“...At daybreak I am the sole owner of all the acres I can walk over. It is not only boundaries that disappear, but also the thought of being bounded.”
The Joys of Winter Hiking
By: Jayne Fought
When’s the last time you experienced the magic of the forest in the winter? For me it was last year. Right now, I’m full of anticipation and excitement about the amazing things the forest will show me this winter. As the days grow shorter and the thermometer starts to plunge, it’s common to feel the desire to hibernate. We get caught up preparing for family gatherings, shopping, attending holiday functions, we warm ourselves in the comfort of our homes, and we find fewer daylight hours to get outside. Resist!
Seriously, resist! Your mind, body, and spirit need you to get outside throughout the winter months. First, let’s talk about vitamin D. The human body produces vitamin D as a response to sun exposure. According to Medical News Today, “Vitamin D assists in promoting healthy bones and teeth, supporting immune, brain, and nervous system health, regulating insulin levels, supporting lung function and influencing the expression of genes involved in cancer development.” Medical professionals are finding that many people are deficient in vitamin D. It is possible to boost your levels by taking supplements, but simply getting a few minutes of sunshine each day is the most efficient way to raise your vitamin D levels.
Getting outside in the winter exercises your spirit of adventure in what can be a sedentary season. There might not be the beautiful “Wow!” of the spring ephemerals, but there are many subtle beauties, indeed. Once deciduous plants and trees lose their leaves, others, like conifers, enjoy their moment to shine and capture our attention. The Christmas ferns and club mosses demand to be noticed. Rhododendron, mountain laurel, and dog hobble provide a consistent green backdrop that lines the creeks and rivers. Native holly often stand on their own in silent watch. Even the white bark of the sycamore tree provides contrast to the landscape. The deciduous American beech tree holds onto its light brown leaves until the new leaves of spring push them aside.
Fan Club Moss and Ground Pine carpet the Winter forest in a stunning green color.
Studying the leaves of rhododendrons, known as “living thermometers” can tell us the temperature. At 32 degrees the leaves begin to droop on their stems. The leaves begin to curl like a cigar hanging from the stem when the temps reach the 20s and the leaves curl tightly looking like pencils as the temperatures fall into the teens.
This rhododendron “living thermometer” reads temps in the mid-20s.
Water and freezing temperatures combine to create an ever-changing series of icescapes on the creeks and waterfalls. Early morning ventures reward us with an amazing variety of icicles and ice formations. Some look like stalactites and stalagmites. Freezing fog can create rime ice or hoar frost. Both are quickly destroyed by the rising sun and warming temperatures. Needle ice commonly forms as moisture from the soil freezes as it comes in contact with the air.
Needle Ice on the Bracken Mountain Trail in Brevard, NC.
In the winter the forest opens up and provides longer-range views. The spaces feel larger and we can see nearby ridgelines, rock faces, and creeks that stayed hidden throughout the summer. These views can help us get a feel for the topography of the area and help us as we navigate. The trails become less crowded. The winter forest is peaceful, serene and quiet. That’s not only due to the beauty of winter, but the beauty of the off-season. Our forests are ours again.
Finally, a few notes on safety. Please check road conditions and/or closures before going out. Dress in appropriate layers and carry the 10 essentials. Use caution on any trail that is covered in snow or ice, and do not venture onto frozen bodies of water. Make yourself visible by wearing hunter orange during any hunting season. Stay on well-marked trails. Be aware of shortened daylight hours and quickly falling temperatures as daylight fades in the winter months.
Heart-shaped icecicles at Slick Rock Falls.
Swiss Army Knife of the Digital Age
What is technology’s place in the outdoors? Often we go out and immerse ourselves in nature in order to detach from modern society. We seek peace and serenity, enjoying the sound of the wind blowing through the leaves of trees and the birds chirping from their branches. When we encounter someone on the trail using a cell phone or playing music, we throw a few darting glances of disapproval and hope to create distance between ourselves and that insult to our ears as quickly as possible. So, is there a place for technology?
We’ve been using technology to improve our experience in the outdoors since the invention of astrolabe, sextant, and the compass, more than 2000 years ago. We would literally be lost without it. Our modern GPS systems, made available for civilian use in the 1980’s, uses 24 satellites and give a location with an accuracy of a few meters. This system became fully operational in 1995. Soon companies were marketing and selling stand-alone GPS devices that you could carry in your hand.
By 2009, New York Times author Jenna Wortham was calling the smartphone the, “Swiss Army Knife of the digital age.” I would imagine the old GPS devices are now piled in the back of your drawer or closet with things like your Blackberry and PalmPilot. The smartphone is no doubt an amazing piece of technology, so the question we have to answer is, “Will the smartphone enhance or detract from our outdoor experience?” That depends on the user.
The Leave No Trace organization is wrestling with the issue of technology in the outdoors. Two of their seven principles state, “Be considerate of other visitors” and “Respect wildlife.” These principles have been in place for 20 years, but do they go far enough to address the current technological advancements?
Neither bluetooth speakers nor drones are considerate of other visitors or wildlife. Wearing earbuds cuts you off from hearing things around you and can be a safety hazard. Many people have taken falls because they are looking at something through a screen, creating tunnel vision. A study published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care in 2018, found that more than 250 people have died while trying to take selfies between the years 2011-2017.
It’s obvious that technology can be detrimental if we lack the maturity and judgement to use it safely. But can it enhance our experience in the outdoors? I would argue that undoubtedly, it can. The smartphone, specifically, can offer many “services” for us while we’re on the trail, granted our battery is in good condition.
We can find our location without cell service using mapping apps like Avenza Maps, or Gaia GPS. Emergency calls can usually be made by moving to higher ground. We can find our bearing using a compass App, find the names of unfamiliar peaks using PeakLens. Our cellphones can serve as a flashlight, a camera, and we can identify the constellations with Sky Map. Highly recommended apps that help us find trails to hike or ride are AllTrails, Trailforks, MapMyHike, and Yonder.
In order to enjoy any of the benefits of your smartphone, your battery needs to have a charge. There are simple steps you can take to conserve your battery. If you are out of a cell service area, turn your phone on Airplane Mode so you phone stops searching for a cellular signal that may not exist. Enable Low-Power/Battery-Saver Mode, turn off Location Services, and avoid extreme temperatures.
I’m a true believer that a smartphone can serve as a supplement to traditional map and compass navigating skills, but not as a replacement. If you are going to spend time on the trails in our state parks and national forests learn to read a topographic map and how to use it in conjunction with a compass in order to navigate.
Smartphones and other modern tools can enhance our time in the outdoors. They can help us identify plants and birds without carrying ten pounds of guidebooks, and may just save our lives in the event of an emergency. If only we can remember to be considerate of others people’s experience and to respect wildlife.
If anything we do out there with our technology interferes with other people’s peace and serenity, or changes the natural behavior of wildlife, then we are either too close or being too loud. Maybe it’s time to turn that phone off and put it in your pack.
What is your favorite outdoor app? What are your thoughts and experiences on this topic?
