Mountain Guides Share the 9 Priceless Items You Should Never Hike Without in the Winter-From $10

"I probably would have bailed halfway through (and lost all those bragging rights) if I weren't properly prepared. I had already learned the hard way during training for my trip, soaked and whimpering on the side of the trail without any fuel in my pack, ready to throw my hiking boots over a cliff like I was Reese Witherspoon in Wild. Turns out, getting the hiking gear right can make or break a hike."

"The threat of climate change was as clear as the bluebird sky on the day that I crossed France's fastest-shrinking glacier, Mer de Glace. What was also painstakingly obvious-as I dragged myself up the trail-was the need for the right footwear continuing along the slope through the French and Italian Alps from Chamonix into Courmayeur, Italy. Maheva Loucq, my Backroads trip leader, explained that good grip and ankle support are essential on more challenging hikes like the one I was on."

I hiked 12,000 feet in the Alps and nearly abandoned the trek during training when I got soaked and ran out of fuel. Proper hiking gear can determine success or failure on difficult routes. Professional mountain guides recommend preparing gear for fall and winter treks across regions from the French Alps to Sicily's Madonie Mountains and Acadia National Park in Maine. Footwear requires good grip and appropriate ankle support; excessive ankle support can weaken ankles, while a higher boot shaft helps on steep, slippery terrain. The Danner Mountain 600 Evo boots provide comfortable, lightweight, waterproof protection for all-day wear. Danner's N45 low-height GTX suits hikers with stronger ankles or moderate trails. Trekking poles relieve joint pressure and improve stability on steep terrain.

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