I am not a warm natured person. If everyone else in a room is hot, I am probably quite comfortable. My body simply does not generate much heat. Basically, my internal furnace – is an icebox.
So for me, the absolute hardest part of hiking in the winter, by far, is pulling myself away from a comfy chair next to a warm wood-burning stove and stepping out the door. Seriously. That first step is torture.
Yet surprisingly, I have learned to love hiking in the winter. How? I discovered three keys: Mindset, Preparation, and Clothing. (Also see post 3.5 on modular clothing systems.)This post will cover the first key: Mindset
Mindset
“Know your why.”
Whether we are discussing business ventures, home education, hiking, or any other endeavor, knowing and remembering WHY we are doing this thing is essential to long term success. It gets us through the rough patches and motivates us when we really would prefer to quit – especially on those days when we do not even want to start.
So below are are few of the reasons why I choose to drag myself away from the comfy chair by the fire. Perhaps they will inspire you to write your own WHY, review it frequently, and then join me on the trail.
Fresh Air
During the winter, our homes are all closed up. Even if we practice the discipline of airing our houses daily, indoor air quality is generally less than ideal. By getting outside, surrounded by trees and plants, and filling our lungs with fresh air, we breathe new life into every cell of our bodies.
Exercise
Our bodies were designed to do work (See Genesis 2:15 and Ephesians 2:10). Regular exercise helps keep our bodies strong and ready for the tasks God has prepared for us to do. Hiking is a fun way to get that necessary exercise. It beats a treadmill at the gym any day of the week. Yep – even in sleet and freezing rain hiking is better than a treadmill – IF I am prepared for it and have the proper gear (more on that in a later post).
Reduced Fatigue
This was particularly surprising. The reduced heat and humidity enable me to hike further in winter. I do not have to stop quite as often and the stops I do make are shorter in duration. Steep inclines are still challenging, but they are much less difficult when I can shed layers of clothing. The body heat I generate when climbing makes me comfortably warm, not sticky and drenched in sweat that won’t evaporate in the steamy Georgia heat.
No Bugs or Snakes
Enough said.
History Appreciation & Character Building
My ancestors emigrated to the American colonies from Northern England. They fought in the Revolutionary War. Some of them travelled with Daniel Boone, blazing trails westward into Kentucky. They were resilient people – not afraid of hardship.
(Your ancestors were resilient, too. Otherwise, you would not be here.)
What would they think if they saw this generation? Would they laugh with disdain? Or would they shake their heads in disappointment? Would they sigh in dismay like my Depression-era grandparents sometimes did? We are such spoiled wimps!
Each time I force myself to get out of my comfortable, temperature-controlled home or vehicle; each time I step into the woods; I remember my ancestors. I gain appreciation for the hardships they faced. I grow in physical and emotional stamina and in character. And I become a wee bit more like them and less like the rest of my generation.
Fellowship – with the Creator, with family and friends, or with both.
Spending time in nature with the One who created it all is refreshing for the soul. Spending time with my kids, away from bookwork, is the best kind of education. And spending time with friends, uplifting and encouraging one another, cheering each other on, warms the heart like nothing else can.
Beauty
This is where winter hiking really shines. With the leaves gone, we discover grand views of valleys and distant peaks which we could not see in any other season. The unique shapes of tree branches are exposed and not obscured by foliage. Specks of multi-colored minerals in rocks are plainly visible and not hidden by undergrowth.
In wet, cold weather, there are different sights to behold. Icy waterfalls are breathtaking to behold. Tiny drops of water dangle from the tips of evergreen leaves – frozen in time like miniature reflecting globes. And delicate little icicle ‘flowers’ emerge from the ground in clumps along the trail edges.
The woods sound different in winter. The crickets and cicadas are no longer incessantly calling to each other. The non-migratory species of birds can be heard singing in the trees or stirring up leaves to find morsels of food. We hear a crackle underfoot and discover that the leaves we thought were wet, were actually coated in clear, thin ice which looks frosted when broken. Even the wind sounds different; it has a hollow, lonely sound as it blows through bare branches.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the reasons I love winter hiking. When the weather is cold, the sky is overcast, and I am tempted to stay home, I remind myself of WHY I am doing this. And it helps tremendously.
Of course, that has to be accompanied by preparation. Subscribe or check back soon for for posts regarding Preparation and Clothing.