Tips to stay comfortable when caught in rain

If rain should strike during your day hike, head back to
your vehicle to avoid muddy trails and various dangers.
Photo courtesy of pfly/Photoree.

Even if you check the weather report before heading out on a day hike, sometimes Mother Nature still will show who’s boss by dumping a little rain on you. It might be a surprise shower or could be something as light as a mist. This is especially true in the mountains where microclimates exist.

To stay dry on a day hike, plan ahead to have the appropriate clothing. Wear water repellent shirts, shorts/pants, and socks, avoiding cotton and denim that tend to sponge up moisture. In addition, keep a raincoat or poncho in your backpack. Wear a hat with a bill to keep rain out of your eyes and, should you wear glasses, off them. Make sure your hiking boots are waterproofed before hitting the trail.

Quickly put on your rain gear as soon as you feel the first sprinkles. If you wait until more rain falls, the layers of your clothing beneath the raincoat or poncho will become wet, increasing the chance of hypothermia and certainly leaving you uncomfortable.

Turn around for your vehicle as well. This is especially so if you hear thunder or see lightning, which you now are in risk of being hit by. Streams also can become swollen and flash floods sweep through the area, cutting you off from your vehicle. Even if no disaster occurs, should the rain falls more heavily, the trail will be muddier, increasing the chances of a fall injury, and paper maps will get wet when you check them.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Guidelines for providing first aid during cold weather

Should you need to provide first aid while hiking in cold weather, you’ll want to follow some basic guidelines to ensure that you don’t exacerbate the injury – or put yourself in peril as well.

Among those “rules”:
g Don’t remove your clothing – Though helping an injured person may be easier without gloves on or with a jacket unzipped, this can create problems for you. Gloves taken off might drop into the snow becoming wet, and unlayered protection against the elements exposes you to the cold, as well.
g Perform first aid a warm place – If possible, move the injured person to a place where they can be warm and perform the first aid there. Laying an injured person on the cold ground or removing their clothing in the open only exposes them to the wind and wet.
g Don’t warm by rubbing – This actually can further damage any affected tissue if frostbite occurs. Instead, you want to use the closeness of body warmth or radiant heat to keep a person warm.
g Blankets alone aren’t enough – Use body warmth to keep a person from being cold and wrap the blanket around both of you. If a person has hypothermia, for example, they can’t generate enough heat on their own to rewarm themselves, so a blanket or sleeping bag alone won’t help.
g Loosen constrictive items – Loosening clothing and removing jewelry that restricts circulation is a good idea. Clothing should not be taken off, however, as exposure to the cold can lead to hypothermia.
g Seek medical help immediately – Cold weather injuries such as frostbite and hypothermia require skilled medical professionals working with the patient in a warm, sterile facility. As soon as the injured person is stabilized, get them to a hospital.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

How to avoid cold weather injuries when hiking with children

Avoid cold weather injuries on winter hikes by
practicing prevention.

While winter hiking with children holds a variety of advantages over summer – no bugs, ability to see through foliage, lack of crowds – they also offer up a variety of dangers, from frostbite to snow blindness.

Fortunately, each of these conditions can be avoided so that children don’t suffer winter’s potentially ill effects. It begins with awareness of the time of cold weather injuries that can occur.

Among them are:
g Frostbite – In extremely cold conditions, the fluid inside the body’s cells can freeze. As freeing, it expands, rupturing and killing cells. You shouldn’t hike in weather cold enough to give kids frostbite; that threshold is reached when the temperature and wind chill are so low that no amount of bundling up will keep a child warm.
g Hypothermia – This dangerous condition happens when heat loss from the body occurs faster than the body can keep up, usually when a person is in wet, cold air or clothes. To avoid, ensure children wear adequate clothing and then layered clothing, including a hat, which can decrease heat loss from body.
g Slips and falls – Icy conditions increase the chances of slips and falls, and snow often conceals hidden dangerous such as sharp plant stems or hard rocks. Keep your pace slower on icy and snow-covered trails and wear boots with traction to avoid falling. Here's how to walk across snow and ice.
g Snow blindness – As the white snow reflects light back, the eye can be oversaturated, leading to a temporary inability to see. To protect the eyes, always wear sunglasses on a winter hike.
g Trench foot – When snow gets into a boot, the foot can become wet and cold, leading to blood vessels constricting in that extremity, resulting in numbness and swelling. Have pants cover rather than be tucked into boots so that moisture doesn’t get to the foot.
g Wind burn – Winter’s dry wind, unhindered by summer’s lush foliage, can dry the oily layer of a child’s skin, resulting in a burn. To prevent burn, rub moisturizer or petroleum jelly on exposed skin before the hike.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

What to do if caught in a whiteout during a day hike with children

Always remain aware of the weather so that you don't get caught in a
snowstorm or whiteout conditions. Photo courtesy of Charles Rondeau.

When day hiking in the mountains or in a northern state during winter, you always risk getting caught in a whiteout. Knowing how to walk through it can be vital to your survival.

A whiteout occurs when snow falls so fast that you literally can’t see the ground let alone a few feet in front of you. In this disoriented state, hikers easily can get lost and exhaust themselves trying to find their way.

Remaining aware of the weather and not hiking when snow is forecast always is advised to avoid a whiteout. Still, especially in the mountains with its many microclimates, a snowstorm – and whiteout conditions – can surprise you.

As soon as snow begins to fall, turn back. Continuing to walk when the odds favor more rather than less snow falling only invites disaster.

If a whiteout is rising around you and you’re near a makeshift shelter or your vehicle – “near” meaning you still can see it – immediately get inside and wait to hike when visibility improves.

Should no shelter be in sight, quickly construct one. A hastily dug snow cave or a tree well shelter will help keep you out of the wind and provide you some warmth. Indeed, the best thing to do in a whiteout is to simply stay put in a shelter.

If you must walk, have each member of the party hold hands as you walk toward your destination. Children easily can get lost in the piling snow, so you don’t want longer legged members of your party reaching the shelter only to find someone who is younger still are out there – somewhere.

Also, take careful, measured steps, especially since you can’t see. You don’t want to fall and get snow inside your clothing. The wet and cold will increase the chances of you suffering hypothermia. In addition, you definitely don’t want to suffer an injury from a fall, as you’re already battling the elements. If in a sloped area, as you walk toss a snowball slightly ahead of you as a way of measuring the slope’s angle.

Finally, as walking, protect your face. This means covering your mouth and nose so wind and snow doesn’t strike them.

Find out about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

If lost on winter hike, build an emergency tree well shelter

The well at the bottom of a tree where no snow falls is
the perfect place to build an emergency shelter.
Photo courtesy of  Wikipedia.

If forced to stay out overnight in the wilds during winter, you’ll want to find shelter right away. This will keep you out of the wind and hopefully ensure you don’t have to lay on the snow, which can lead to hypothermia. Don’t worry if you can’t find a man-made shed or cabin, though – you can build your own shelter in a pinch. One of the easiest to construct is a tree well shelter.

As hiking past evergreen trees, note how there’s a depression of snow around the trunks. Each tree’s canopy of branches limited the amount snow from falling in this zone, which is called the tree well. It’s a perfect place to set up an emergency shelter.

Begin by collecting other boughs that you can prop against the evergreen branches, with the branch’s woody, pole end going into the snow. This is the wall for your shelter. You may need to layer the boughs to minimize the wind coming through it and to ensure that if one bough falls down that there’s no hole in your shelter. Be sure to leave an opening for a doorway and setting aside boughs that can be used to close it.

Next, remove the snow from the tree well by gently pushing it against the boughs used to form the shelter’s walls. Then cover the tree well with boughs. This is the sleeping mat that will keep you off the cold ground.

Have everyone take a potty break at least a hundred feet downwind from the shelter. Finally, once everyone is inside, close up the doorway. Don’t start any fires within this makeshift shelter.

As snow is an excellent insulator, a properly built shelter combined with body heat can result in a pad that is up to 40 degrees warmer than the temperature outside.

Related articles:
g If lost, reassure kids by getting them involved in signaling for help
g Staying the night outdoors because you're lost? Set your priorities
g What to do when lost with children on a hike
g When you have no food but are lost overnight

Find out about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Children more susceptible than adults to injuries when hiking

Avoidance of dangerous situations is the best strategy
for preventing child injuries when day hiking.

Because children lack body fat – or at least healthy ones do – they are more susceptible than adults to a number of injuries, such as hypothermia, frostbite, dehydration, and sunstroke.

Because children are still developing, they have difficulty controlling their body temperatures, meaning they will succumb faster to an injury than an adult. Because they’re adventurous and still learning the ways of the world, they are more apt to suffer from falls and cuts and bruises than an adult. All of this makes understanding first aid for children a must for adults taking kids on a hike.

Practicing avoidance always is the best approach. If you watch where you’re going, your foot won’t land on the rake, shooting it in the air so it bonks your nose. But we are talking kids here. Some simply will forget your words of warning and others will not heed your advice. Sometimes you just stumble into bad luck. So you also must know how to treat the injury.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

How to survive getting caught in freak snowstorm on a hike

Getting stranded in a snowstorm means at best you’ll only have days to live unless soon rescued. Hypothermia, frostbite, lack of water due to it freezing and the inability to forage for food or to find tinder and branches to make a fire all make survival extremely difficult.

If you’ve planned your trip correctly, you shouldn’t be in the wilds when a snowstorm is forecast. Mountain weather is highly changeable, however, and it’s quite possible in late spring and early autumn for one to surprise you at a high elevation. As soon as you see any signs of clouding over, feel a significant drop in temperature, or notice high winds or snowflakes, immediately descend to a lower elevation.

If walking is no longer viable – snow can hide the trail and bring visibility to zero – immediately construct a shelter to diminish the effect of wind and wet snow. Huddle together for warmth. Do not eat snow as it will lower your core body temperature. Immediately call for help, and don’t send anyone for help as they easily can get lost in the snowstorm.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

Winter clothing essentials for day hiking kids

Now that autumn is here, you’re probably dressing your day hiking children in jeans, jackets and other warm clothes. But more clothes alone won’t be enough once winter arrives. To ensure your children stay comfortable and safe from the elements, winter hiking requires some additional steps that summer (and even autumn!) often don’t require:
g Socks and boots should be weatherproof – Put kids in wool socks that will better wick moisture from their feet and ensure their boots are waterproof so snow and moisture can’t get inside them.
g Don’t forget accessories – Stocking caps, mittens and scarves all are needed, even on sunny days, as winter air largely is dry and holds warmth poorly.
g Dress in layers – The layer of cloth next to the skin ideally should be made of polypropylene, the middle layer of bulky fleece, and the outside layer of waterproof material; this will ensure children stay warm and dry. Getting wet can lower their body temperature, raising the risk of hypothermia.
g Stay preventative – Put on clothes before kids start shivering; on warmer days or in southern climes, put on rain gear before the drizzle starts. Once cold and wet, no amount of clothing can reverse that condition.
g Keep change of clothes in vehicles – Kids are kids, and some will find a way on a hike to get wet despite your best efforts. Dry clothes they can change into in a warm vehicle after the hike can make the drive home comfortable.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

Be sure children don brimmed hats with chin straps during day hikes

A hat with brim and chin strap is idea
for young children on a hike.

Half of all body heat is lost through the head, hence the hiker’s adage, “If your hands are cold, wear a hat.”

In cool, wet weather, wearing a hat is at least good for avoiding hypothermia, a potentially deadly condition in which heat loss occurs faster than the body can generate it.

Children are more susceptible to hypothermia than adults.

In lower latitudes, higher altitudes, deserts and especially during summer, a hat with a wide brim is useful in keeping the sun out of eyes. It’s also nice should rain start to fall.

For young children, get a hat with a chin strap. They like to play with their hats, which will fly off in a wind gust if not “fastened” some way to the child.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

Avoiding, treating dehydration on a hike

Make sure children drink water when hiking, as they will dehydrate more
quickly than adults. Photo courtesy of Ken Kistler.

When one has overexerted himself in extremely hot or dry weather or after great exposure to the sun, the body can suddenly dehydrate.

Though dangerous in itself, dehydration can lead to additional problems, such as heat exhaustion, heatstroke and hypothermia.

Drink up
Take note: Children will dehydrate more quickly than adults. After all, a glass with a little water in it will evaporate more quickly than a glass with a lot of water. Likewise, children will use up water more quickly than a full-grown person.

Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water. Children need to drink about a quart every two hours of walking and more if the weather is hot, dry or cold and if at a high altitude.

Keep the soft drinks and caffeinated beverages at home. They may temporarily quench thirst, but they won’t adequately replace water the body has lost due to physical exertion. Also, let older kids carry their own canteens or use a hydration system. They’re then more likely to sip water as they need it.

First sign
Parent Rosie M., of Durango, Colo., offers this idea for getting children to drink their water:
“Sometimes kids won’t drink warm water. Fill the canteen half way up with water the night before the hike and place it in the freezer. The next morning, fill the canteen with cold water. Several hours will have to pass before the ice melts, ensuring you have cold water the entire hike.”

Thirst is the first sign of dehydration. The less clear (or more yellow) the urine is, the more dehydrated the body is. Other symptoms include nausea, headache, dizziness, muscle cramps and fatigue.

To treat dehydration, place the victim in the shade. Use sports drinks or packages of electrolyte additives for kids, children, not plain water. Don’t use salt tablets, as they’re difficult to digest.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

How to prevent, treat hypothermia in kids

Avoid hypothermia by not getting wet.
Photo courtesy of kangotraveler / Photoree.

The opposite of heat exhaustion, when a child has hypothermia, the body can’t maintain its normal temperature. Our normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees; when it falls just 1.6 degrees, we can start to feel negative effects. If the body drops just 3.6 degrees, it can cease to function.Hypothermia happens because heat loss from the body occurs faster than the body can keep up, usually when a person is in wet, cold air or clothes.

You can avoid hypothermia by ensuring your children wear adequate clothing and then layered clothing, including a hat, which can decrease heat loss from body. For infants, change diapers immediately, as the wetness can be a source of chill. Also, eat high energy foods on the hike and drink plenty of fluids. When taking rest stops on cooler days, have kids immediately put on their hats and an extra layer of clothing before they get cold, as it will be difficult for their chilled bodies to play catch up.

If a trip into a lake or stream is part of the hike, carry a bathing suit or swimming trunks. Going into water with jeans will mean wet pants, and hypothermia is possible even on a warm day.

Signs of hypothermia include a loss of normal level of consciousness, loss of normal coordination, uncontrollable shivering, and a slow, weak pulse. Victims usually deny they are cold and even become combative about it. That’s because their body is confused, so they think they are hot.

To treat for hypothermia, change the victim into dry clothing and snuggle to warm them up. You might cover them with a space blanket. Always seek immediate medical assistance. Handle a victim gently as movement increases the heart rate.

Finally, don’t make the error of believing that children can simply keep warm by continuing to walk. By walking, they’re actually expending energy needed to keep warm.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

Wear proper headgear when hiking with kids

Ensure children wear the proper headgear when day hiking.

Half of all body heat is lost through the head, hence the hiker’s adage, “If your hands are cold, wear a hat.” In cool, wet weather, wearing a hat is at least good for avoiding hypothermia, a potentially deadly condition in which heat loss occurs faster than the body can generate it. Children are more susceptible to hypothermia than adults.

In lower latitudes, higher altitudes, deserts and especially during summer, a hat with a wide brim is useful in keeping the sun out of your eyes. It’s also nice should rain start falling.

Wear lightweight hats in late spring and summer and heavier ones in cooler weather. During winter, wear balaclavas or hats with ear flaps.

For young children, get a hat with a chin strap. They like to play with their hats, which will fly off in a wind gust if not fastened some way.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

Avoid day hiking through fog when with kids

Image courtesy of dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Banks of fog can quickly roll in on mountains and coast-lines, making travel difficult and disorienting. Fog will obscure landmarks that help you navigate and the very sights that motivated you to hike the route. It is wet, generally cold, and even can be windy, quickly lowering enthusiasm and potentially resulting in hypothermia. This is where having GPS is particularly beneficial in navigation. Make sure the group stays close together and return to the vehicle as quickly as possible.

Read more about day hiking with children in the guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

What to do if caught in snowstorm on a hike

Never send someone for help if caught in
a snowstorm. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Getting stranded in a snowstorm means at best you’ll only have days to live unless soon rescued, especially if hiking with children. Hypothermia, frostbite, lack of water due to it freezing and the inability to forage for food or to find tinder and branches to make a fire all make survival extremely difficult.

If you’ve planned your trip correctly, you shouldn’t be in the wilds when a snowstorm is forecast. Mountain weather is highly changeable, however, and it’s quite possible in late spring and early autumn for one to surprise you at a high elevation. As soon as you see any signs of clouding over, feel a significant drop in temperature, or notice high winds or snowflakes, immediately descend to a lower elevation.

If walking is no longer viable – snow can hide the trail and bring visibility to zero – immediately construct a shelter to diminish the affect of wind and wet snow. Huddle together for warmth. Do not eat snow or suck on ice as it will lower your core body temperature. Immediately call for help, and don’t send anyone for help as they easily can get lost in the snowstorm.

Read more about day hiking with children in the guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

Treat children for shock during hiking injury

When the circulatory system fails, the heart and brain are deprived of oxygen, resulting in the life-threatening condition of shock.

Blood loss is the most common cause of shock, but other injuries such as fractures, heat stroke and hypothermia also can lead to it. To prevent shock, adequately treat such injuries.

Even with such treatment, however, there is a chance that shock might occur. Symptoms include a fast but weak pulse, cool skin, chills, pallor, and mental confusion.

To treat, place a tarpaulin or picnic tablecloth on the ground that can keep the child’s body off the earth. Lay the child on this covering and raise the feet about 20 inches off the ground. Cover the child in clothing to maintain his body temperature. Keep reassuring the child so they remain calm. Don’t let them go asleep and seek immediate medical attention.

Read more about treating children's medical injuries in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

When kids need to go potty while hiking

Use a trowel to dig a cathole.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Kids usually have to go potty at the most inconvenient times. Having the older, potty-trained children go before leaving on the hike can help the cause, but you still should be prepared for them to need to do No. 1 and No. 2 in the wilds.

Bring extra diapers for infants and toddlers. When they go, you’ll want to change them right away or they’ll get uncomfortable in the baby carrier, leading to a lot of shifting of weight on your back. In addition, during cold weather, a wet diaper can contribute to hypothermia.

Following the dictum of “minimize damage to your surroundings,” scrape pooh off the diaper and bury it in a cathole. Pack out the diaper, though. You’ll find a re-sealable plastic bag useful here.

For older kids, children, dig catholes. They should be about six inches deep. Cover the hole with dirt when done. Make sure the hole is about a football field’s distance from any water source to avoid contaminating it. Pack out toilet paper and wet wipes, otherwise animals will dig them up, leaving trails and woods strewn with feces-covered paper and wipes.

Some children will harbor a fear of such open air toilets. Don’t put down the child as a “baby.” Talk about their fear and show how no one can see them. Reassure them that you will make sure nothing happens to them and that no one watches. Remind them of those times when they overcame their fears.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.