Reasons to Hike with a Guide in the Winter

If you are looking for a fun way to experience the outdoors this winter, Colorado Springs is the perfect place to be. There are so many exciting activities available all year round in our beautiful state, and winter hiking is one particularly wonderful way to experience the beauty of Mother Nature up close and personal.

The Wonders of Winter Hiking 

If you have never gone hiking in the snow before, there are a myriad of reasons, both aesthetic and healthful, to lace up your boots. Hiking in the snow is quite a workout, burning extra calories as your body works to stay warm. It also provides a needed boost of sunlight in those darker months, as the snow reflects those happy rays back up to you. Finally, with mosquitos or other pesky insects hiding from the cold, you can enjoy the hike free from bites and other annoyances. 

Aesthetically speaking, winter is a gorgeous time to enjoy the beauty of Colorado Springs. The is snow hanging from our pine and spruce trees. There’s soft powder crunching under your feet, and the feeling of crisp winter air in your chest. Winter hiking is a wonderful way to get outdoors and enjoy the snow and scenery. 

Photo by Raja Sen on Unsplash

Benefits of Hiking with a Guide in the Winter

Before you hit the trails, one thing you should consider is starting with a guided hike. Whether you are an adventurous type who does not let the snow stop them or a tentative reader desperate to get out of the house, all hikers should start with guided hiking in Colorado Springs. There are a lot of benefits of hiking with a professional guide. Both for your safety and your overall enjoyment of the trip.

Winter Weather Conditions Can Be Unpredictably Dangerous

Especially in a mountainous region like Colorado Springs, weather conditions can change quickly and without warning. Not only can you get stuck in an unanticipated flurry or white-out, but you could be contending with temperature drops. Hiking with a guide is a great way to ensure that you time your trip for the best weather possible and that you are well prepared for the unexpected.

Hiking in the Winter Happens on a Different Schedule

Another aspect of a winter hike that beginners are not used to is the proper pace and timeline to keep. Unlike a trail adventure in warmer conditions, winter hikers should snack while walking or take only short breaks. It is very easy to rest for too long while eating and bring your body temperature down a dangerous amount. With all the calories it takes to heat up again, you could actually end up burning more calories than you took in with your snack! A guide can provide the proper timekeeping to help make sure that you stay warm and safe on the trail. These and other helpful winter hiking safety tips will ensure that you and your family have a safe guided hike.

Proper Clothing Will Keep You Warm and Happy on a Winter Hike

On a related note, dressing for a winter hike can be sort of counterintuitive. This is because you should start a hike slightly cold, as your body will warm up faster. You also need to dress wisely to avoid sweating, as this would make you colder. If you don’t know how to dress on a winter hike, having a guide’s instruction can be the difference between a cold, dangerous trip and a pleasant one.

Photo by Bernard Hermant on Unsplash

A Guided Hike is a Great Family Activity

If you have children, a guided hike is just one winter activity for the whole family to consider. While you may let your kids run around and explore in other seasons, it is especially important to have a guide in the winter. Your guided hike will be tailored to your family member’s ages and skill levels. You can rest assured that your kids are in safe hands while you enjoy some quality bonding in nature.

Guided Hiking Can Be a Great Opportunity for Experiential Education 

Maybe you are just looking to get out of the house and enjoy some quiet time with your own thoughts. Then again, maybe you just have yet to experience the amazing breadth of knowledge that naturalists and other outdoors people have. A winter hike in beautiful Colorado Springs can be a great time to see elk, deer, and other non-hibernating animals. Professional guides can also teach about local ecosystems, identify trees, and the history of Colorado Springs’ awe-inspiring geological formations. If you have yet to go on a guided hike of the area, this winter is the perfect time to get a Wikipedia-level lesson on all the interesting things our natural environment has to offer. 

Winter hiking in Colorado Springs provides so many breathtaking vistas to behold. As if Garden of the Gods is not already stunning enough, don’t miss it with that layer of pure-white snow. North Cheyenne Cañon Park similarly turns into a winter wonderland with unlimited picture-perfect views. Hello, family portrait for next year’s holiday cards!


A winter hike has so many benefits for your mind and body, your relationship with our planet, and your social media feed. When you are ready to head up the trail, be sure to reserve your spot on a guided hike. Having a professional with you will keep everyone safe and leave you with a rejuvenated appreciation for the world around you. There really is no better way to experience wintertime in Colorado Springs!

Cold Weather Injuries and Treatments

Social media and winter photography can make the winter seem like a wonderland filled with nothing but adventure and fun. The other side of the winter can be a dangerous trek for anyone who might not properly manage cold injuries. Knowing the signs of hypothermia and how to treat it are a small portion of the necessary skills to have under your belt before heading out into a snowy landscape. 

By the end of this, you may ask, “is it safe to hike in the winter?

We want to assure you that hiking in winter is a safe thing to do, so long as you come ready for the cold. Without this preparation, many cold weather injuries can get those who come ill-prepared. To ensure you don’t end up in a dangerous situation, here is a list of the most common cold weather injuries and how to treat them. 

Photo by jasper guy on Unsplash

Hypothermia

The most commonly-known cold injury is likely to be hypothermia. We talk about it as a precautionary tale to anyone going out in the cold, but very few people are fully aware of what it is and what to do about it. 

The idea of hypothermia is simple. The prefix ‘hypo’ means less than normal or below. Thermia relates to temperature, and when applied to us, it’s our body temperature. Hypothermia then is having a body temperature that is lower than normal. This starts to happen in prolonged exposure to cold environments. Your body can’t make enough heat to make up for the heat loss, resulting in a decrease in overall temperature.

Once your body temperature reaches 95 degrees or below, you are considered hypothermic. Measures to prevent reaching this temperature should be taken beforehand, but once it’s reached, the job is focused on warming someone back up and preventing further heat loss. 

There are three main stages that hypothermia can be classified into. The first sign of hypothermia is what you can expect. There will be shivering and reduced circulation. In the second stage, there will be a general slowness that the body takes on. There is a slow pulse, slow movement, a state of confusion, and delayed thinking processes. The final stage is where one may lose consciousness and become unresponsive. 

Becoming hypothermic can threaten one to stay inside all winter long. Still, there are plenty of basic treatments that will allow you to travel around in the winter without ever feeling threatened. 

How to treat hypothermia:

  • Slowly rewarm with skin to skin contact
  • Learn how to make a hypo-wrap (like a warm person-burrito)
  • Take preventative measures to stay dry and warm
  • Use movement to warm up
  • Get to safety

Frostbite

Another one of the most common cold weather injuries is frostbite. This specific injury can range from frostnip to third-degree frostbite and limb loss. While most frostbite cases will fall closer to the frostnip side of things, it’s important to prevent any injuries before they happen. 

Frostbite can happen in surprisingly warm conditions. If it’s raining and your skin is exposed, it’s easy to grab a minor case of frostnip or frostbite in temperatures up to 50 degrees. Unless you’re drinking it, all water becomes your enemy at such low temperatures. Any tissue that reaches 28 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit will take on the symptoms of frostbite, but they can be observed earlier on as well. 

The first symptoms to look out for are numbness, tingling, and pain when rewarming the area. It’s common to get blisters when experiencing second-degree frostbite as well as a wooden or waxy feeling. Third-degree is a much more extreme scenario that often leads to loss of digits. 

Like hypothermia, the most important part of treating frostbite is preventing it. Wearing warm and dry gloves, scarves, and hats that cover the more commonly-exposed areas of the body is the best way to stop yourself from experiencing this injury. Bringing multiple sets on a long trip will help ensure that you stay dry and can switch out when necessary. 

After a cold weather injury like frostbite, you will likely have issues with that body part for the rest of your life. Because of this, we must repeat that prevention is the absolute best way to “treat” any of these injuries. 

How to treat frostbite:

  • Rewarm the area with skin to skin contact
  • Only thaw the area if there is no longer a risk of it re-freezing
  • Do not use excessive heat to rewarm
  • Keep all exposed skin covered and dry
  • Seek medical attention

Chilblains

For anyone that spends long periods in the wilderness, chilblains may be all-too-familiar. It may be a foreign concept for most, but it is still a risk. 

Chilblains are spots on the skin that result from extended periods of time with moisture and lower, non-freezing temperatures. The skin will develop small spots that are itchy, swollen, tender, and often painful. 

One of the best ways to diagnose this injury is rewarming and observing. While many of the symptoms are similar to frostnip or low-level frostbite, these symptoms aren’t resolved when rewarmed. 

The more often your skin develops Chilblains, the more likely it will happen in the future. 

How to treat Chilblains:

  • Rewarm the area and keep it dry
  • Prevention measures such as keeping dry and warm

Trench Foot

The final cold weather injury on our list is trench foot. This happens when feet are wet and cold for an extended period of time. They start to look like old raisins, full of deep wrinkles and crevasses that will be very painful. 

This can happen in the field for a variety of reasons. Anyone who gets their feet wet in the snow and fails to get dry quickly may experience low levels of trench foot. If it goes on all day, this can be a serious injury that isn’t comfortable or fun to even look at. 

How to treat trench foot:

  • Dry the feet and apply baby powder
  • Change socks often
  • Keep the feet clean
  • Stop hiking and go to an area to rest

Hiking with your Dog in the Winter

Leaving your dog at home isn’t a real option for most of us. You may tell others that your dog doesn’t do well away from you, but the truth is always that you don’t do well away from the pup. Regardless of the reasoning, hiking with your dog in the winter is an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. 

Winter hiking can be strenuous for seasoned hikers all around the world. Some are more accustomed to it, while others are better adjusted for tropical climates. The fact holds true when we start talking about your furry best friend as well. Certain dogs love the snow, while some won’t even leave the house and brave the cold. 

This quick guide serves to help first-time snow pups become lovers of the cold rather than learn to fear it. Soon enough, your dog will be crying to get outside when the flakes start falling. 

Paw protection

Before all else, your dog is going to feel the cold in its paws. Even with years of rough roads to toughen up their pads, the snow can be detrimental to a dog’s winter hiking experience. 

Many dogs that aren’t accustomed to winter will get snow trapped in between their toes, causing them to stop and try to remove it quite often. It’s a difficult thing to work with and is much better to prevent before having to pick snow out of their paws every ten minutes. 

One of the best ways to protect paws is to try on booties. A lot of different companies make booties, but they all fit differently. Remember that your dog’s front and back paws might be different sizes, so some booties only come in pairs.

There are other options for the dogs who rip the booties off immediately or have the kind of paws that booties fall straight off. In the North, the most popular solution amongst sled dogs is a salve called Musher’s Secret. Although it isn’t much of a secret anymore, it’s the perfect layer that protects snow from building up and damaging paws. 

Bundle them up

Malamutes and Huskies are well-equipped with a thick fur coats to keep them toasty all winter long. Even your Golden Retriever or Australian Shepherd might have enough hair to get them through more mild winters. If you’ve fallen for a short-haired pup, it might not be long before you see them shivering and trying to cozy up next to you. 

Many dogs love to be swaddled in a warm winter jacket that adds another layer of protection from the elements and helps trap the heat they produce while running around. In winter, hiking with your dog isn’t about making a big fashion statement, but it may require adding to your dog’s wardrobe.

Higher caloric intake

When people start asking, “is it safe to hike in winter?” they inevitably find an article that talks about eating. Food is the body’s main fuel source to produce heat, and the same goes for your dog. 

So, before you head out onto the trail, give your pup a few extra handfuls or scoops of their kibble. It can make a huge difference in helping to keep them warm and energized for a longer hike.

Even when your dog is fit and ready to go on long summer hikes, the winter is much more demanding when it comes to energy spent. Bring along a lot of high-fat treats (think “salmon jerky”) that will give a boost of energy to help your pup warm up. 

Train them properly

Another added danger on the trail in the winter is skiers and snowboarders. In the summer, your dog may avoid mountain bikers on the trail, but many dogs see skiers as a person to play a game with. Train them to stay away from skiers and other people moving quickly through the snow. 

Skis use a sharp metal edge on both sides to help dig into the ice. In the wrong circumstances, that metal edge can easily hurt any person or dog, especially at high speeds. 

It’s best to keep your dog on a leash, even if they are used to having free range. The transition to winter hiking with your dog can be a big one, and they need to learn the new environment before being left to roam freely. 

Have a backup

Bringing a dog along can sometimes be like bringing a small child. When they decide that they don’t want to hike anymore, you won’t be hiking anymore. So, you need to come prepared with a backup plan. 

One day your pup can be ready to take on any level of snow, and the next, they will be shivering at the sight of it. If you have another hike planned that might be drier or slightly warmer, head in that direction. Recognize that you need to be flexible and make smart decisions for your dogs because they won’t always do the same. 

Modify your first aid kit

One of the biggest parts of hiking safety is having first aid training and the supplies you’ll need. First off, a first aid kit is a must for any hiking, regardless of the season. When you add your dog into the mix, you “need to modify it to become a human and dog first aid kit. In the winter, hiking with a dog means learning proper hiking safety and first aid. 

A lot of doggy first aid is the same as human first aid. You’ll want to add extra gauze pads, athletic tape, cotton balls, gloves, and the rest of the normal gear. More dog-centered first aid would mean packing some of the following:

  • Hydrogen peroxide – Useful for inducing vomiting if they found anything they shouldn’t have gotten into.
  • Towel – Wet dogs are dangerous in the winter. They can freeze quickly, and it’s best to get them as dry as possible, fast. 
  • Soft muzzle – Any mouth injuries may be inflamed by eating snow, which they will likely try and do. This can also help reduce the licking of other wounds. 
  • Rubber booties – To protect any wounds that happen on their feet, have some rubber booties to cover them up. 

We all prefer not to even think about our dog getting injured, but the truth is that it’s possible. It’s best to come prepared and ready to treat anything as the vet is a bit more out of reach when you are in the mountains. 

Visibility

Visibility means two separate things here. First off, a whiteout snowstorm and blinding sunlight bouncing off the snow can be dangerous for your dog’s eyes. Second, short days mean longer nights, and you want to find your dog if they ever get loose in the dark. 

If you’ve hiked in the snow, you know how bright the white landscape around you makes everything. It can be difficult to see, which is why mountaineers wear those silly goggles with peripheral protection. 

Fortunately, you can get a pair of goggles for your dog for both function and fashion that makes them look ready to hit the ski slopes. Goggles will help to protect them from the dangerous UV rays that can quickly damage their eyes as well as the cold snow pelting through the air. They’ll look cool and be able to keep their vision.

Long, dark nights and winter go hand in hand. Maybe you don’t live somewhere like Alaska, where there’s barely any sun to be seen in winter, but the chance is still higher that you will get stuck out in the dark. 

Any time you go out with the potential of finding yourself in the dark, it’s best to have something like a light-up collar for your dog. This way, if they get loose, you can track them through the woods by the bobbing neon green light. It will simply help to ease your mind and know where they’re at throughout the entire hike. 

Winter Sports to Try in the New Year

With a brand new year and a ground blanketed with snow, there’s no better time to get outside and try out some new winter sports. Staying inside and making your way through the Netflix queue is an easy way to try and make the dark winter days pass, but you quickly feel the physical and mental effects. 

Getting outside in the winter is one of the best ways to stay in shape, and more importantly, stay mentally healthy. Downhill skiing and extreme winter sports can seem intimidating for anyone who isn’t accustomed to playing around in the snow.

The good news is that there are plenty of other great winter sports for beginners and experts alike to try for the first time this year. 

Start Slow

Winter Hiking and Walking

There’s no need to jump straight into bombing down the mountainside on a pair of skis or a snowboard. Simply getting outside to find a winter hike to try out is a great way to introduce yourself to a new winter snowscape. Get out on winter hikes with your friends and family, or even go solo in a well-maintained area to start. It’s great for all skill levels. 

A big part of starting new winter sports in the new year is learning to love the cold. You’ll often find yourself heating up as you start moving. Still, it’s an immense help if you can appreciate the ice-covered trees, frozen streams, and fluffy powder covering the ground—hiking and walking help get you in the right mindset for other winter sports. 

This is a great starter activity because all you need to do is learn how to dress for winter hiking, head to your closet, and straight out the door. There’s no complicated gear system or any technical skills you’ll need. Just stay in safe terrain on well-traveled trails, and you can start to challenge yourself from there. 

If you need a little extra traction as you hike, invest in traction aids like micro-spikes or yak tracks to give you more confidence on snow and ice-covered trails.

Snowshoeing

If you want to get deeper into the mountains, you may find that you start sinking in the snow. Flotation devices are common in the winter, and one of the most popular ways of staying above the snow is on a set of snowshoes.

Snowshoeing is an enjoyable choice with plenty of options of places to go. There are many winter activities in Colorado Springs, but with snowshoeing, you can explore the same trails you would in the summer but see them in a completely different light. 

Cross Country Skiing

Even if you have never been on skis before, you may find that you would love trying out cross country skiing. It can be a slow-paced sport, but it doesn’t have to be. This is one of the best winter sports for beginners because it keeps you warm and can be learned quickly. 

Once you start to feel more comfortable on classic skis, you can try out skate skiing. This is a much more active style of cross country skiing that will get you moving quickly and get a better aerobic workout than running in the summer. 

Photo by Tim Foster on Unsplash

Picking up the pace

Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding

Downhill skiing, or snowboarding, is a great winter activity that doesn’t need to be incredibly fast-paced. You can start slow, and Colorado Springs is a great place to start from. There are plenty of local areas where you can find lessons with affordable rentals. 

Fat Biking

Fat biking has become widely popular as biking technology has moved forward over the last few years. These bikes are designed with huge, fat tires that help to keep you afloat on top of deeper powder. 

You can travel on typical mountain bike trails in the winter with a fat bike, but you can also set out and explore other areas that you may not be able to access on a mountain bike in the summer. Fat bikes are also available to rent out from several different gear shops, so you don’t even have to invest in buying one. 

Ice Skating

Whether it’s on a frozen rink in the city or on a high alpine mountain lake, ice skating is a classic winter sport to try out. If you’re a beginner, it will take a good level of humility to be okay with falling and still getting back up, but once you get the hang of it, it can be quite fun.

Just be careful on mountain lakes if you are a beginner. It can be challenging to recognize safe areas with thick enough ice. Only go if you have someone experienced that knows how to determine the safety of the ice. 

Dog Sledding

Dog sledding isn’t something that many people have access to where they live. Still, it can be an incredibly fun activity to try out if you find the right people to go with. Many professional dog sledders will offer lessons or rides at a price. If you love your furry friend as much as your human child, you’ll understand why this is such a popular winter sport. 

Skijoring

Speaking of your furry friends, skijoring is another fun winter sport to do with dogs, but it isn’t for beginners. Skijoring is a combination of dog sledding and cross country skiing. If you like skiing but hate doing all the work of moving yourself forward, your dog can help pull you forward. You do need a harness for you and your dog to get started, but if you already know how to cross country ski, and your dog loves snow, this can be a great new activity to try. 

Skijoring requires an active and enthusiastic dog who loves running and working hard in the snow. If your chihuahua hates to go out in the cold to use the bathroom, you may want to stick to classic cross country skiing this winter. 

Photo by Jérémy Stenuit on Unsplash

Full Speed Ahead

If you’re looking at this list and feel that you need more, check out the sports listed below. We would categorize these as being closer to the “extreme” (and maybe just bizarre) end of things.

  • Kite skiing
  • Ice yachting
  • Snow kayaking
  • Ice diving
  • Snow machining
  • Ice ballet

There’s something for everyone out there, as humans have become highly creative with what they can do when our world becomes blanketed in snow.