Winter Hiking Tips Plan, Prepare, Explore! Don Weise Qualifications and References
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Winter Hiking Tips Plan, Prepare, Explore! Don Weise Qualifications and References Background: - Life Member, Past Board Member, and Development Director, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (Mahwah, NJ) - Co-Chair, West Milford Open Space Committee, Environmental Commissioner - Author of 2 hiking guidebooks - Hiking/trail running guide: led 600+outings in last 25 years - Volunteer trail maintainer - Castkill 35er What We Do: Trails and much more Create great outdoor experiences on 2,165 miles of trails! Build, maintain trails, bridges, steps, boardwalks and more Protect trails and the natural areas they cross Buy land for trails, advocate, restore native plant habitats Engage 2,400 volunteers in 100,000+ hours annually Cost-efficient volunteer model fills gaps in park maintenance Where the Adventures Are Trail Conference Trails North Jersey: 750 miles • Appalachian Trail, Highlands Trail, Long Path • All major state parks • 2 national parks/rec areas • Many county and local parks New York: 1,415 miles • Appalachian Trail, Highlands Trail, Long Path, Shawangunk Ridge Trail • Hudson Valley: Harriman-Bear Mtn, Breakneck Ridge (Hudson Highlands SP), Sterling Forest, Black Rock, Storm King, Schunemunk, Fahnestock, etc. • Shawangunks & Catskills: Minnewaska- Sam’s Point, Catskill Forest Preserve Top 3 Misconceptions About Trail Making 1. “The trails just kind of make themselves…right?” 2. “I thought the park service/my taxes took care of that.” 3. “You use volunteers—so isn’t it free?” Primary staff duties: Conservation Corps: Work with, plan & report to 181 parks Perform skilled technical work: - Trail construction and rerouting - Bridges, stone steps, crib walls Power 2,400 volunteers! - Plant native species, remove invasives - Recruit - Train Teach advanced skills to volunteers - Support Busy/steep hiking areas: Greet and educate users on: Preserve land & advocate for trails - Leave No Trace - Safe behaviors Inform & educate (books, maps) Make sure hikers are prepared Suggest alternate locations Design & develop trail systems Assist injured or lost hikers Address environmental & safety issues Winter a glorious time to get outside ▪ Snow makes the landscape magical ▪ Evergreens “pop” ▪ Wide open views ▪ Amazing ice formations ▪ With less of these… ▪ Snakes ▪ Yellow jackets ▪ Ticks ▪ Mosquitoes/biting bugs ▪ Bear encounters Tips for a great winter hiking trip! 1. Plan & map it out. 2. Timing is everything. 3. Elevation changes everything! 4. Know your hazards. 5. Know when to say when. 1. Plan Your Hike…and Map It Out Assess your group - How fit are we? - How agile are we? - What’s our slowest hiker’s speed? - Who’s our leader—who’s our sweep? Trail miles ≠ road miles! Evaluate conditions Steepness Elevation gain Water crossings? Ice or snow? What’s the bail out plan? 2. Timing is everything Know sunrise, sunset times (Sunset is 5:13 p.m. this Saturday) http://sunrisesunset.willyweather.com Start early, end early ▪ Use guidebooks for plan return time ▪ Leave some wiggle room! …or have 1 working headlamp per hiker 3. Elevation Changes Everything! Dress and delayer for conditions Pack & wear wicking layers: Dry = Warm • Be “comfortably cool”--strip off layers before you sweat • Pack an extra base layer • Waterproof, breathable outer layer • Boots, gaiters, pants, shell, hat, gloves for cold and high elevation • First aid kit, bivy sack , space blankets Hiking Mount Washington this month? Average Low: -9 degrees (F) Average High: 10 degrees (F) Snow/rain/ice: 90% chance Average wind speed: 46 mph 4. Hiking is safe—but know hazards Ice: Pack ice traction devices (microspikes or crampons) Ticks: Check for ticks after every hike – even when it’s cold Fewer ticks on wider, well-traveled trails Wear light colors, long sleeves, hat Repel with DEET, Permethrin (shoes & clothes) Snakes: Unlikely in winter but pay attention on sunny slopes Tread where you can see and give them space If bitten: 911, help victim, ID, don’t touch/elevate bite site Poison ivy: On ground or climbing up trees Has no thorns Typically at the forest’s edge The Bear Necessities Black bears: Typically avoid humans…but like our food Tightly seal or double bag lunch Give ‘em space! ▪ Never approach, surround or corner ▪ If you see cubs—LEAVE! ▪ Never run or turn your back ▪ Back away slowly ▪ Speak in loud, calm voice ▪ Avoid direct eye contact If bear “huffs,” snaps its jaws or swats the ground, you’re too close. BACK OFF… Signs of bear activity ▪ Scat ▪ Rock dens ▪ Trees: black fur or scratch marks ▪ Tracks in mud ▪ Attending your cookout 5. Know when to say when… “Getting to the top is optional, Getting down is mandatory.” Ed Viesters, climbed every 8,000+ meter peak “Reaching the summit is only half the job.” Unknown The mountain will be here next time! Know your bail-out options and when to use them. …and you won’t end up like Jack. Hiking with little ones • Plan together: include them in planning the adventure! Help with clothing, gear, food, water, meds • Go Short: and know your bailouts • More “payoffs” per mile: lakes, views, waterfalls • Eye on kids: - Cliffs, caves, water & wildlife - Watch for fatigue Read the writing on the trees 1. Write down your route plan: RED → right on BLUE → left on GREEN → END 2. Watch for missing markers 3. If you lose your trail: - Walk back to the last blaze you saw - The right way may not be the most-worn path Route not making sense? Turn back! Health benefits of hiking 1. Lowers risk of cancer, heart disease, obesity 2. Improves/strengthens heart, lungs, musculoskeletal system - Back, core - Hips, quads, hamstrings and glutes 3. Regulates blood sugar, blood pressure 4. Enhances balance, coordination 5. Promotes better sleep, slows aging 6. Improves mental wellness - Reduce stress, anxiety, depression - Boost memory, cognitive ability 7. Social: make new friends, bond with family Getting ready for your next big adventure #1. Uphill with trekking poles! Builds: - Muscle/power, including upper body - Cardio - Elasticity - Coordination, stability Benefits of running—minus the impact Other benefits of poles: - Hiking with poles burns 15% more calories - Protects your knees - Cross creeks, icy areas more safely Getting ready (cont’d.) #2. Add these to build fitness faster: Distance: increase endurance Pack weight: increase strength, cardio Speed: increase cardio, endurance Cross training: calisthenics, yoga Consistency: find your go to park and make a habit of it Trail running: why? Quality workout in nature • More intense cardio than hiking • Better strength training than roads • Coordination, agility, balance • Quick workout or preview a hike Little-known secrets about trail runners: 1. Walk the big hills. 2. Enjoy slow hikes too (we just want to be in nature, whatever we’re doing) 3. Easy-going, slightly crazy. 4. Trail races = alcohol-free parties in disguise. Trail running Getting started • Start on rail trails, woods roads, grass • Walk when you need to, run when you can • Run with a friend or group, small loops Monthly Trail Conference Trail Runs: • 5-9 miles year-round • Multiple pace groups • Options to lengthen or shorten Facebook Group: “Trail Conference Trail Runs” Let’s Go! Local Hikes Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve • Franklin Lakes acquired reservoir in 2006, opened park in 2011. • 120-acres: hiking, fishing, birding • Floating bridges take you across the water Trails: Preserve Shoreline Loop (white): 1.5 miles Island Bridges Trail (blue): 0.5 mile Red Trail: connector to High Mountain Park Local Hikes Vista Loop, Ramapo Reservation • 4.5 mile loop hike • Waterfall • Two lakes • Excellent views • Prickly pear cactus Connects to hundreds of miles of trails Local hikes Pyramid Mountain & Tripod Rock • Dozens of miles of trails • Impressive Highlands geology: perched boulder, glacial erratics, overlooks, waterfalls, wetlands, wildlife • Visitor Center • Popular: less crowded in winter and on weekdays Backcountry in NJ: the Northern Highlands Appalachian Trail New York New Jersey A. Hewitt SF Ringwood SP Long Pond Ironworks SP Ramapo Reservation Wawayanda SP Norvin Green: North Pequannock (Newark) Watershed Ramapo SF Norvin Green: Soutth The Northern NJ Highlands - Appalachian Trail: Greenwood Lake - Norvin Green State Forest - Ringwood State Park - Wawayanda State Park & Terrace Pond - Pequannock Watershed - Ramapo Reservation & State Forest - Abram Hewitt State Forest - Highlands Trail North Jersey map set Norvin Green & Ringwood Trails Separating Suburbia from Sylvania Norvin Green - Mini-Adirondacks: bare rock summits, pitch pines, mines and waterfalls - Northern Norvin: even wilder, undiscovered Ringwood State Park & surrounding - Multi-use options (hiking, trail running, mountain biking, XC skiing) - 10 wild miles: Stonetown Circular Trail Hike info: [email protected] Wild West Milford Purple Mountain Majesties Bearfort Mountain: - Puddingstone speckled with quartzite - Serious backcountry trails - Skytop lakes - Surprise Lake - West Pond - Terrace Pond - Hanks Pond - Bearfort Fire Tower - Bare rock summits, great views Hike info: [email protected] Delaware Water Gap to High Point High Point State Park: Massive tri-state views, cedar swamp, lakes, XC skiing, nature center, camping, 15,413 forested acres, 50+ miles of trails Stokes State Forest: Tillman Ravine, Sunrise Mountain, camping, 16,447 forested acres, 60+ miles of trails Delaware Water Gap National Rec. Area: Dozens of waterfalls, Crater Lake, Van Campens Glen, historic villages, Delaware River, 70,000 acres, 100+ miles of trails Worthington State Forest: