by Deb Blick, Trail Resource Coordinator

Whatever happened to autumn?  Seems like this year we went directly from the doldrums of summer to the dead of winter.  Like many of the rest of you I had to dig out my cold weather hiking clothes on only a day’s notice. 

First, those of you new to Florida or coming for a visit should understand that IT DOES GET COLD in Florida.  It usually doesn’t last very long, but fronts can push in quickly and I’ve seen the temperature fall from 80 degrees at noon to 20 degrees over night.  These cold fronts are also usually preceded by rain and a drenched hiker is particularly susceptible to the cold.  Hikers need be prepared for wild temperature fluctuations and rain during the Florida winters.

So what should a properly prepared hiker (or trail maintainer for that matter) wear during a Florida winter?  The secret is in a layered system of clothing.

Clothing for Cold Weather

Start with a base layer of long john bottoms or tights and a wicking long or short sleeved shirt.  This base layer should be either synthetic or wool.  Wicking synthetic fabrics will not absorb moisture, passing it to outer layers, and wool will provide warmth even when wet.  Warm socks are important as well and again you have a choice of synthetic, wool, or wool-synthetic blends.

Your second layer will consist of shorts or long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.  Again, cotton clothing is not a good idea since when cotton gets wet (from rain, wet vegetation or sweat) it will retain that moisture until you get home to a clothes dryer.  A lot of people like nylon zip-off pants which can convert from long pants to shorts and back easily. And sun-protection long-sleeved shirts are also quite popular, because even during the winter the sun can give you a nasty burn. 

If you are camping overnight or the temps are really cold on your day hike you can add an insulation layer.  Fleece vests, jackets, shirts and pants are probably the most often used and are warm without adding a lot of weight.  They’re just about perfect for sitting around the campsite on a cool evening or for the start of a cold day hike.

The final layer is your waterproof rain suit or a good hiking poncho.  Your rain gear can serve not only to keep you and your clothing dry in a storm but it acts as a wind break and will help retain your body heat.  If you’re absolutely certain than no rain is in the forecast you can substitute a light windbreaker jacket.

In addition to the above core body clothing you should add gloves and a warm hat that not only covers your head but can be pulled down to cover your ears and neck.  Fleece is a good material for all these items.  For overnights, carry one extra pair of clothing – like long johns and warm socks for sleeping – and take particular care to keep them dry. 

It’s also important to remove layers of clothing BEFORE you get overheated and start sweating inside your clothing.  Moisture – whether from outside or inside – is the enemy of cold weather hiking.  By mixing and matching the above layers of clothing and adding/removing them as you hike you should be able to regulate your body temperature in such a way that you can handle anything a Florida winter has to throw at you.

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration can be a real problem in colder weather.  When you’re hot and sweaty in the summer you know to carry lots of water and to drink often.  During cold weather you may almost have to force yourself to drink, but drink you must.  I highly recommend a hydration system (water bladder with a hose attachment) since you can easily sip at water all day long instead of having to stop to pull out a water bottle.  But if you are a bottle devotee, then make sure you can easily pull your water bottle out of your pack and put it back without asking someone else to do it for you. You’ll drink lot more if you aren’t constantly relying on someone else’s help.  Electrolyte drinks can be advantageous during the cold weather as well as the hot days of summer.