Mountain weather is generally colder and more severe than in the valleys. Often in higher elevations, especially above treeline, rain, snow and fog are possible at any time of the year. Hypothermia can be an issue year-round, especially if you do not have warm, waterproof clothing.

Staying Fueled

Hiking can suppress your appetite, but plan to feed yourself anyway as calories play an important role in regulating body temperature. Snack throughout your hike on nutrient-dense snacks like fresh or dried fruit, trail mix, nuts and seeds, cheese, peanut butter, and beef jerky.

Staying Hydrated

Making sure that you bring enough water with you is often the difference between a safe trip and a dangerous situation. You must have on hand, and drink plenty of water.

The essentials about water:

• When deciding how much to bring, a general rule of thumb is to pack more water than you think you need. It is always better to have too much rather than too little.
• For multi-day trips, be aware of where water is located and pack accordingly.
• It is NEVER safe to assume any natural water source on the trail is safe to drink as giardia and a host of other debilitating hike-ending bacteria are prevalent.
• Make sure you carry a water filter, iodine purification tablets or a stove with enough fuel to boil your water before you drink it. Water treatment gear can be found at outdoor equipment stores, as well as ordered online.
• Continue to drink throughout the day. Steady water consumption serves your body better than guzzling a whole bottle at once.

While you can live for nearly a month without food, you will only last a week without water. The importance of having an adequate amount cannot be stressed enough. A good gauge is that if you're drinking enough water your urine will be clear, not dark.

Injuries and Afflictions

Accidents happen to even the most experienced and best prepared hikers. That's why it's important that you know the terrain, know how to stay warm and dry, know first aid and know how to rescue yourself if you're injured or become sick on the trail. Most of all, you should never hike alone.

More on safety & first aid >

Darkness can come quicker than expected, so you should always pack a headlamp to help you safely navigate the trail. If you have to spend a night in the woods a light can help you find shelter.

You should always have a compass and map. That way, if you become disoriented, you can stop, refer to your map and try to reorient yourself. Experienced hikers say that most people find their way after studying a map and the surrounding terrain for five minutes, so don't panic if you can't immediately figure out where you are. You may need to be on higher ground in order to identify landmarks such as streams and ridges.

Technology is NEVER a substitute for knowledge, experience, common sense and proper planning.

Remember to not have open fires above treeline, to respect wildlife and vegetation.

You should always have a compass and map. That way, if you become disoriented, you can stop, refer to your map and try to reorient yourself. Experienced hikers say that most people find their way after studying a map and the surrounding terrain for five minutes, so don't panic if you can't immediately figure out where you are. You may need to be on higher ground in order to identify landmarks such as streams and ridges.

Technology is NEVER a substitute for knowledge, experience, common sense and proper planning.

For Emergencies

If you can’t rescue yourself, you should:

• Not wander far from your original route; remember, this is where rescuers will start looking for you if your friends or family tell them your planned route.
• Blow your whistle loudly at regular intervals to attract attention.
• Stay warm and protect yourself from the elements. Don’t lie down on the bare ground. If possible, stay near an open space; move into it to be visible from the air and ground.
• Remain hydrated.
• Put on something brightly colored to attract attention.

Groups: hikeSafe whistles are available for purchase for $2 each plus shipping. For more information, email info@hikesafe.com.

Whether cooking, preparing fires, or working with cord, a pocket knife is a must-have.

Rain gear is helpful for lighter/shorter rainstorms but won’t keep you dry in a sustained rain. However, wearing a rain jacket and pants can help you stay warm if you keep moving vigorously so that you generate body heat.

Sometimes, the best-prepared hikers are caught in bad weather. If you get caught, you must know how to act. You should:

• Know an escape route in case fast-moving storms catch you off-guard.
• During electrical storms, get off of exposed ridges and get below treeline.
• Spread your group out and keep track of each other so if one person is hit, others can help.
• If you don't have time to use your escape route, squat down to reduce your height and minimize your contact with the earth.
• Take off your pack if it has a metal frame. If you have a foam pad, put it under you.
• Use careful footing, because rainy trails are extremely slippery and dangerous.
• If you ford a stream, keep your boots on to give better footing and to prevent your feet from going numb from the cold water. Unbuckle your backpack’s waist belt so it doesn’t constrict you.

Use careful footing, because rainy trails are extremely slippery and dangerous. Most falls and injuries occur when hikers are descending a trail. Wet rocks and leaves have contributed to many ankle injuries in the backcountry.

Your feet are your most important tool when hiking and if they aren’t cared for can become uncomfortable, ruining an otherwise positive experience. Hotspots, blisters and frostbite are all legitimate concerns. Like all pieces of outdoor gear, hiking socks are designed to perform: to keep your feet warm while letting them breath, to prevent blisters and, of course, to be comfortable. Avoid cotton socks, as these become quickly saturated, stay wet inside your shoes, and take a long time to dry.

When To Turn Back

One of the most common mistakes hikers make is the failure to turn back. Although “summit fever” can be a persuasive emotion, ambition is not a good reason to put oneself in a dangerous situation.

There are several reasons to turn back, such as:

• Weather changes. When the weather changes suddenly, you need to respect nature’s unpredictability and head for home.
• Fatigue. Your group's pace should be set by the slowest hiker. If that hiker is unable to continue, keep your group together.
• Unexpected conditions, like streams that are too swollen by rain or snowmelt to cross.
• Running out of time. Darkness can come quicker than expected.

Respect the messages and signals nature and your body send. If you stay safe, you can always come back another day.

To pack out trash or for rain protection.

Aka space blanket, fire blanket, safety blanket or mylar sheet

This low-weight, heat-reflective thin plastic sheeting is designed to reduce heat loss in a person's body, which would otherwise occur due to thermal radiation, water evaporation, or convection. To prevent hypothermia, you should dress in multiple layers of warm clothing and pack extra layers. Since the human body loses heat three times as fast when it's wet, you should use wind and rain gear to stay dry. 

The metallic surface appearance flashes in the sun, allowing use as an improvised method of signalling. In a hot environment it also can be used to provide shade or provide protection against radiated heat.

Even the most experienced hikers can get lost, so having a guidebook with trip details is crucial to help you find your way.

Insects

Swarms of black flies and ticks are a problem throughout the spring and summer. Thus, you should always have insect repellent, which will keep the worst of them away. You should be especially cautious of ticks; Lyme and other vector borne diseases have been reported throughout New Hampshire and other New England states. A daily inspection is a good habit, as the quick removal of ticks will minimize the risk of disease. More information can be found on the EPA, CDC and NPIC websites.

Sunscreen protects your skin against bright sun and snow glare in the mountains.

On sunny days, especially with significant snow glare, sunglasses provide essential eye protection.

Even if it's not winter, the more elevation you gain the colder it will get. Having gloves to keep your hands warm is essential.

Make sure to be prepared with all appropriate medications.

Whether for repairs, securing equipment or food and gear hangs, it's always important to have a cord or rope on hand.

When the snow gets deep, gaiters are important to prevent you from getting wet and cold feet.

There is nowhere to charge your batteries while hiking and they drain especially quickly when the temperatures drop, so you should always pack extras.

Technology Info >

Temperatures out in the mountains get very cold at night, making it important to bring a sleeping bag if you plan on staying the night.

When spending a night in the mountains, a tent or other shelter will help protect you against weather.

Your body can't function unless you keep it fueled.  Becoming dehydrated or not eating enough can lead to hypothermia. It's better to return from a hike with extra food then it is to run out, so you should always pack more than you think you need.

Put food scraps in closed containers, not in the campfire. Do not cook or eat in your tent. Keep food and cooking gear separate from your sleeping area.

• It is NEVER safe to assume any natural water source on the trail is safe to drink as giardia and a host of other debilitating hike-ending bacteria are prevalent.
• Make sure you carry a water filter, iodine purification tablets or a stove with enough fuel to boil your water before you drink it. Water treatment gear can be found at outdoor equipment stores, as well as ordered online.

While you don't need to pack everything, basic personal hygiene is important while hiking—especially on long trips.

To prevent hypothermia, you should dress in multiple layers of warm clothing and pack extra layers. Since the human body loses heat three times as fast when it's wet, you should use wind and rain gear to stay dry. It's easy to stay warm when you're moving, but if you have to spend the night you will be thankful for the extra layers.

Sleeping pads offer vital comfort and insulation from the cold ground. Inflatable, foam-filled pads are the most compact and comfortable to sleep on, but expensive and mildly time-consuming to inflate and deflate. Basic foam pads are lightweight, cheap, and virtually indestructible. For three-season hiking, virtually all versions provide adequate insulation from the ground.

You may be warm while hiking, but if you have to stop it's important to have extra layers to keep you warm.

To prevent hypothermia, you should dress in multiple layers of warm clothing and pack extra layers. Since the human body loses heat three times as fast when it's wet, you should use wind and rain gear to stay dry.

With lots of snow in the winter, it's very common for socks and mittens to become wet. Keeping extra dry pairs will help keep you warm.

Large, waterproof mittens are crucial for staying warm on cold winter hikes.

Without any insulation, the heat coursing through your neck to your brain radiates into the air and is lost. Warmth that might have been directed to your extremities instead replaces the heat lost from your head. A thin balaclava or warm hat and neck gaiter are small items, weigh almost nothing, and are more effective at keeping you warm than an extra sweater.

You must be prepared for extremes of cold, wind, snow and even rain. Skis or snowshoes are almost always needed. Even if there isn't much snow at the start of your trip, sudden storms can quickly appear and the amount of snow often increases as you climb and gain elevation.

Sometimes winter hiking can get especially cold, which means wearing insulated boots to stay warm.

Winter terrain is often icy, so having crampons is critical to ensure safe footing.

Winter weather can be extremely windy, so you should having a pair of goggles for both safety and visibility.

Face protection is essential when hiking in cold winter weather.

When navigating challenging terrain in the winter, an ice ax is an essential tool.

Avalanches are very real and dangerous winter hazards. Education and training are critical, so everyone in your group should have a good knowledge of avalanche safety.

Other Technology >

Carry and know how to use avalanche rescue beacons, probes and shovels when your party is in avalanche terrain. You must be able to conduct a self-rescue if someone is buried, as time is critical. If you must go for help, it is generally considered too late.

Carry and know how to use avalanche rescue beacons, probes and shovels when your party is in avalanche terrain. You must be able to conduct a self-rescue if someone is buried, as time is critical. If you must go for help, it is generally considered too late.