With the arrival of fall means amazing colors in the mountains and fewer people on the trails. This is the perfect time to hit the trails before the snow arrives. During the fall, temperatures are usually brisk in the morning, warm in the afternoon, and cool in the evenings. You’ll want to pay special attention to what you wear when you are outside to stay warm, dry and safe this season.
1. With the wide range of temperatures this time of year, it is best to dress in layers. On top, a thin polypropylene or silk shirt works well as your base layer as it wicks away moisture and holds in warmth (but not too much). On the bottom, consider synthetic leggings or underwear depending on your day’s activity and current temperatures.
2. For your second layer, a mid-weight fleece or jacket works well on top. Your bottoms can be your regular synthetic hiking pants or even shorts depending on where you are.
3. Outer layers in the fall are important as the weather begins to get more unpredictable. Make sure to take with you a waterproof jacket and bottoms in case of rain.
4. A warm hat, gloves, and spare pair of socks are good to have, even if you end up leaving them in your backpack.
5. Vests and lightweight windbreakers are perfect to stash in your backpack in case the day is cool enough to need layers, but you don’t need a full warm layer.
6. Should you find yourself hiking in the rain, stop immediately and change into your rain gear. While you may be thinking it is just drizzle or sprinkles, if after a few hours you are now cool (and soaked), you’ll have a much harder time staying warm.
7. If your feet get wet from rain or a stream crossing, consider swapping out your socks for your dry pair. If your feet get cold, your body is working harder to keep them warm. Plus, there is less of a chance of your feet or ankles cramping from the cold in dry socks.
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