CARRY LESS AND BE BETTER PREPARED

GO LIGHT AND ENJOY A WINTER WEEKEND IN THE WOODS.

- Dana Benner

With any outdoor adventure, no matter what time of the year or where you are, you need to be prepared for changing weather conditions.

In Vermont’s Green Mountains, where I spend a great deal of time, a warm fall hike can turn into a wintry whiteout and freezing temperatures at the higher elevations. A day hike I was on in the mountains around Sedona, Arizona, had me facing a sudden storm, golf ball-sized hail, plunging temperatures and the risk of flash floods. Always know the terrain you’re in, what types of weather you could encounter, and be prepared for it.

Here, in New England—with some minor differences among the states, and depending on the species—hunting season usually starts sometime in September and runs until the end of December. In the woods, fields and hills of Vermont and New Hampshire, winter could hit anytime from October on. Consequently, whenever I venture out, I must be prepared for harsh weather.

I’ll explain how I prepare for those long weekends (when I can get them) in the woods during these colder times of the year. Because I don’t do winter camping unless I have to, the overall scenario for this article will be getting ready for a long winter hunt. Please keep in mind that my main area of operation is the forests, fields and mountains of the Northeast, so what you carry in your area might differ.

Less Is More