Hiking in all weather

I am not an expert hiker, but I very much enjoy it. Living in Colorado most of my life has blessed me with the regular access to hike some beautiful trails. As I have traveled around the country I find different hiking trails to become acquainted with the places I am in.

However, both in Colorado and around the US, the elements pose a threat to a great day of hiking and enjoying the great outdoors. I have not hiked in every single weather type and natural disaster, but just like survival on the trails, common sense can go a long way. So here are some time for making the most of hiking in different weather conditions.

Warm & Sunny:

Wear sunscreen. Wear sunglasses. Wear a hat. Each of these will protect your body from the outside.

To protect your body from the inside out: drink lots of water. This seems obvious because hiking is a form of exercise. As you go, your heartrate will increase, you will breathe a little faster, and you may break a sweat. However, when hiking there are so many distractions, rustling tree, animal sounds, steep cliffs, and sweeping views, vying for your attention that drinking water is not as much of a priority as it should be.

Rain & Snow:

Hiking in rain or snow can be pretty adventurous even for a beginner. The trails are hard to see. The rocks and dirt become slicker with every step. The rain and snow isolate you while in wide open spaces.

Continue to breathe deeply. Yes the air is humid when it rains or snows making it difficult to breathe at times, but it is also refreshing. It is a metaphor of sorts, the world is being cleaned by the water, why shouldn't you?

As far as clothing goes: wear a poncho or a rain jacket (and have one for your backpack too if carrying one). Wear shoes you don't mind getting dirty and/or are easy to clean. It is basic science: shoes get wet then dirt, grass, twigs,

and everything else sticks to them. Other hiking experts might tell you that you need really good treads on your shoes or crampons or even snowshoes to help with traction. This is debatable depending upon where you hike. I stick to well-traveled hikes so regular tennis shoes or hiking shoes do just fine.

When you are done hiking in the rain or snow, or maybe even during, you are going to want an extra pair of socks. This is actually a hack I learned from working outdoors, but it is fitting for hiking as well. Your socks and shoes will get wet. It is not fun to get in the car and have to ride home with cold, wet socks on. Bring and extra pair to change into and warm up to avoid hypothermia or frostbite on your toes.

Tornadoes: Not recommended, but if you must, have glasses to protect your eyes from flying debris. Wear a scarf or gaiter to cover your nose and mouth. Keep an eye on the sky for any sudden changes. Be weary of your surroundings in regards to finding a good place to get low, but out of the way of any large falling or flying objects like a tree.

Fog:

I would prefer to be hiking in fog than driving in it because you are moving at a slower speed. The problem with fog is that it limits the sense we rely on most as humans: sight. When hiking in fog, hearing becomes more prominent to observe what surrounds us that we might not be able to see. Intuition senses also can be heavily relied on in fog. Do you feel like you are going up hill or down hill? Did that last step feel unstable? Are conditions getting worse? Whether your mind and body are whispering or screaming at you, this would be a good time to start listening.

Flooding:

Hopefully you don't go to a trail to hike knowing it is flooded or has a high probability of flooding soon. But if it is raining and flooding starts to happen, stay away from bodies of water. Some of my favorite trails are along rivers with featured waterfalls along the way. Therefore, they are susceptible to flooding. Thankfully there are usually spots along a trails to turn to seek high ground. And if you happen to be swept up by flooded waters, as guides will teach you when rafting, try to stay calm and turn to go feet first.

Smoke & wildfires:

Unfortunately there seem to be more wildfires every year that cause even more destruction than the last. All of the health experts they feature on the news will tell you not to go hiking or be outside for long periods due to poor air quality. I admittedly have gone against this advice more than once because the smoke is so confining and I just want to do something. Before I head out, I check where the current wildfires are and stay far away from those areas to stay out of the way of the unpredictable element of fire and the hard work of firefighters. I have found that the smoke is usually a little better in the morning than later in the day, making less of an impact. I wear a gaiter to cover my nose and mouth to keep out some of the smoke particles. I pack an extra water, the smoke makes you thirsty quickly. And as is true with many of these tips, know your own limits. If smoke in the air irritates you just walking to and from the car, then hiking in this condition is probably not the best idea.

Hurricane: Why in the world would you go hiking during a hurricane? Just don't even.

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical expert, meteorologist, or wilderness survivor. My advice comes from years of hiking as an activity I enjoy. Do your research and consult any necessary experts before setting out. Hope to see your out there.