I've been out hiking a lot recently despite weather warnings and whatnot. We've had a few storms roll through and just a constant carpet of fresh snow for a couple weeks. Less people are out of the trails because of this, and while that is what I like, it means the trails are usually still buried when I start out early morning.
I like to consider myself as reasonably fit. I do a lot of backpacking for days on end during the summer. But I had never considered legit winter weather and how that would affect my endurance in the event I had to bug out in a storm. Which is stupid, as a Canadian, I should think of these things since winter is half my year or more. I know I'm prepared for cold weather. But moving through massive amounts of snow hadn't occurred to me. I guess I just shrugged it off as I assumed I would have my car in those cases. But what if I didn't? What if my car got stuck and couldn't make it?
Anyway, after 14km of trail breaking through 8-10 inches of snow, with only a 12L day pack on my back, I was exhausted. I am now reconsidering how far I can get with a 60+L pack in less than ideal conditions.
How do you account for these situations in your plans?
I like to consider myself as reasonably fit. I do a lot of backpacking for days on end during the summer. But I had never considered legit winter weather and how that would affect my endurance in the event I had to bug out in a storm. Which is stupid, as a Canadian, I should think of these things since winter is half my year or more. I know I'm prepared for cold weather. But moving through massive amounts of snow hadn't occurred to me. I guess I just shrugged it off as I assumed I would have my car in those cases. But what if I didn't? What if my car got stuck and couldn't make it?
Anyway, after 14km of trail breaking through 8-10 inches of snow, with only a 12L day pack on my back, I was exhausted. I am now reconsidering how far I can get with a 60+L pack in less than ideal conditions.
How do you account for these situations in your plans?
