Summer may seem like it’s passed us by at breakneck speed, but I stand by my belief that there is still adventure abound to be had this season — in fact, some of my favorite hiking weather is upon us as things cool off just a little bit and nature makes its preemptive move toward Autumn and in to Winter (sorry, too soon?!)
Autumn is a fantastic time to be in the mountains. The early season mosquitos, ticks and black flies have simmered down (though still best to always be prepared just in case!), the beauty of the mountain summer vegetation is still vibrant and lively, and the crowds begin to slowly start thinning out, allowing for some respite on the trails.
But the glorious Fall weather can be somewhat deceiving; often well-intentioned hikers don’t realize the weather extremes of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It is easy to assume that if it’s hot down below, it’ll be the same up above. My boyfriend, who works for the Forest Service, was just up in alpine areas this past week and said that the temperature was in the 40’s up there, even though here in town we had beautiful summer weather. As an experienced outdoorsman, he was prepared for the drastic change in temperature as he climbed. But sometimes, even the most experienced hikers can find themselves unprepared. Hypothermia is a serious danger up there, and should never be taken lightly.
Hypothermia is when your body’s core temperature drops to a level that impairs normal cognitive and muscle function. Wet clothes, dropping temperatures, lack of fuel for the body or injuries acquired on the trail can contribute to hypothermia, even in the summer. This is why packing appropriate clothing and ample snacks is so crucial when embarking on your adventures, in addition to always telling someone back home when you expect to return, where you’re hiking, and what trailhead you’ll be parked at, so that if you don’t show up, someone can call for help immediately in the event that you might be injured out on the trail.
DO NOT wear cotton
Though this may seem overly foreboding, “Cotton kills” is a phrase sometimes heard in the outdoors community. Sweat, stream crossing mishaps or rain and mist will soak through cotton clothing, causing it to lose its insulation. Though this may feel good initially if you’re hot from all that physical exertion, it’ll eventually cause your body’s temperature to drop rapidly once you stop moving to take a break, or you hike into exposed areas above treeline where it may be cold and windy.
DO wear quick-dry synthetic materials and wool.
Synthetic quick-dry blends designed specifically for physical exertion and outdoor adventures won't lose insulating capacity the way cotton will, plus it (surprise!) dries more quickly. Wool garments are known for their superior ability to maintain our body’s thermoregulation, even when wet. Merino wool is an excellent choice.
Layering up is absolutely the key to safety (and style!) while out on the trails, regardless of the season. As they say, there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. I’ll outline some basics about how to strategically dress and prepare for a safe, fun day out on the mountains this month. Keep in mind that winter months will require an alternate packing list!
Base layers
Base layers are the garments that are closest to our skin.
Mid Layers
Mid layers are the clothing items worn over the base layers. Good for when you’re just getting started on a cool morning, for throwing on when taking a break so that you don’t get cold, or adding on as you climb in elevation and the temperature begins to drop.
Outer Layers
These layers are crucial — I’ll bring most of these regardless of whether the forecast calls for rain or not. Weather patterns in the mountains change rapidly, and plus, rain gear is good for thermoregulation even if it’s dry out.
A few additional tips:
Don’t let any of this scare you from adventuring out into nature this summer! Instead, merely use it as a general guideline for safety when preparing for your journey, which can be tweaked to your own personal needs and style. If you feel uncertain about what the weather might be like, I recommend checking out the higher summits forecast put out by the Mount Washington Observatory. This will give you a better idea of what to expect, depending on what elevations you plan on hiking to.
Happy trails!
Quinn
You know what they say: “clothes maketh the (wo)man.”
Women already face plenty of barriers in male-dominated work environments; we don’t need ill-fitting clothing to endanger us in the process!
As women, our clothing should empower us, not hinder us......
