike you pick is the most important decision you’ll make that day. If you aren’t capable of carrying your dog, or know that with their fur (or lack there of), they’ll be cold, pick a shorter hike where you can stay in control.
Of course you can never be too prepared for the mountains, but you can always aim to expect the unexpected.
Tip 3: Pack these necessities.
Even though dogs are wild animals and thrive out on the trail smelling all the smells, there are still steps to take to ensure your pup’s well-being is taken care of. I pack the following items for my dog and consider them necessities:
Dog first aid kit
You never know what your pup may step on or get into, so it’s best to have a first aid kit handy in case of emergencies, which are more common in the winter.
Backpack for her to carry
I have this backpack for Koah and it’s adjustable to her body. She’s had it from a young age and we conditioned her with an empty backpack, then slowly added weight evenly for her. It’s very easy to put on her and has a piece to attach a leash!
This comes particularly in handy for long, winter hikes when energy is expended and dogs need water and food. The perk of winter hiking is that there is usually a plethora of snow for dogs to eat to keep their bodies hydrated.
Collapsible food and water bowls
These foldable bowls are an absolute must. They are easy to wash and very lightweight. Tip: If your pup is picky, try to help the adjustment to these bowls by using them at home too. They are also great for travel!
Two towels
I don’t know about your dog, but it feels like mine actively seeks every opportunity on a hike to bring back as much dirt and mud as possible into my newly vacuumed car. If that sounds familiar, bring one towel for the post-hike mess. I love that my dog enjoys herself on a hike, but I try to clean
Dog food and treats
My dog rarely eats during a hike, so even though I pack food for her, she usually opts out. I bring treats to maintain training on the trail and provide her fuel in a more efficient way since she doesn’t eat on a hike otherwise.
Waste bags
Part of leaving no trace in the woods is picking up your pup’s waste. Always keep an extra bag or two on you (or in your pup’s pack).
Leash
As much as I love letting Koah run free in the woods, most trails require dogs to be leashed. Keep this in mind when passing other hikers on the trail.
Personalized collar
Like I said before, expect the unexpected. You never know if your dog may get lost, or get loose from your leash. I purchased this collar and personalized it with my dog’s name and my phone number in case she ever gets away from me. Again, it has never happened to me, but it’s best to plan ahead.
Are you ready to take on the trails with your pup this winter? If you don’t have a furry friend, but still want to tackle the mountains in winter, explore my recommendations for gear below!
My Winter Hiking Gear Must-Haves
Here are my gear must-haves if you’re wanting to avoid some of the harsh icy parts that winter comes with…
One of my first hikes toward my NH 48 goal. This was the summit of Mt. Tecumseh. What I loved about it is the view you get when you’re standing atop several feet of snow! I hiked this same mountain the following summer and it’s a noticeable difference without the added snow height boost.
I love the winter. And that’s saying something as a gal born and raised in Texas. It snowed once growing up and my brother and I went all out. We built an igloo (it’s surprisingly warm inside!). Sneak a peek at high school me below loving the couple days at home we had with the famous Texas snowfall in 2010.
The highest recorded snowfall, still to this day in Texas, was that year with 11-12 inches.
Since then, I knew I wanted to live in a place with season. It took me a few years (alright it took six), but I made it to New England. Ironically, I’ve lived here for six years now and can’t see myself anywhere else.
As much as I love hiking in the fall and taking in the views, winter truly warms my heart. The solitude of the trails. The easily accessible parking. The lack of sweating trekking up. Snow-capped mountain peaks for miles. Honestly, even a stroll on a local trail with no views offers the same solace I yearn for because of the trees wearing white sweaters along every step I take.
Over the years, I’ve gotten bolder and more confident in my winter hiking abilities. It started with short hikes and grew into longer, 4000-footers ones. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes (hiking with a friend who wears glasses and having her glasses break halfway up a trail – sorry Victoria!), and definitely froze my butt off one too many times.
The icy summit of Camel’s Hump in Vermont.
Nonetheless, winter is a beauty if you give her a chance. Here are my gear must haves if you’re wanting to avoid some of the harsh icy parts that winter comes with:
1. Layer on the layers.
It is always easier to take layers off, than add them on. I avoid cotton because once you sweat or take a dive or slip into the snow, you’ll be wet. A feeling you’ll grow to despise on longer hikes.
I strongly recommend the following:
Fleece-lined leggings (or pants!)
Tank/short sleeve shirt
Long-sleeve shirt on top (ideally thermal)
Warm jacket with a hood
Thick socks
Another pair of socks when the first gets soaked (trust me)
Winter gloves
Ear warmer headband (or a hat!)
Neck warmer you’d wear skiing (works well for hiking and runny noses too!)
I usually warm up pretty well on a hike once the elevation gain kicks in. I also carry a backpack large enough to fit in the long-sleeve or jacket I have on when I’m overheated and take it off.
2. Get a good grip with microspikes.
Think of these like gnarly spikes for your hiking boots to dig deep into ice and snow to give you a better grip. I bought mine at a small outdoorsy store in Burlington, Vermont over four years ago, but they’re at any outdoors store, and of course, Amazon for convenience.
These microspikes saved me on the summit of Mt. Moosilaukee. Everyone always boasts incredible views from this mountain, but my experience was a tad different. My trooper of a father came to visit and I took him up this mountain in April for his first 4ker. Naturally, we were met with a white-out and wild winds.
3. Get the gaiters.
I remember one of my first hikes in the Whites. A male hiker passed me by with his poles and with it being summer, he was wearing shorts. As I stared at the ground to watch my own steps, I noticed he had these odd-looking socks covering his ankles.
I asked him what was on his ankles. He informed me they were gaiters and help keep dirt and small rocks from getting into his boots. I was stunned – this man was a genius! That night after my hike, I googled “gators,” as a true Southerner would.
Naturally, all my results came up showing the alligators in the wild and in the suburbs of Florida. Something was off. I retyped, “winter gators for hiking” and Google lovingly corrected this English teacher with “gaiters.” These are intended for winter use and I was so pumped to no longer have ice ball clumps on my socks. It’s tiring (and super cold) when you have to constantly bend down and remove these rock hard clusters of ice off your socks. Only to have them rejoin your socks for the ride up the mountain minutes later.
Then, I looked at the price of gaiters. As much as I love hiking, it’s not a cheap hobby if you’re embracing it in all four seasons. Winter hiking isn’t a joke. It took me a few years after learning about gaiters to finally invest in them. These are the ones I purchased from EMS.
Can you tell I’m hiding the coldness of frigid feet behind this smile on a hike to bag Mt. Tom, Field, and Willey? Gaiters would’ve came in handy as the ice clumped on.
4. Heat the hands (and toes!)
Hot Hands are a brilliant invention. I mentioned gloves and warm socks earlier, but that doesn’t always cut it. I buy my Hot Hands in bulk at Costco so I’m never without a pack on those chilly days. You open the pack, shake them up, and that’s it!
Tip: When you place them in your boot to warm your toes, make sure you place it between your sock and shoe. They are very warm and shouldn’t touch your actual skin!
If you’re environmentally conscious (which I’m starting to look at more after staying in a sustainable tiny home last weekend in Vermont), REI came out with a biodegradable version of Hot Hands. Check them out here. Once you’re done embracing their warmth, you can cut the warmers open and compost the minerals on the inside. The packs themselves will still need to be thrown away.
Do you feel ready to walk into the wintery woods? What other gear items do you think are a must? Let me know!
Five Steps to Start Your NH 48
It was about a year ago around this time that I finished my New Hampshire 48. Here are some things to consider before starting…
The iconic Franconia ridgeline to get Mt. Lincoln and Mt. Lafayette.
It was about a year ago around this time that I finished my New Hampshire 48. The NH 48 are forty-eight mountains over 4,000 feet that reside in the White Mountains National Forest. To read about my epic finale, check out my post here. As I looked through pictures of my finish, it brought back all the memories of all the hikes I completed to get to this final moment.
I compiled a list of steps to take before starting your own adventure through New Hampshire 48 highest peaks in the White Mountains. Check them out below!
Step 1: Get the gear.
Regardless of whether you’re hiking in spring, summer, or winter, you’ll need certain gear. The gear that you’ll need no matter the season is below:
Durable water-resistant (or waterproof ideally) hiking shoes
I personally prefer hiking boots for added ankle support because I get a little careless on my descent with all the rocks, but trail runners or hiking shoes get the job done too. Often these are preferred by some hikers.
A day backpack
Find yourself a decent backpack that doesn’t break your back, but that can fit your necessities for a long hike. This can include water, snacks, maps, phone, extra layers, and a dry pair of socks.
This camelback backpack has been with me from the first of my 48 to the last.
A headlamp
I always forget this one and always regret that I do. I never plan on hiking at night, but sometimes you want more time at the summit, or getting up there took longer than ancitipated. A headlamp comes in handy on your return route. Don’t rely on your phone flashlight (though it’s a solid backup) because battery life should be saved for emergency calls.
Maps of your route
You’ll most likely lose service and shouldn’t rely on your phone. In cold conditions, phones lose battery quicker too. I’ve done this a number of times and have been fine. Other times, I’ve had 15% battery left with a few miles to return to my car. It’s not a fun gamble to take.
If you are going to use your phone as your GPS, screenshot the hike instructions and the map so you can access it without using too much battery life.
There are awesome books and maps available to purchase in every little town surrounded by the mountains, but they do come at a cost.
Fuel
Always bring more than you think you’ll need. Stock up on my favorites (Uncrustables and Clif bars) and bring electrolytes. It’s always better to have an extra pound in your pack to carry, than to be dehydrated or hungry. More mistakes happen when you’re tired and hungry.
Step 2: Start preparing with short hikes.
Regardless of where you live, you can prepare for the intense hikes in the Whites. You can run locally to build stamina, hike nearby to gain elevation, or ruck around your neighborhood. For this last one, pack a backpack with some heavy house items, put it on, and go for a walk.
The slide on the way to the Tripyramids.
Step 3: Research your anticipated hike.
I always google the hike I aim to do. There are so many blog posts and informational finds online about the exact hike you want to accomplish. People out there write extensively about each hike. Going into my hikes, I know where to park, what the trail looks like in various conditions, and how long it will roughly take.
The always lovely Owl’s Head, a solid 18.5 mile hike for this sliver of a view.
Step 4: Ask a friend to join you.
I love hiking solo and completed many of these peaks alone because I simply wanted to get out there. However, when I first started exploring New Hampshire hikes, I went with a friend who lived in the area.
As someone who grew up in Texas, hiking for me looked very different from the granite rock surfaces of the New Hampshire summits. I grew up walking on trails, exploring in the woods, and strolling in suburban neighborhoods. For me, it was beneficial to start hiking with a local who knew to look for cairns or trailmarkers (two things I had no idea about). When I started hiking in the winter, I learned new terminology like post-holing.
Tip: If you don’t know anyone locally, but have an urge to hike, search and join hiking groups on Facebook in your area or the area you hope to hike in (i.e. New Hampshire). There are always hikers looking for someone else to join!
Instagram is also a great place to follow along someone’s journey and then reach out
Step 5: Create a safety plan for the day hike.
When you are starting out, as I mentioned, there is little service in some mountain pockets. You’ll want a plan for your safety. After following the steps above, the final step is to create a plan for the day of.
I recommend:
Telling a close friend or family member what mountain you are climbing and what trail you plan to take.
A screenshot of this from a blog post or trail website will suffice! I also let friends know what time I’m heading out and when I’m anticipating being back within service.
Checking the forecast for the area you’re visiting as well as the summit you’re climbing.
My favorite website is Mountain Forecast because I can narrow in on the White Mountains and a specific mountain. Even if the mountain is near Lincoln, NH, weather is so unpredictable. The sun can shine down in town while you’re taking cover from hail on the ridgeline. I check this website before I leave for the drive, and I check it again in town to see if there are any changes.
Know when it’s time to turn back.
The summits will always be there. If you feel uneasy, or the weather takes a turn for the worse, there is no shame in heading back down. At least you got out there for the day and spent time outdoors.
My first sunset in the White Mountains after a full day hiking the Presidential traverse.
After taking these steps, do you feel ready to take on the 48?
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