Cold Weather Advice From the Instagram Community

Well folks. It's cold out there.

At home or in the mountains — we're dealing with some frigid temperatures across all corners of the state. But if you are brave enough to venture out on trail for a hike, snowshoe or snow camp, there are a few ways to help make sure your time outside is as comfortable and cozy as possible.

So, we decided to poll our Instagram community: what are your tips for staying warm and comfortable when the temperatures drop?

Preparing a full pancake breakfast while enjoying a gorgeous sunrise at Chiwaukum Lake. Photo by Marieke Verweij.

What to Pack

• Little buddy propane heater. —@kirabritt_
• Down slippers, down mittens and foot warmers... a little extra comfort. —@tricksiecat
• Bring something to sit on. —@willamettejosh
• Lots of cozy layers! And tea. —@jennaoutside
• Lots of extra blankets, an inflatable insulating pad to get you higher off the ground. And an absolute must— look for freshly fallen non compacted snow. The air in between the flakes on the ground make it warmer. And remember to fluff your bad really good before you crawl into it. —@elliemae082688
• Bivy Sack. —@_easton_james
• Yes! Foot warmers are my all-time must have snow camping. —@jovanamarie
• Down booties save my tootsies when the temperature drops! —@ms.ruby.rox
• Whiskey! —@monochromonique
• Your sleeping bag won't live up to its rating if your sleeping pad doesn't have an R value of at least 5. Buy a good pad from a company that lists the R value of their pads, put a z-lite under it, be warm. —@br14nh
• A Mr Buddy. —@jennrice7
• Maybe obvious, but a 4 season tent is a game changer. Bring tea and a windproof outer layer (raincoat). Never sleep in the clothes (base layer) you hiked (sweat) in. —@becca_colette

We have some extra advice on winter layering and hydration, as well as a Backcountry Kitchen for delicious thermos recipes, hot chocolate hacks and more.

Photo by Britt Lê.

What to do

• Heat up water bottles and put them in your sleeping bag when you go to bed. It’ll keep your toes warm and increase the temp in your bag! Also, consider either getting a sleeping bag liner or placing a moon blanket (crinkly marathon blankets) between your tent and the snow. —@nels4061
• Make sure to pee at night, holding your pee lowers your internal temp. —@the_rose_stones
• Put a couple hand warmers in your sleeping bag. It will keep you real toasty at night. —@nwvalhalla
• Move during the day and eat fatty food before going to bed fuel your furnace. —@d81anderson
• Always have a good insulation on the ground and a good sleeping bag. Always change into dry clean undergarments before you climb in to sleep. —@billybobbezzle 
• Camp by some hot springs and bring whiskey! —@jon_amber_henry_liam

For more, check out our additional tips on how to stay dry and cozy and our gear reviews for rain jackets and gloves as well as rain skirts (and if your current rain gear isn't holding up — take a peak at our re-waterproofing guide).

When all else fails

• Convert your pickup into a sleeper and stay inside. —@_pnw_love_

Stay Safe Out there

Winter exploration can require some extra precaution compared to hiking in the summertime — but once you know prepare yourself, we think it'll be totally worth it. Hikers and snowshoers need to do plenty of advanced planning and take every precaution before hitting a trail in winter months. We encourage everyone to brush up on their winter safety skills and consider taking a winter skills course or guided snowshoe before you head out for the first time.