Chapter Twelve

Winter Backpacking

Snows in the north Georgia mountains are so rare that you have to keep an eye on the Weather Channel if you want to hike in more than an inch. So, when Frank and I heard that the north Georgia mountains were going to receive several inches of snow, we planned an impromptu day hike. We piled into our Jeep with our friends, Joe and Monica Cook, and our daughter, Griffin, and headed for the hills.

In four-wheel drive, we labored up the forest service road to the base of Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Seeing your favorite spots encrusted and powdered with snow is like walking in an entirely different world. Thrilled with the first hike, we headed down to Three Forks to see what kind of fairy kingdom the snow had made down there. It was an idyllic scene. Noontootla Creek burbled along as if it were an ordinary day, but the rhododendron on its banks were frosted with an icing of snow, and even the exposed stones in the creek boasted an inch or two of powder.

Experienced hikers have learned that pleasurable hiking need not only be found during the spring, summer, and fall. Winter camping is possible in many parts of the United States and provides much more solitude. It is a way to experience the Earth during its darkest season—to discover a new world both physically and mentally.

Even in the south, where contrary to popular opinion, it does get cold and even snows, you’ll find the trails much less crowded. By the same token, you can find snowy places throughout the country where you can hike and camp in peace. And, of course, you don’t have to hike in the snow. The cold, alone, can be enough to keep many hikers off the trail.

Before you throw on your pack and snow-seal your boots, keep in mind that winter backpacking requires a little more forethought as well as preparation. You must decide whether you intend to hike in boots (with or without crampons), on snowshoes, or on cross-country skis. If the snow is not deep or if it is hard-packed, boots will probably suffice. A pair of gaiters and well-sealed boots will make the trip more comfortable. The hard, plastic, cold-weather mountaineering boots which were designed for technical climbing are impractical for backpacking.