It’s a gorgeous day! Icy blue skies, light winds, and frozen ground are making the trails firm and fast. You get a few miles out, and as the sun rises the ground thaws and the trails begin to turn to mud. A breeze picks up and clouds begin skidding over the sky, blocking the sun and the temperature rapidly plunges. You get disoriented and it begins to snow lightly. It happens. You are riding or hiking along happily and with complete confidence. When suddenly the weather changes and you are miles from home and in trouble. How can you prepare yourself for safe hiking, biking or riding during a White Mountain winter?

What can you do to help mitigate the dangers of winter outdoor activity? The primary mantra is to be prepared. Be prepared to communicate with friends or loved ones in case of an emergency. Be prepared to stay outside much longer than predicted. Be prepared in case of an accident. No one can be completely prepared, however here are some suggestions to help you on your next winter cycling or hiking adventure.

Communication

Communication is of the utmost importance. We live in a world where technology is sometimes overwhelming and there is a desire to “turn it off” and go into nature without distractions. But keep in mind, you need to carry a fully charged cell phone to call for help in case of an emergency. Double check that you have coverage in the area you plan to adventure. It is a must to use an app such as Strava, to track your progress and send your location data to friends/family. A tracking app like Strava is useful because while it tracks your exact path, it also shows the surrounding area on both satellite and topo maps so that rescuers can plot the fastest route to your location. Garmin units have crash locator beacons that will call loved ones with your precise coordinates and there are several cycling helmets that do the same. Also, be in contact with somebody when you go out. Always carry an emergency whistle to signal searchers. If you break a rib, yelling out may not be the most comfortable option! There is no shame in a crash or fall call for help and your friends will do what is needed to get you out. Don’t wait to call for help. With variable temperatures and short days, hesitation to call can have deadly consequences. The White Mountain outdoors community is awesome. It has members from every occupation and is more than able and willing to pull together to assist when needed.

Winter Preparation

How can you be prepared for winter riding or hiking? You need to dress in layers and carry a spare jacket in case you need to be immobile (You may not be the person who needs help, you might need to stop and give aide to someone else). The most important concept to remember for winter is layers. Often you feel you will be plenty warm, since you are exerting yourself physically. However, what happens if you crash and can’t move, crash and are in shock, or crash just prior to nightfall? It is important to carry an extra layer. Wear a base layer to absorb sweat and to keep you dry, (T-shirts absorb sweat and hold it next to your body cooling you down rapidly), wear a thermal jersey, and have a wind-proof shell to reduce any windchill. Unless it will be wet out, skip the rain jacket as it can trap moisture and cause you to chill quickly. Wear warm socks, wool is best and keeps feet warm even when wet. Winter tights or leg warmers reduce exposed skin surface area to keep your legs warm and reduce heat loss. Carry or wear a scarf, skull cap or headband under your helmet to keep your head and ears warm. If you crash, and cannot keep on moving, put on your extra layers and keep your helmet on to conserve heat.  

Plan for the unexpected 

Even if you plan to be back by dark, on these short winter days a light (and a backup light) is a must both for being able to make your way back and for signaling rescuers coming for you. If you have an accident or get completely disoriented and cannot/should not keep going, find a protected area near the trail to wait. It’s advisable to carry an emergency blanket in your pack to both keep your body heat in and to direct warmth if you need to build a fire. Additionally, it is a great idea to carry a small fire-starting kit including wind-proof matches and some dry tinder. Carry some spare high-energy food at all times and of course water. Even if you don’t normally ride or hike with a pack, winter is the time to get one and keep it stocked for the just-in-case scenario.  

Here’s a short list of things to carry in your pack:

High energy food like sport nutrition bars and gus, high-fat foods like nuts and cheese, emergency blanket, fire starter, lights, spare winter gloves if you are starting out with regular cycling gloves, hat or skull cap, cell phone charger, chemical heat packs, small first aid kit including blood stopper and wrap, spare softshell jacket, emergency whistle, knife and your normal cycling tools and flat-kit.



Winter riding and hiking is fun and invigorating, but does carry additional risks. Be prepared, watch the weather reports and expected temperatures, venture with others if possible, and get out there safely!