Get more out of your conditioning hikes - Clothing

You can get a lot more out of your next “conditioner” (typically more than 8 miles and 3,000 feet elevation gain) than just aerobic exercise.  Consider working on your navigation skills, clothing systems, and food/water systems in addition to getting a workout.

Clothing

• Make a point of going out on training hikes on some of the wettest days. If it’s really storming, stay even closer to home.  Use these soggy trips as a way to test your clothing systems.  Try different combinations of clothes, top and bottom.
• Remember - it’s often okay to be a little damp next to your skin, provided you are moving and are staying warm. You may find that you sweat too much in that 3 layer Gore-Tex jacket, shortie gaiters work just fine even in knee deep snow, or that a base layer and light windshell are all you need when hiking fast.
• On a hike close to shelter on a stormy day, try starting out with less clothes than you think you need.  You may be happily surprised at how little you need to stay warm.
• If you thoroughly test your layering system a 3 hour rainy Gorge hike in January, you’ll have more confidence that it’ll work well when you are on a more committing climb later on in the year.