Tips for Dealing with Bad Weather on a Hike

• Check weather report before going on hike
• Dress children for weather when hiking
• Fog
• Flashfloods
• Tornado
• Snowstorm

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

Select best boot for weather you’re hiking

Depending and when or where you hike, your feet have different needs to protect them and to ensure they can easily handle weather conditions. While some avid backpackers have multiple hiking boots to meet different situations they encounter, for most day hiker that’s impractical. The challenge then is to find the right boot that works best in the conditions you most frequently hike.

Here are descriptions of the ideal hiking boot and sock for various terrain.

Cold-weather hikes
For the northern United States, winter as well as early spring and late autumn require cold-weather clothing. Hiking boots will need to be waterproofed, and if snow is present you ought to consider wearing mountaineering socks as well as having insulated boots. Always bring extra socks and even shoes to change into after the hike. Boots likely will get wet on a cold-weather hike, and if children are with you, they will need dry socks so they don’t have to suffer through cold feet on the drive home.

Wet-weather hikes
Always wear a waterproof boot during rain. As you’ll encounter mud, you’ll want boots with taller lugs to give you increased traction. You may want to consider wearing gaiters – a separate piece that can be strapped over the boots and your lower calves to cover the ankles and lower legs. Combined with waterproof hard shell pants, your feet will stay extremely dry.

Dry, hot summer hikes
Sneakers and cross-trainers are fine if the trail is flat and smooth. If not, get a boot that is lightweight and breathes to keep sweat from pooling in your boots. A lightweight wool sock is good as well; don’t fall for the temptation to wear cotton socks, however.

Cooler, autumn hikes
So long as the weather is dry, you can wear a lightweight breathable boot for most of autumn. Combine it with a thicker wool sock, however, to ensure your feet stay warm. If the weather is wet, go with waterproof boots that have tall lugs to keep your boot out of wet leaves and mud.

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

Teach hiking kids to predict weather using plants

Open slower petals on some plants means no rain.
Photo courtesy of raelb / Photoree.

Here’s a neat trick to teach kids on a hike: Predicting weather with plants.

Though often dismissed as an old wives’ tale, outdoorsmen long have used the change in some plants’ appearances to make a good guestimate of what the weather holds. That’s because changes in atmospheric pressure signal to some plant to “prepare” for coming rain. This is an evolutionary function of such plants, which have a greater chance of surviving if rain doesn’t wash away their pollen.

For example, on a dry day the leaves of a shamrock will remain fully exposed to the sun, like an open palm. As the likelihood of rain increases, the leaves fold in, like a hand making a fit. The same occurs with the petals of bindweed, chickweed, chicory, clover, dandelions, morning glory, tulips and wild indigo.

The scales of some pine cones also will open during dry weather as they stiffen and shrivel. As humidity rises, however, the scales regain their moisture and flexibility, and so they close up.

If hiking near wetlands, sniff the air to determine the weather. If the air is smelly, expect rain. That’s because the lower pressure that precedes a storm allows more methane to be released from the soggy ground.

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

Autumn marks perfect time to go day hiking with children

Though summer has passed, that’s no reason to put the hiking boots at the back of the closet until next May. Autumn actually is a great time to hit the trail with kids.

Why? Because there are:
g Cool, dry days – As winter approaches, summer’s heat and humidity dissipates. Late morning through the early afternoon, however, still can see warm, comfortable temperatures that might require a sweatshirt and jeans rather than T-shirt and shorts.
g Fewer bugs – Cool, dry days means few mosquitoes and virtually no other creepy crawlies, as they prefer standing water and warm air. Most insects’ life cycles have reached their end in September.
g Colorful leaves – Perhaps the best reason to hike in autumn is the changing fall foliage. The world appears to have been repainted, as red, gold and sienna orange leaves contrast with the blue sky.
g Better visibility – As those changing leaves fall to the ground, the landscape opens up, allowing you to spot interesting geological features or terrain that summer’s thick foliage keeps hidden.
g More animal sightings – Birds migrate while mammals gorge in preparation for winter’s cold. As the foliage no longer is as thick, seeing them is easier.
g Fewer crowds – Kids are back to school, guys are watching football, and whoever else is left wrongly thinks last night’s frost means the whole day will be cold. That makes for a quiet, peaceful trek on almost any given autumn day.

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

How to select a good day hiking trail for your children

Note: This entry by Hikes with Tykes author Rob Bignell originally ran in Seattle Backpackers Magazine.

How do you know what trail is best for children to hike? Maybe you may live near a park or national forest and pass a trail on your way to work or when running errands. You may have overheard other hikers or parents talking about them. Even then, you probably don’t know much about those trails or if they’re right for you and your family.

Start by making a list of potential trails to hike. To do this, go online and look for trails near your house or where you’ll be traveling, simply by entering the name of the town and “hiking trails” in a search engine. Many of the websites you’ll encounter will be blogs, discussion boards, and chat rooms about hiking. They can give you insights on what to expect on the trail and problems encountered.

After listing five or six potential trails, narrow them to the ideal one by considering these factors:
g Local weather and seasons – Always check to see what the weather will be like on the trail you plan to hike. While an adult might be able to withstand wind and a sprinkle here or there, for children it can be pure misery. Dry, pleasantly warm days with limited wind always are best when hiking with children.
g Length – Don’t choose a trail that is any longer than the youngest child in your group can hike. Adults in good shape can go 8-12 miles a day; for kids, it’s much less, and there’s no magical number. The reality is that every child is different: different leg lengths, different attitudes toward hiking, different levels of physical fitness, different levels of physical development, different expectations about being carried, and more. You’ll have to gauge what your children can and are willing to do.
g Elevation gains – For teenagers, peakbagging or hiking to a mountain’s summit, can be fun. The younger the child, though, and you’ll want to avoid switchbacks and large elevation gains. Simply put, the younger the flatter. A single high knoll can wear out a three-year-old kid who otherwise could handle a mile of flat ground. If the child is walking, limit elevation gains to 500 feet for older elementary school children and to even less for preschoolers.
g Quality of trail – There are three elements to consider. The first is turf. If the trail surface is extremely rocky or sandy, children will have difficulty walking across them. Next is width. A narrow path not any wider than your body often means children are going to rub up against bushes and tree branches, potentially resulting in scratches and ticks. Finally is overgrowth. When plants block portions of the trail and prevent you from seeing where you are going, the path has become overgrown, and this also likely means scratches, bugs and getting lost.
g Uniqueness – A hike of quiet reflection through the woods may sound great for an adult, but it’s a big bore to kids. They want to see things along the way – lakes and ponds, interesting rock formations, waterfalls, fire lookout towers, wild-flowers, streams, boulder fields, sweeping vistas, nature center, abandoned buildings (though you shouldn’t go in them), fossils, stream crossings (only for older kids) and more. Water almost always is a winner with kids.
g Dangers – Learn what plants and animals are in the area you’ll be hiking, so you can avoid the dangerous ones or know what to do if you were to encounter one. If you don’t know much about the plants or animals – such as what they look like – you’ll want to research that, too.

Using these various factors, decide which trail will best match your children’s abilities and interests. You may need to go on a couple of hikes and learn by “trail” and error what your children like best.

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

Keep family dog in shape with a day hike

Taking the family dog with you on a day hike can be lots of fun. Running about and sniffing, your pet likely will enjoy being outdoors as much as you and the kids. As a member of the family, your dog likely will help create experiences that make the hike memorable for your children.

Perhaps most importantly, hitting the trail also is good exercise for your dog – and all too often our pets are overfed with too little physical activity, leading to obesity and associated illnesses later in Rover’s or Queenie’s life.

When deciding if the family dog should go on a day hike, though, consider these variables:
g Location – Most national and state parks don’t allow dogs on trails. National forests and county parks usually are more lenient, through there may be restrictions such as the dog must be on leash.
g Age – Young dogs shouldn’t go on long hikes until they’re at least a year to 15 months old, as the distance will overtax their growing and developing bones and muscles.
g Size – Likewise, smaller dogs shouldn’t go on long hikes. Larger dogs, however, need longer trails to really get a good workout.
g Surface – Avoid trails with hard surfaces as they can damage dog’s joints, especially on young pets. If the trail surface is asphalt or concrete, ensure that there is grass parallel to the trail for your dog to run on.
g Temperature – Be wary of cold weather. While you can dress up, your dog cannot. If you need a jacket or gloves, then the hike may be too cold for your dog if it’s small or short-haired.

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

Check weather report before going on hike

When planning a day hike with kids, always first check a weather report for where you plan to walk.

Knowing the weather also can result in a lighter load. There’s very little need to bring wet weather gear if there’s no rain forecast for a 100 miles around and you’re going to be out for just a couple of hours. If on a hike of more than a couple of hours, though, be aware that weather fronts can move quickly, turning a lovely sunny morning into a bitterly cold, gray afternoon.

Weather forecasting is a difficult craft at best. A prediction about temperatures and rainfall usually is only good for about 48 hours. Though you may have planned the weekend hike Wednesday evening, canceling the hike on a gray Saturday morning always is better than spending a few extra days in the wilds hoping a rescue team finds you because you were cut off high waters.

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

Dress children for weather when hiking

Dress for the weather. For example, a light-colored and loose-fitting T-shirt is a must on hot, sunny summer days and in desert areas, a windbreaker a must in windy climes, and a water-resistant rain jacket in wet areas.

Some parents prefer to dress their kids in bright clothes on hikes, as they’re easier to spot should they become lost or get injured and can’t respond to your calls.

Not all parents feel that way, though. Julio S., of Austin, Texas, remarks, “As I hike with just my daughter, backpacking and she’s never out of my sight, I prefer to dress her in earth-tones – greens, beiges, tan, browns. Looking at a kid wearing pink or hunter orange in the wilds is an intrusion upon my enjoyment of nature.”

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