8 Ways to Make Your Next Winter Hike Less Miserable

Who’d be crazy enough to go hiking during the winter in Alaska? Lots of people, as it turns out, and maybe you are one of them — or fixing to join their intrepid ranks.

I guess I should say “our” intrepid ranks, but the truth is that I go back and forth on winter hiking. Sometimes I can’t wait to get outside and play in the chilly air; other times, I can’t wait to get inside and away from the chilly air.

But maybe a sometimes-ambivalent winter hiker is the perfect person to give advice on making yourself comfortable. So, without further ado, here are my favorite hacks for making your next winter hike more comfortable… or at least a little less miserable.

1. Make Your Layers Work for You

Okay, so you’re dressed in non-cotton layers. Great. But you also need to make those layers work for you by adjusting them before you overheat (from sun exposure or physical activity) or get chilled by hanging out in the cold.

Being able to make those quick adjustments is the whole point of dressing in layers, and if you’re new to it you’ll get the knack with just a little practice. If you wait until you’re sweaty or cold before you make adjustments, you’re making yourself uncomfortable for no reason.

2. Wear the Right Footwear

I strongly prefer sandals or light trail shoes for summer hikes — but in the winter, even I concede the point that boots are usually best. Waterproof boots in particular, because the waterproof/breathable membrane helps keep your feet dry and also offers some insulation.

Depending on what part of the state you’re in, where you’re going and what sort of socks you’re wearing, that might be all you need — or you might need to consider boots with added insulation, which dead easy to find in the stores up here.

3. Carry Ice Grippers

Slipping and sliding on an icy trail is no fun, and it could leave you seriously hurt. So don’t do it. Keep a good pair of ice grippers in your pack all winter long, so you’ll always have them if you hit a stretch of ice.

Here are my favorite ice grippers. Whatever you do, stay away from the ice grippers with metal coils that go across the bottom of your boot soles. Those work well in some conditions, but in other conditions they work more or less like ice skates underfoot.

4. Start Small

The “epic” label cuts both ways: Your winter hike could be a beautiful, epic adventure, or it could be an epic disaster. If you’re new to this winter hiking thing, avoid the bad experiences by starting with short, easy hikes that you know are within your capabilities, then expanding from there as your knowledge and confidence grow.

Translation: Get started by setting yourself up for experiences that you know will be fun. After all, that’s the point, isn’t it?

5. Pack Comfort Items

A light pack makes a happy hiker, but don’t be shy about packing a few reasonable comfort items — especially if you’re trying to convince friends that yes, this winter hiking thing really is fun. 

No, seriously. It really is.

Some examples of “comfort stuff” you might bring: Fuzzy mittens or earmuffs; a little foam pad to sit on; a thermos full of your favorite hot drink; extra handwarmers; or your favorite fat-rich snacks, because food is fuel, especially when it’s cold outside.

6. Stay Warm When You Stop

Most hikers dress to stay comfortable warm while they’re moving. But your body produces a lot more heat when you’re moving, so as soon as you stop, you’ll start getting chilled.

Happily, the solution is easy: Stick an extra layer or two in your pack so you can stay warm, even if you end up stationary for a while.

7. Set a Goal

Do you want to get outside in all that beautiful winter scenery, but are struggling to make yourself do it? Try setting a goal. That could be hiking every short hike on a list (here are my favorites near Anchorage), getting an awesome winter selfie, or looking for animal tracks in the snow.

8. Bring a Buddy

…because misery loves company. But so does beauty, and there’s an awful lot of gorgeous winter trail out there for you to explore. (Plus, having a friend along is safer; and if they get miserable before you do, that feeling of smug superiority will help keep you warm.*)

*I am kidding. Maybe. But you should probably let them read this article first, just in case.