Dare2Go 365
WINTER
D2R . A WAY OF LIFE
Hiking in Winter Season! Winter can be the best time of the year to go out and enjoy D2R in perfect silence and solitude!
In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.
In winter we behold the charms of solemn majesty and naked grandeur.
Meaning
Congratulations for stepping up a notch in your D2R experience and Dare2Go when many choose to stay indoors watching tv! All you need is the right gear and proper planning to have a great time! There are a lot of great reasons to give winter hiking a try: no crowds, no bugs, no wildfire smoke, and the quiet calming serenity of the winter landscape.
Nothing beats a good hike in the snow. Seeing the forest in its doldrums, covered in a blanket of snow falling, is blissfully quiet and can really reset any stress you may be feeling. Bundle up, put on a double layer of socks and get out there!
Benefits as always can be encouraging from: The physiological perspective, during the winter time, while you hike in the cold, your body will burn more calories to stay warm, which will also help us loose some weight gained during the Christmas season!
Mentally is also a great choice to go out to D2R in the winter! Usually cabin fever comes around and we can feel blue or sad by it so going hiking in the winter can keep us mentally strong!
Winter & God
Winter is necessary to manifest the beauty of spring! Likewise, the Christian life needs pruning back—which happens during times of spiritual winter, longer waits to see Gods promises coming through or a time to reflect and a time to let go and let God prune our lives from all those things that are taking our energy and a space in our lives that are meant to be for something else God has called us to be, or do!
At the same time winter is a time for reproduction and getting pregnant! For many species in the natural world is a time to hatch eggs! Same way it may also be for us!
As we consider what hope means for us now and how we might practice patience and not giving up while we wait, or expect, let’s remember :
Is about the journey, not the destination! Carpe Diem, stay in the moment!
Be open to accept the need of help, the need to change and start over again.
Accept help from God and the people around you to stay strong while waiting, while “baby ” is growing in your belly! (Your new plans, new projects, new ministry) and they come to pass!
Goals & Gains
Our Main goal remains to Disconnect! No Electronics, no Phones , just you and Nature!
Other goal will be to go against the flow! Usually as weather gets cold and winter settles in, people flocks indoors and stays in their confort zones! In this case we are choosing to step outside and feel the cold wind in our face, breath the crispy cold wind and enjoy all that winter and snow has to offer!
Looking at some of the Gains
Less Crowds! Summer is nice but that also attracts crowds! The cold weather keeps the crowds away and gives us the perfect D2R by yourself experience! Enjoy it!
Silence! With the leaves all gone and the snow around it gets really quiet on the trail. If you’re feeling any stress – get ready for it to melt away!
Double Workout! Between the unstable ground and the resistance that deep snow creates, your legs will be doing some double pumping.! Hiking in the cold weather makes us burn more calories too!!
***Just Remember hiking in deeper snow means you’ll cover half as much ground as you normally do. Good to keep in mind when picking your trail.
Dogs can last longer! We all know our furry pals love the snow and the colder weather keeps them from overheating. I used to worry that their paws would get too cold after being out there for a while, but unless it’s -35 degrees out, they’ll be all good.
NO BUGS!!!
New Perspective!
We all have favorite hikes that we walk many times through the year but seeing it in a new light refreshes the mind and can renew a love for the outdoors. Trails that lead to some sort of water body, waterfalls offer the most dramatic change in the winter. Seeing that falling water frozen and hanging off the rocks reminds me that even though life moves pretty fast, there are times when everything comes to a pause. To stop once in a while to D2R can be a very enriching experience
First Steps & Logistics
Winter hiking can be less popular than the rest of the seasons for the dropping temps and the snow and ice but with preparation and cold-weather experience, you can discover the beauty, silence and crispiness of winter hiking.
Is it safe to hike in the winter? YES! With more time and preparation!
To ensure you don’t get stranded in the cold it’s key to plan your trip in advance, try to do it with somebody else and know when is time to go back!
Check weather Conditions and Park closures. Remember conditions can change very quickly!
Check for Avalanche Danger if your hike is in an avalanche prone area
Try to hike with a partner! You can keep each other safe and also share. the beauty of winter!
Know your limits and be FLEXIBLE to change plans on the go! WHEN IN DOUBT..TURN AROUND!
Clothing: ALWAYS DRESS IN LAYERS
Footwear: remember
Insulation: Waterproof shoes
Traction:
Microspikes for packed snow on trails that aren’t too steep.
Crampons for steep and icy terrain.
Snowshoes helpful in flat areas with loose snow with no slopes
Cover your Skin! Cover face and hands specially if temps are below zero with nice warm hats , gloves, face masks and gaiters if very windy below freezing conditions!
Bring Enough Gear
BACKPACK: Make sure your backpack has enough room for extra layers you may need
A headlight (and extra batteries) remember, days are shorter in winter.
Sunscreen is essential since sunlight bounces off the snowy ground — be sure to include the bottom of your nose and chin.
Chapstick is great to avoid windburn.
Sunglasses or goggles are necessary for bright days; snow is extremely bright,
Trekking poles are helpful to keep your balance and prevent falls
An ice ax may be necessary on steep sections in case you fall. However, if you carry an ice ax, you should know how to self-arrest so it isn’t just a sharp hazard.
Never forget to Carry the 10 Essentials to ensure you’re well prepared!
DARE2GO…Next Steps…
Once you have started to D2R on the regular bases, one hr a day, you will realize you want more!
That means you are ready to choose from all the other Dare2Go options :
- 1/2 a day D2R,
- Full day D2R
- Full CAMP OUT weekend D2R! 48HR AWAY FROM SCREENS CHALLENGE
- By yourself, with people you want to share with,
- Choose from our different places and seasons you want to go! As you practice the art of Disconnect 2 Reconnect you will come to realize that moving away from all electronics is a growing liberating fulfilling experience you will want to adopt for the rest of your life!
- SHORT, 1/2, LONG Term D2R style: 1 hike x month= 12 hikes p/year, 1 hike every 15 days= 24 hikes a year, 1 hike per week = 48 + hikes a year! Dare to D2R NOW