Spring is in the Air

Spring Hiking Tips

Even though there is still several feet of snow on the ground and the Goulais River is still frozen solid I am hoping that by the time you read this, hiking season will be here. Get out there and enjoy spring. Just remember that there may be ice and snow in the bush for many more weeks so be prepared. 

I have collected some spring hiking tips here for you to check out. Its always good to refresh your memory on safety issues.

The main rule for spring hiking is to check weather forecasts, know your local climate, and plan for the worst - that way you'll be prepared.

Dress in Layers

Set yourself up for a comfortable hike by dressing in light layers and carrying an extra layer or two with you in case the weather changes. Start with a light wool base layer, a light- to mid-weight insulating layer (depending on weather forecasts), and a weatherproof layer. A layering system gives lots of flexibility for adjusting clothing to suit rapidly changing spring weather. Finally, an extra pair of warm, dry socks is always a good thing to have on-hand, especially in spring, when getting unexpected wet feet is pretty much par for the course.

Wear Appropriate Footwear

Stick to more sensible footwear such as sturdy shoes or boots. Trails often have snow or ice even into late May. Particularly in cooler shadier sections. Try greasing your hiking boots so they’ll shed water efficiently and wear gaiters to help keep stones and muck out of your boots. In early spring when there are still many patches of deep snow consider bringing snowshoes. Ice grippers help when tackling icy patches and are small, light and easy to carry.

If you don't have access to gaiters or waterproof boots, plastic bags make a good cost effective solution to keeping your feet dry in slushy conditions. To make sure they don't have any holes in them, fill the bags up with water prior to the hike. If they don't leak dry them out, fold them up, and stow them in your pack.

Carry Hiking Poles

Hiking poles come in handy on spring hikes. They can be used to probe the depth of a snow or mud deposits, to probe water depth (streams and rivers full of snowmelt may become more dangerous in spring), and for extra stability when navigating hiking on tricky footing. You can get collapsible hiking poles that can be stored away when you don't need them.

Minimize your impact

Stay on established trails, to minimize the impacts. If you encounter a muddy stretch of trail, don’t walk off-trail to avoid it, walk through it. Skirting trails can damage trailside vegetation, which leads to erosion and inavertent widening of the trail and the erosion. 

Be Extra Careful around Water Crossings

Melting snow contributes to swollen streams and adding spring rains coupled with melting snow can be a recipe for raging torrents, hikers are better off avoiding crossing such streams. Use care when approaching swollen creeks and streams. Avoid crossing them if at all possible.

Note that water levels can be higher later in the day, because early-morning snow and ice may melt as the day warms up. This leads to higher water levels. Be aware that spring run-off and high water can also damage or destroy bridges.

If crossing a stream is unavoidable, unfasten the hip and sternum straps from your packs so the pack can be easily dropped in the event of a fall. Using hiking poles or sticks to help maintain balance when crossing.

Spring also brings with it biting insects. Pack a head net. They’re light, inexpensive, and indispensable. If they were the subject of a MasterCard ad, they’d be priceless.