The past month has been fraught with snowfall. The snow is so deep that our tents are almost buried to the top. 

Take a look at this picture, for instance: 

Bhojadhadi campsite on the Kedarkantha trek. Picture by Sanjay Mistry. 

This is not a mountaineering expedition. It is our easy-moderate Kedarkantha trek. While some snow will melt, we expect high snow conditions to remain until mid-April.

But the reality is this: This kind of beauty needs preparation before you step into it. 

I sat down with Ravi Ranjan, a senior member at Indiahikes, who has spent several winters in the wilderness of the Himalayas. He has some excellent tips for you to follow. Despite trekking for eight years, many of these were eye-openers for me. They are so simple to follow, yet so effective.

We’ll go from bottom to top, feet to head: the wetness-prone parts to the driest parts. 

“If only waterproof socks existed five years ago, a lot of frostbites and chilblains could have been avoided,” ruminates Ravi Ranjan, remembering the case of one of our trek leaders, who had to stop all physical activity for six months after getting a bad case of frostbite in the snow. 

We all know that trekking in the snow is fun. The not-so-fun part is when the snow gets into your shoes. In 3–4 hours of walking on snow, the water seeps in through the shoe's fabric to its inner layer, wetting your socks and, eventually, your feet. That’s when the misery starts. 

Even though modern trekking shoes are water-resistant, they do not prevent water from seeping in. Very soon, your feet get painfully cold and numb. Worse, thanks to your cold feet, your core body temperature drops even without your knowledge. When that happens, you shiver all night, cocooned in a warm sleeping bag. The next day, you are tired, unable to trek much, and your body does not cope. You wonder why. But this is the reality of trekking in snow.

This is where waterproof socks can change the way you trek in snow. They keep your feet dry. You can wear these socks and walk around in a tub of water. With these socks, you can step on wet snow without shoes (our staff do this to clear out snow at our camps). They will remain dry. Your feet won’t feel a thing.

Yet, these socks are breathable. In addition to keeping you warm, they have the same comfortable feel as standard socks and do not produce odour. 

We imported these socks last year, and trekkers have loved using them. If you’re trekking in snow, it’s a very good investment. It will last you for years. 

Put on these socks the day you touch the snow line. Keep them on until you leave the snowline. Wear these socks whenever you are in the snow.

The socks will keep your feet from getting damp, dramatically changing how you trek. Even if your shoes are soaked, your feet will stay dry (and remain warmer).

Effectively, these socks remove most chances of chilblains, frost nips, or frostbites. 

2. Carry at least one pair of sports socks for each day

If you cannot buy waterproof socks, because, I must admit, they are quite expensive, then this is a must-do: carrying many pairs of socks.

“At the end of the day’s trek, your socks will get wet despite gaiters, water-resistant shoes, and waterproof pants. So the first thing you do when you reach the campsite is change into a dry pair of socks. You must repeat this every time you get to camp on a snow trek,” stresses Ravi. 

Why is this so important? Cold weather and moisture are a nightmare combination. Your body loses heat much quicker when wet than when you are dry, accelerating the possibility of frostbite and hypothermia. 

That’s why you need to carry more socks for a snow trek than on a regular one. 

3. Carry newspaper to stuff into your shoes at night 

After a long day’s trek, shoes tend to have a good amount of moisture. This moisture usually freezes overnight inside the shoe, making it as hard as a rock in the morning. 

This is where it helps to carry newspapers, which you can stuff into your shoes at night. The newspapers absorb water, drying out your shoes as much as possible. 

While it doesn’t suck out all the moisture, it goes a long way towards keeping your shoes flexible in the mornings. 

4. Use only dry-fit layers while trekking

This goes in line with avoiding the cold and moisture-killer combination. Cotton layers tend to get wet with sweat and refuse to dry. A moisture-wicking fabric helps for both your top and bottom layers.

Use dry-fit layers or modern fabrics like merino wool, which wick moisture away when wet. 

Even then, once you reach the campsite, make it a point to change into dry clothes immediately. 

5. Use at least two layers for your lower half, even while trekking

Carrying five warm layers for the upper body is normal in Indian trekking. However, trekkers often need clarification about their bottom layers. Should I layer up? Is it required? Should I trek while wearing layers? 

In such deep snow, the answer is yes. You must carry at least two layers of pants and even wear them while trekking. 

But what kind of layers should these be? 

Use light, moisture-wicking fabric even for your lower. The top layer must be good trekking pants with some level of water resistance. The inner layer can be a pair of dry-fit tights. Avoid cotton at all costs in such snowy conditions. 

To trek wearing thermals or not to? “I once trekked wearing thermals, and it was a nightmare,” recalls Ravi, recollecting his younger days. “I got severely dehydrated and struggled throughout the day.” Thermals are heavy materials that get soaked with sweat. Avoid thermals while trekking at all costs. Keep them dry and save them for the night. 

6. Wear your rain pants while sliding in snow

One of the most fun parts of snow treks is sliding on snow during your descent. However, your pants are the first to get wet. Given that you always have your rainwear with you, it’s a good idea to pull out your rain pants quickly and put them on for your slide. 

We wouldn’t recommend wearing ponchos on your slide because you could completely lose control of it, but rain pants are a good idea. 

7. Two layers of gloves are a must: first, a fitting layer and then a waterproof synthetic layer

Given that the cold affects your extremities first, it is crucial to safeguard them at all costs. This is a good practice not just to avoid cold hands but also to avoid post-trek issues like numb and painful fingers. 

Here’s where trekkers make a mistake. They know they need waterproof gloves for warmth, so they take a good pair. And that’s it. 

Yet, your hands are doing things on treks: drinking water, taking pictures on your phone, retying your shoelace, having a snack... You cannot do any of these while wearing big, bulky, waterproof gloves. 

This is why you must always have a smaller, tighter pair of gloves inside. Even when you pull off your big gloves, you have the small ones protecting your extremities from the cold. 

A small pair of fleece gloves (which cost less than Rs 300) is enough for this. They’re not sufficient on their own, but they save your body heat when you take off your big gloves. 

8. Don’t forget sunglasses and sunscreen lotion

Trekkers tend to forget about the sun when it comes to snow treks. Yet, the sun is the most comforting and harshest experience in snow. Once the sun comes out, snow begins to reflect sunlight like a mirror, so it’s like having multiple suns shine at you. 

Here, two things are important: (a) protecting your eyes and (b) protecting your skin. 

Unknown to most, our eyes are prone to sunburns as much as our skin is. The sunburn of the eye is called photokeratitis (also called snow blindness). Too much UV exposure can damage the eye’s cornea and cause a burning, gritty sensation in the eyes and temporary blindness. 

To avoid this, carry sunglasses and wear them right from the time you see snow around you until you get out of the snow zone. 

If you have a good pair of sunglasses (whether Aviators, Wayfarers, or shielded sunglasses), they will all work. The best suited to trekking are well-fitting shielded sunglasses that leave less or no gaps in your vision. 

What should you do if you wear spectacles/contact lenses? We tackle that below. 

Use sunscreen rated SPF 40 or more. If you can’t find SPF 40, go for SPF 30, but not lower than that.

Apply sunscreen to all exposed body parts 30 minutes before setting out on the trek.

No matter what rating of SPF your cream has, reapply every 2 hours.

Apply abundantly. A good layer of sunscreen is essential for its effective action, so don’t be stingy with it.

Buy a ‘broad spectrum’ sunscreen. Broad-spectrum sunscreens block out both UVA and UVB rays. They usually have the phrase ‘broad spectrum’ printed on their labels. 

9. Layer up as soon as you reach the camp, BEFORE you start feeling cold 

By now, trekkers know to carry five warm layers for such snowy settings. It has become a well-defined practice. 

But still, trekkers make a big mistake. They tend to wait until sundown to start putting on their layers. But this defies logic. Layers work by trapping your body heat and using that heat to keep you warm.

So layer up as soon as you reach the campsite, from head to toe. 

10. Keep one flask and one regular bottle

Many trekkers carry a flask and keep the water at a good drinking temperature. 

But here’s the magic trick. Fill the insulated bottle with hot, scalding water and mix it with regular mountain water. This gives you more hot water to sip on throughout the day, ensuring you hydrate more. 

Additionally, carry dry fruits like dates and raisins, which release a bit of juice and hydrate you more than nuts like peanuts or cashews. 

There are several other good practices that our trek leaders and trekkers follow. You’ll find them in these articles: 

7 Expert Camping Tips for Winter Treks from Indiahikes Trek Leaders

15 Winter Trek Tips that Experienced Trekkers Swear By

This was an expert-curated article. These days, I find too many articles people write, taking things off the internet or asking AI to write articles for them. Even in well-known publications, the articles could be better-sourced. They do not come with real experience.

Which is why this article is golden. It has real-life experience from many years seeped into every sentence. 

Please share it with anyone likely to trek in the snow, even in the summer. It may be the best advice for them. 

How to Prepare for High Snow on Treks

prepare - snow treks - high snow - preparation for snow - layering - cold - temperature - gears

The weather in the mountains can change dramatically. It doesn’t take long for a nice sunny day to turn into a nightmarish thunderstorm. Lightning as a phenomenon is not a household topic, but it claims more lives a year than floods, landslides, and cyclones. Data from the Indian Meteorological Department shows over 49,000 fatalities in the past two decades. The stakes are higher, especially when you are out in the wild, where emergency evacuations might not always be possible. “Planning ahead and preventing being caught in a storm is the best way to be safe from it,” says Arjun Majumdar, founder of IndiaHikes. This guide will help you to do just that.

What is lightning? 

The definition of lightning has stayed the same since we studied it at school. It is a bright flash of electricity produced by thunderclouds. “You can recognise approaching thunderstorms by the dark colour of the clouds, but it is not impossible for a seemingly safe white cloud to discharge lightning too,” says Nithyam Nachappa, a senior Trek Leader at IndiaHikes. You can recognise these clouds from their large, multilayered, and thick size. It is an unpredictable phenomenon that we can do little about in the wild. 

What are the dangers of lightning and aftercare?

I do not wish to scare you in this section. Many a time, we are not serious about this phenomenon because we have not experienced it. Getting directly hit by lightning is not very common. Most lightning-related injuries come as a result of receiving the ground currents as it dissipates from the object that has been hit.

Rare direct strikes are often fatal, and there is not much you can do about it. However, in cases of being struck by ground current, temporary paralysis, rupture of eardrums, confusion, disorientation, amnesia, temporary deafness, or blindness are the possible symptoms. 

Lightning injuries can harm you physically as well as mentally. “The psychological trauma one has in the aftermath of a lightning strike can be far more serious than physical harm,” says Sharwari Brahme, Head of Green Trails at IndiaHikes. Sharwari was struck twice by lightning on her recent trek to Kuari Pass and is currently recovering from it.  She says it is similar to someone fearing deep water after one has experienced drowning. One can take the help of therapy from a sports psychologist to overcome the lingering fear.

How do you prevent getting hit by lightning?

Prevention is better than cure is an overused phrase, but this is one mantra that you have to remember while trekking in adverse conditions. Our trek leaders say getting hit by lightning is not common but it is only so because the team has prepared for any unforeseen scenarios. Here are some ways that you can do this if you are trekking solo or with a group of friends: 

Rules for lightning safety before going out on a trek: 

Plan ahead by checking the local weather forecasts and patterns. The IMD website regularly gives updates about upcoming thunderstorms and areas more prone to lightning strikes. 

If trekking solo or with a group of friends, have an emergency backup plan you can follow. Make sure everyone in the group knows what to do in emergencies. Having a radio on yourself is ideal to get sudden warnings from the base camp. 

What are the safety rules for lightning?

As mentioned above, the weather in the mountains can be unpredictable. More so because of climate change. If you are caught in a sudden thunderstorm or see dark clouds approaching, get ready!

The sound of thunder is a clear sign to seek shelter. It can be heard from 15 km away on calm days. Seek shelter immediately. 

Gauge which direction the clouds are coming from. Pay attention to the wind direction and cloud’s buildup. 

Know which structures are more prone to being hit by lightning and quickly get away from them on the first signs of thunder:

A big exposed rock: People often consider big rocks safe because they think the rock will take the brunt of the lightning strike. However, side splash and ground current are equally dangerous. Hence a big rock is a no-go. 

Water bodies: Water is a great conductor of electricity regardless of its volume. Deep waters are dangerous, but you need to move away from small puddles on the trail too, especially if it is raining.

Fences: Metal fences and long metal structures attract lightning.  

Huge trees: This is common knowledge for the shepherds. They never take shelter under the tallest tree. Because of its height, a tall tree is the first to get hit.

Mountain tops, vast meadows, ridges, ledges and summits are dangerous places to be in. Any place that makes your body the highest structure is always dangerous. 

It is more likely that lightning may occur if the weather is very humid or it is raining or snowing. 

In case of thunderstorms, do not huddle with fellow trekkers or your group. The minimum distance you should maintain is 15-20 feet away from each other.

You can roughly calculate how far a lightning storm is from you by counting the number of seconds between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder and then dividing it by 5. Knowing this gives you the time to prepare and run to cover. A 5-second delay means the lightning is 1.6 km away from you. 15 seconds delay means 4.8 km. Any delay of less than 30 seconds means the lightning is close enough to be dangerous. Quickly use this time to find shelter or prepare accordingly.

What to do when lightning strikes near you?

What should you do when lightning strikes near you?

First of all, you must try your best to not put yourself in a situation where you have to practise the drills given below. But in the unprecedented event that you have no choice left, please remember these points:

Run! Run to the nearest forest canopy that you can see. Uniform trees on low grounds are one of the safest places to be in the absence of solid structures. 

Do not take shelter under a tall or a standalone tree. There is a high chance of ground current dissipating from the tree if it gets hit. 

Remember to switch off your electronic devices and put them in your bag. You must be ready to throw them on the ground if lightning strikes near you. 

Try to take shelter in a deep cave. It is not a good idea to be in a small cave or an overhang. 

Remember that the human body is a good conductor of electricity too. 

If your backpack has metal frames, external or internal, put them on the ground. The same goes for trekking poles and anything metallic. This matters if you are at an exposed section like a summit, ridge or meadow. 

If in a group, maintain a 20-foot distance from each other at the least and sit in a circle in a lightning position. After every round of lightning strikes, remember to call each member and check if anyone is hit by it.

Remember to maintain the lightning position for at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder. Lightning can strike you even after the storm has seemed to pass.  

Lightning position:

If you cannot get into safer terrain or a structure in time, you have to get into lightning position. The goal is to create the shortest connection that you can with the ground. Put your bag on the ground and squat on top of it. Raise your heels and make yourself as small as possible. Make sure that you place your heels in contact with each other. This is the best course of action that you can take. 

5 lightning Myths Busted 

Myth 1: It is unsafe to touch a lightning victim
Fact: The human body cannot store electricity. It is safe to touch a victim and provide them first-aid. 

Myth 2: Lightning never strikes the same place twice
Fact: Lightning is often observed to strike the same place twice. Especially the structures mentioned in this article, which are more prone to strikes. 

Myth 3: Lying flat on the ground protects you from being struck 
Fact: Lightning position is the only way to go. Lying flat attracts ground current. 

Myth 4: You are safe from lightning if it is not raining and clouds aren’t directly above
Fact: Rain makes lightning strikes more common, but remember that the moisture in the air can act as a medium too. Also, there are cases of dry lightning claiming lives from miles away. 

Myth 5: Lightning cannot hit you if you are in a lightning position

Fact: Lightning position does not guarantee complete safety from lightning. It is the last resort that you have. Before that, try seeking shelter in a structure or in a forest canopy. 

Conclusion

In emergencies like this, your decision-making skills will be tested to their limits. A good amount of planning and precaution, along with your knowledge, experience, and training, are what you will rely on. But do not let your fear of lightning strike stop you from going out. Just make sure you have this knowledge before embarking on an adventure in the outdoors. 

Tips to be safe from lightning, How can we protect ourselves from lightning, safety tips on lightning, dangers of lightning, dangerous objects during lightning storms, 5 (five) myths busted on lightning

Lightning safety practices: How to be safe from lightning strikes? - Everything you need to know about lightning strikes

Lightning safety tips, Lightning strike prevention, How to be safe from lightning? How to predict lightning? 

Lightning safety practices: How to be safe from lightning strikes? 

Winters in the Himalayas are brutal. Yet, it's a magical time to be on a trek.

In this season, the key to enjoying a trek is to prepare well for it. This is important because tiny slip-ups like not layering up on time, not carrying a thermos, can make you suffer. 

"I've suffered on a winter trek for little things. Like forgetting my liner gloves, or my lip balm, or -- and this is a big one -- my sunglasses!" shares Lakshmi Selvakumaran, Head of Experience at Indiahikes. 

Unfortunately, little things slip our minds easily. With our winter treks around the corner, I’m making a comprehensive guide for you on how to prepare for a Himalayan winter trek. These are the topics I’m going to cover: 

How difficult is trekking in winter going to be

How Difficult Is Trekking In Winter Going To Be

Let’s address the biggest worry first. 

How difficult is it to trek in winter in the Himalayas? “Is it too difficult for beginners?” is something we get asked almost everyday.  

The simple answer is no, it is not too difficult for beginners. But it is more difficult than non-winter seasons. 

Trekking becomes at least one grade more difficult in winter because of two added difficulties — (1) The negative temperatures (2) The presence of snow. 

The good news is that it is easy to tackle these two problems, even for beginners.

You'll find some of the great winter treks listed in this video.

The mantra is to carry enough layers. With layers, whether you’re from a sweltering Chennai or a humid Mumbai, you’ll be able to tackle a Himalayan winter. 

Here’s the trick. Carry five warm layers — a pair of thermals for the night, two sweaters, one fleece jacket and one padded jacket. Along with these you need warm accessories — a woollen cap, gloves, woollen socks (for the night) and a neck warmer.

With these, you can deal with the coldest night with no worries. (I’m going to address all of these layers in detail further down)

The infographic depicts how to layer up for a Himalayan winter trek.

At this point, it is also important to know 'when' is the right time to layer up. 

"Many trekkers make this rookie mistake of not layering up immediately after completing their day's trek," points Suhas Saya, Head of DIY Treks at Indiahikes. After the trek your body is warmed up. You are not feeling cold. But that's precisely when you need to start putting on your layers. 

"On a trek your body is exerting, it's generating heat so you don't need the layers. But after the trek, your body starts cooling down. It starts losing heat. To prevent this, you need to layer up, get into something dry quickly after you finish your day's trek. This helps in retaining your core body heat," shares Suhas. 

In most other seasons, when you trek, you walk on bare land, footstep after footstep with no worries. 

In winter though, once you reach a certain altitude (usually above 9,000 ft), there’s no more bare land. All your footsteps are in snow. 

This becomes challenging when the snow is above ankle-deep. Your foot sinks in and it takes effort to pick it up and put your next step forward. There are a few ways to tackle this presence of snow.

The layer of snow is thin during December. But as winter progresses -- in January, February and initial March -- the layer of snow thickens. During these months, it helps to keep the following things in mind. 

1. Start your trek before the sun rises. This is an age-old trick that all mountaineers and trekkers follow. Any walking in snow should be done as early in the day as possible, much before the sun rises. This is because during the night, in the negative temperatures, snow becomes hard and packed. It’s easy to walk on hard, packed snow. Your feet don’t sink.

Note: You do need equipment like microspikes attached to your shoes that help you grip the hard snow. On your Indiahikes trek, this equipment will be issued at the camp.

But as the sun comes out, the snow begins to soften and melt. This is when your foot sinks into the snow.

So ideally, start your summit climb (where the snow is highest) by 5 am. Aim at wrapping up your day before noon.

2. Walk on a trail left behind by previous trekkers: One of the biggest dangers of walking on snow is not knowing how deep the snow is. It’s what makes more trekkers unstable and afraid of walking in snow.

But here’s a tip. Almost always, when you’re trekking in winter, there will be a discernible path ahead of you. This is where trekkers have previously walked on the trail and made a path. It’s easiest to walk on this trail.

Even when you’re trekking in a file, it’s best to step into the footsteps of the previous trekker. Every footstep creates a small niche in the snow, which you can step into knowing the depth and gradient of the slope. This ensures you never lose balance or stability while walking in snow.

Always put your foot in the previous trekker’s footstep. This way, you walk on an already laid-out path, without losing balance or stability. Picture by Vishwas Krishnamurthy

3. Use microspikes and gaiters. If you’re trekking with Indiahikes, we will be providing you with microspikes and gaiters to attach to your shoes. You will get these just before you step into snow. Microspikes give you Spiderman-like grip on snow. Gaiters cover up the opening of your shoes, not allowing snow to enter your shoes. This keeps your feet dry and comfortable.

4. Work extra hard on your fitness. It’s no secret that trekking in snow is going to be more tiring than trekking without snow. Which is why you cannot underestimate your fitness preparation. We’ll address this further down.

On any of Himalayan winter treks, be it Kedarkantha, Brahmatal, Deoriatal – Chandrashila, Dayara Bugyal, the temperatures drop to negative numbers.

They can drop as low as -10 °C after sundown. Just after a rain / snowfall, it’s coldest (although, interestingly, it isn’t as cold during a snowfall). 

But on average, on a winter trek expect daytime temperatures to be roughly between 8 °C and 15 °C. This means during the day, you can usually trek wearing just one, or a maximum of two layers. 

The nighttime temperatures are likely to be between 3°C to -5°C. Any time after sundown, you need all your layers on. That is at least five warm layers.

What gear you need to keep yourself warm

Here is a list of all the gear you need on a winter trek. As a thumb rule, wear a minimum of 5 layers on winter treks. What we’ve mentioned below are the layers we recommend. You could mix and match; you could also carry another extra layer if you’re more prone to feeling cold.

Apart from these prominent gears, it's wise to carry two kinds of gloves -- One water-proof glove and one thick fleece-liner glove. "Trekkers usually make the big mistake of carrying just either of these. But both serve different purposes and save you from cold at different times of the trek," says Akshay Upreti who leads the Rental Division at Indiahikes. 

"You'll need the water-proof glove during the trek, when you are on the trail, where you may encounter snow but also need your hand to be protected against the biting cold. On the other hand, you'll need the fleece-liner glove in the later half of the day, when you are at the campsite. At the campsite, when the sun is setting, the synthetic water-proof glove won't be able to protect you from the cold. That's when fleece liner gloves come to your rescue," Akshay shares. 

Similarly don't forget your warm, thick woollen socks. "They are not an absolute necessity, but they make you feel really comfortable at night on a cold winter trek," Lakshmi offers. 

In the video above, you'll find strong directions on how to go about shopping for winter layers.

How to get fit for a winter trek

One thing to keep in mind is that trekking in winter is one grade tougher than trekking in non-winter. 

For example, a Kedarkantha trek, which is “easy-moderate” in all other seasons, becomes “moderate” in winter. 

You must start your preparation at least 1.5 – 2 months before your trek. You must start your preparation at least 1.5 – 2 months before your trek. You must start your preparation at least 1.5 – 2 months before your trek. Target running a distance of 5 km within 40 minutes. 

Having spoken to many trekkers about this, I notice they are worried about achieving this level of fitness. The worry is usually among beginners, or elderly trekkers or even those trekking with children. 

So I’m going to give you a very simple fitness routine that works. 

Start by running just 1 or 2 km everyday. Concentrate purely on the distance, trying to increase it bit by bit every day. Do this until you hit the 5 km mark. 

Once you are able to run 5 km, start paying attention to the timing. Try to reduce it just by a few seconds every day until you can bring it down to 40 minutes. 

This kind of preparation takes time, which is why you must plan your trek at least 2 months in advance. 

A question you must not ask: What will Indiahikes do if I cannot meet this target? 

Frankly speaking, it doesn’t matter what Indiahikes says about your fitness. It matters how YOU fare on the trek. This is the level of fitness the trek demands. If you’re not able to meet this mark, you’ll struggle through your trek. That will suck out all the fun of a winter trek in snow. 

There are a few other reasons why winter treks demand more fitness compared to other seasons. The section below will show you. 

Some hard realities of trekking in winter 

There are two hard realities of trekking in winter that take trekkers by surprise. But these are realities you need to be prepared for and take in your stride.

Be ready for changes in routes / campsites:

Many a time, we have to change routes and campsites on winter treks. There are quite a few reasons for this — sudden snowfall may make a campsite inaccessible, forcing us to move to another campsite; water sources may freeze up at certain campsites; some sections of trails may get buried under chest-deep snow; Under such circumstances, it is normal to change routes and campsites, moving to a more compatible route.

Possibility of bad weather is part of the sport:

Although bad weather occurs just once or twice a month, it is highly unpredictable. In case of heavy snowfall or rainfall, your Trek Leader may take the decision to stay put at a certain camp as a safety protocol. In such cases, you may skip a certain camp, or cover the extra distance the next day. These are tweaks in your itinerary that you must be prepared for.

Biggest misconceptions about trekking in winter

Given that we have been running winter treks for over ten years, we have heard so many myths that we can fill a book! 

Some of these myths will take you by surprise. Some others, you may empathise with, and some could be dangerous if they are truly believed. If you believe in any of these myths, it’s time to bust them. 

9 Bonus tips about trekking gear in winter

You’ll need a good pair of trekking shoes with ankle support and good grip. Our recommendation is to rent a good pair of trekking shoes from the Indiahikes Rental store. If you wish to buy a trekking shoe, then a regular trekking shoe like the MH100 will do. Note: Sports shoes will not work on a winter trek. They neither offer the ankle support nor the grip.

2. What about sunglasses if you wear Spectacles?

You can get oversized sunglasses that you wear over your regular glasses (available at Decathlon). If that is cumbersome, photochromic lenses work equally well. Here’s a quick guide on managing sunglasses with spectacles.

Read more about using sunglasses with spectacles

If you use contact lenses, you can use them on the trek too. The lens solution will not freeze. You will also not face any problems in changing your lens in your tent. Just carry enough cleaning solution with you to clean your fingers well. Wear your sunglasses over your contact lens.

Read more about contact lenses vs spectacles

As Indians, we love cotton. Down in the plains when the heat is a blistering 40°C it makes sense to wear cotton. But it takes a long time to dry when it gets wet. In the mountains, where it is cold, wear synthetic clothes. They wick sweat rapidly when you’re trekking and keep you dry. (But they do tend to smell sometimes, so carry a roll-on deodorant with you.)

5. Down Jacket or Polyfill Padded Jacket?

We would recommend going for a polyfill padded jacket. It’s more durable, it’s less trouble maintaining it, and it usually comes with a water-resistant layer with a hood. Down jackets rarely come with hoods, and are high-maintenance jackets. Watch this video for more input on these two layers.

Go for pants with zippered pockets. They come in handy to keep your phone, handkerchief or pocket snacks, making sure none of these slip out of your pockets while climbing.

Get the ultimate guide on how to choose the right trekking pants

Stretchable track pants make a good backup and can double up as your thermal bottoms. But track pants are not trek pants — so don’t use them as your main outerwear. Keep them only as a backup.

Here, again, avoid cotton pants in winter. You’re going to be trekking in snow and perhaps sliding in snow. If your pants get wet, they need to dry quickly. So synthetic materials work best.

9. Additional Useful Accessories in Winter

Preparation plays a crucial role on a winter trek. Even a small slip-up and lead to an extremely uncomfortable experience in the extreme temperatures. This blogs lists all details that are required to help you prepare well for a winter trek

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