Winter Outdoor
Safety
Prepare for cold, snow and a slower day. Make thoughtful choices from the trailhead to the trip home.
A familiar place. A different trip.
Snow can change the route, hide hazards and make a short outing much more demanding. Match the plan to the conditions, your training and the whole group.
Adjust layers before you overheat, and add warmth when you stop.
Plan shorter distances, an early turnaround and a margin for delays.
Download maps and use your own navigation. Tracks can lead somewhere else.
Avalanche awareness is for everyone
Hikers, snowshoers, climbers, skiers and campers can all enter avalanche terrain. Gentle ground can still sit beneath a steep slope or in its runout—the area an avalanche can reach.
- Read the full local forecast. Check its date, avalanche problems, elevations and slope directions. A danger rating does not certify an individual slope as safe.
- Get training before entering avalanche terrain. Every group member needs a transceiver, shovel and probe, plus practiced companion-rescue skills. Gear does not prevent an avalanche.
- Choose terrain you can assess. If you cannot identify avalanche slopes and runouts, choose a managed recreation option outside avalanche terrain or go with a qualified guide.
Prepare for the way you travel
Hiking & snowshoeing
- Match equipment to terrain. Traction helps on suitable icy trails; snowshoes help in deep snow. Neither makes a steep, exposed slope safe.
- Watch for hidden openings. Avoid snow-covered creeks, thin lake ice and tree wells. Stay well back from cornices and unknown ridge edges.
- Keep the group together. Turn back before deteriorating visibility or deep snow exceeds your navigation skills or energy.
Backcountry skiing & riding
- Use a winter route plan. Discuss the ascent, descent, overhead hazards and a lower-risk alternative before starting.
- Practice with your partners. Check transceivers before the tour and rehearse rescue skills. Keep communication clear and watch one another.
- Respect boundaries. Terrain beyond an open resort boundary is backcountry. Do not assume avalanche control, patrol or immediate help.
Winter camping
- Build a complete sleep system. Use an insulated pad, sleeping bag and shelter appropriate for expected cold, wind and snow. Keep sleeping layers dry.
- Choose camp carefully. Stay out of avalanche paths and runouts, away from overhead hazards. Allow daylight for setup and water preparation.
- Cook outside. Never use a fuel-burning camp stove or heater inside a tent or enclosed vestibule; carbon monoxide can be deadly.
Climbing & mountaineering
- Winter adds technical demands. Steep snow, ice and mixed terrain require specific instruction and equipment. Trail traction is not a substitute.
- Assess the whole route. Include avalanche exposure on the approach, above the climb and during the descent. Watch for falling ice and rock.
- Prepare for cold transitions. Wear a climbing helmet, carry spare gloves and belay insulation, and leave time for a deliberate retreat.
A winter check before you leave
- Forecasts and accessCheck weather at route elevation, avalanche information, road restrictions and closures.
- Warmth and weather protectionPack insulating layers, a wind/waterproof shell, hat, spare gloves and dry socks.
- Navigation and lightingCarry offline maps, backup navigation, a headlamp and spare power. Protect batteries from cold.
- Fuel for your bodyBring extra food and accessible water; protect your drinking supply from freezing.
- An unexpected night outCarry emergency shelter, insulation, first aid and equipment you know how to use.
- A shared trip planTell a trusted contact your route, return time and overdue plan. Know your communication limits.
Notice the signs. Change the plan.
In the snow: recent avalanches, shooting cracks, collapsing “whumpf” sounds, wind loading or rapid warming call for more conservative terrain choices. A lack of obvious warning signs does not prove stability.
In your group: persistent shivering, fumbling, unusual exhaustion or confusion are reasons to act promptly. Get out of exposure and add dry insulation; call 9-1-1 for suspected hypothermia or another emergency. Do not push on to finish the objective.
Plan for help to take time
For a search and rescue emergency, call 9-1-1 . Share your location and situation, conserve phone power and follow dispatch instructions. Severe weather, darkness and avalanche danger can delay rescue.
Keep learning: NPS winter hiking · Avalanche rescue equipment · Snow and cold hazards