L to R: Thoreau Bridge and a slushy portion of the trail that was ice a few hours later
We're now fledgling PNWers (or Upper Lefters, as Keith would say) but having lived in the Northeast for years and having hiked in all sorts of conditions, we aren't easily deterred by "weather." You shouldn't necessarily be either, but you can certainly learn from our missteps so that you're better prepared and safer for the world of winter adventuring.
The trails of Litchfield County have long been among our favorite New England hiking areas. We've traversed them in all seasons, but our last trip to Hidden Valley at Steep Rock threw us for a loop. We thought we'd share our experience with you so you don't get caught in the same situation. Also, other than the perilous parts, it's a really fun outing, especially with kids.
Quartz Mine...complete with a giant piece of quartz that's larger than Bella!
Our destination was Quartz Mine, which was every bit as fun as we'd hoped. If you find yourself in the Northeast during temperate weather and you happen to like crystals, this is a great family hike. In addition to the quartz mine, where you'll find dozens of small quartz crystals scattered along the ground, there's also a beautiful suspension bridge stretching across the Shepaug River, inscribed with some lovely Thoreau quotes (see above). We didn't know about the Thoreau aspect of the hike until we stumbled upon it, so it was a wonderful surprise.
L to R: Hidden Valley Preserve Map, Quartz Mine Trailhead, Evie (on leash) on the frozen trail, my favorite boots on the trail, Evie's snowy paw prints, and some of the quartz we found
Without unplanned excursions or significant delays due to inclement weather, the hike we did is an easy stroll that's only a few miles. We followed the beginning of President's Trail, crossed the Thoreau bridge, continued onto Bee Brook Loop where it runs along the river, and then crossed back over the Shepaug to follow part of Van Sinderen Loop to Quartz Mine. We had originally planned to hike the full Bee Brook Loop before crossing back to the Quartz Mine side of the river, but about 1 mile in, the route grew so slippery from mud and pockets of ice that we decided to cut our route short.
L to R: The trail (!!) where it was a sheet of ice that dropped off into the river, Keith's MacGyver guardrail that kept us from dying, the icy river right before the sun set
So here it is, everything we learned from doing most of it wrong on our first ice expedition:
Four Tips to Keep you Alive on a Winter Hike:
In winter, checking the forecast isn't enough. Why? Because of how mercurial the weather is. The potential for melting snow to refreeze leaves you with, you guessed it, ice. Even if the forecast doesn't call for temperatures to drop significantly after a warm day, it can happen! Better to plan on it and be prepared than to be caught out on the trail unarmed for ice, as we were.
Know when sunset is and how long it will take to get back to base if you have to reverse your route or take an alternate route back. Whether due to trail hazards, a wrong turn, or time lingering at a summit, hikes sometimes take longer than anticipated. Assuming there's plenty of daylight left and you have supplies, that's not a problem. If the longer route pushes you past a sunset return, however, you may find yourself in trouble.
Layers are vital in wet weather. Especially multiple gloves and socks. On our way back, traversing ice filled with pockets of partly frozen water, there was a great deal of slipping and just as much grabbing on to icy, wet rock faces and tree limbs. This resulted in wet gloves which meant hands that were wet, red, and achy long before our car was in sight. My boots weren't waterproof and my socks ended up getting soaked too, which made me wildly uncomfortable and made it harder to walk since I couldn't feel my toes. We were lucky that we didn't get stuck outside any longer, or, God forbid, overnight. If we had, we would have been in real danger of frostbite.
Always have a survival pack, even for short treks. This should include extra water and protein bars, a first aid kit, flashlights, a tarp, rope or para cord, a compass, a dry change of clothes, if possible, and anything you might need if something goes sideways and your hike takes significantly longer than you'd anticipated. If there's a possibility of ice, it's also wise to pack microspikes or crampons in case you end up needing a lot more traction than your boots can handle on their own.
So there you have it, everything that kept us alive on our first ice hike, along with all the things we do differently now. Stay safe out there, and as always,
Happy journeying,
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