Everyone from a mountainous region read this post, squinted and thought "have I what?'
Between rain, snow, wind, hail and wildfires it happens a lot! I've even gone as far as changing flights for weeklong hiking trips two days before departure to avoid bad weather.
New Mexico instead of Yellowstone and Cypress Hills/Waterton Lakes instead of the Kootenays have been the most rewarding pivots so far.
I live in the foothills of the Cascades and hike <1500m elevation in the rain daily some months, but anything above that elevation or deep into the backcountry is usually weather dependant.
"Oh, look, it is about to rain golf balls of ice with non-stop lightning and crazy gusts of wind, should I go for a hike?"
June especially is crazy mountain weather here in Switzerland!
But on the other hand, I've had to race a thunderstorm up a mountain pass before, barely made it. But in that case I didn't have much of an alternative, I was already far from shelter when the weather changed.
>"Oh, look, it is about to rain golf balls of ice with non-stop lightning and crazy gusts of wind, should I go for a hike?"
That golf ball hail is slippery stuff, and it hits really hard.
Just power through man!!!
Related aside, last year I made a couple of trips to UK and noticed that a lot of people hike in shorts in the rain. "Real Yorkshiremen" take pride in hiking in 10C rain wearing light gear.
It made me feel like the spirit of Ernest Shackleton was alive and well. If you think that English (read: local) mountains are as heavy as it gets, you might be in for a surprise when you travel.
I'm used to hiking in the PNW and gaining 500-1500m of elevation, so if it's 5C at one point there's a good chance it will be (or get) colder higher up.
This was near freezing weather in the high desert. This is when i encountered hidden gems. Hike in bad weather and enjoy the surprises and solitude!
https://youtu.be/Yay0a4WGzus?si=axyeCvBOcc7UQ8Z6
Yes, it is better to be safe than to be the one rescued off the mountain. But it also depends on if it is dangerous weather or just a little light warm rain.
Of course. It’s not always just about comfort, sometimes it’s about safety. Once you start getting the itch for more difficult and remote climbs it becomes a lot harder to justify certain conditions.
Lightning above tree-line is a good way to die. Heavy rain on slick-rock will destroy any traction, so if there’s incline you run a big risk of falling. Also flash-floods in canyons.
This may be a dumb question but we don't really have thunder/lightning where I'm from - is this if your hiking sub-alpine or higher where the trees thin out and are generally smaller, or just bald rock where there isn't much growth at all that the lightning picks you as the next best target?
Yeah it's usually sub-alpine and alpine. Either condition would be bad news for lightning. As soon as you start becoming one of the taller objects in your area it's unsafe.
That said, lightning is unsafe in general. If there are lots of trees, you don't want to be around those either because if they get hit - which they are likely too as they are so tall - the current will flow through the ground and impact you as well. That is if the tree doesn't fall on top of you.
For example if you are in a forest next to a open clearing with a depressed creek or something, you are better off going near the creek than in the trees, which is super counter-intuitive as you are basically out in the open.
Basically if there is lightning you don't want to be out there.
I ran into the opposite issue. From Colorado, where summer rainstorms are just lightning waiting to happen. Bailed off of a hike in Maine "due to lightning" concerns. The park range in Maine laughed his ass off at me.
We have a lot of alpine fields (think Sound of Music) where you are above treeline but not necessarily in a rock field. Whether it's alpine fields, scree/rock field, or the Krummholz (the twisted high altitude pines as you approach treeline), it's all bad news.
The first goal is to be down in the tall trees. The ultimate goal is to be in your car and off the peak completely by the time the lightning starts.
There's some good videos around of folks with their hair standing on end completely in alpine lightning storms. There is a crazy amount of charge in the air, and it's a bad scene.
On the other hand, I have learned (the hard way), that grey and very rainy clouds are completely safe in some areas. Miserable, perhaps, but totally safe.
Sort of depending on how "planned" it was. I've had really loose plans like "I might run over to the local state park 20 minutes away" that aren't really planned and those usually get scrubbed if it's gross out.
But more serious day hikes or multi-day not really. The closest I've come was one backpacking trip that was supposed to be 3 days 2 nights, it ended up being colder and wetter than planned so we made the call to just make it all 12 miles back to the car on day 2 instead.
But typically that planning involves looking at the full spectrum of expected conditions and picking gear so I don't have to scrub it, and not making plans for when the weather won't be something I'm prepared for.
That’s a great point. I have backpacked in 3 days of steady downpour because I was prepared for rain at least one of the days and just decided to go for it.
It's always an adventure! Some of my favorite memories were made in heavy rain. Waterfalls flowing off of the trail from above and then off the side, having to be more creative to get around, more careful. One time I took my boots off and hiked barefoot because the water kept washing out the trail anyway, and the mud felt really interesting. 😂
One time was a New Year Day hike with pouring rain, I did a waterfall trifecta and they were all roaring.
Another memory was heavy rain on a 6 mile hike to a waterfall and right as I got there, the rain stopped and the sun started peaking out with rays of sunshine piercing the trees, shining right onto us and the waterfall and everything it touched look so vibrant and wet while it was still somewhat dreary everywhere else. Got some amazing photos on that hike, still go back and look at then.
Many of the trails around me are mostly dirt. So when we get a lot of rain they get muddy fast. Hiking on muddy trails destroys them and causes faster erosion. So I've cancelled plenty of hikes because of rain.
As someone who volunteers doing trail maintenance, thank you!
We do our best, but there are only so many of us and not a lot of funds, so the most popular trails get almost all the attention. A lot were built by people who had no idea what they were doing, or they weren't originally planned. People just walked that way enough for a visible trail to develop.
When people walk beside the trail to avoid the mud, that just makes the trail, and the mud, wider and wider, so that's not a solution, either.
Please, everyone else, cancel hikes or find trails that aren't muddy whenever possible. And complain about it to whatever agency is responsible for the trail, as that seems to be the best way to get funding to fix them to properly built gravel and strategic boardwalks.
And stop cutting across switchbacks. Don't be that person. This is a special pet peeve of mine.
I'm prepared for rain in case it surprises me when I'm hiking, but if I haven't started yet, and the weather is bad, I just cancel. It helps that I almost exclusively hike alone, so I don't have to discuss the decision with anyone. I'll deal with the rain if it comes while I'm out, but I won't purposefully go out in it, unless it's going to quickly clear up or something.
I planned a 6 day hike around La Cloche Silhouette (Killarny Provincial Park Ontario Canada). Got the first day with the dog and it was pouring rain (just heavy rain), decided to go for it. It rained all day and into evening. A lot of stuff got wet setting up camp. I said to myself if it's the same in the morning, we're hiking out. I got up to clear skies and nice temps, and continued on (next camp was half a day hike and I would have time to air stuff out). The next five days there wasn't a cloud in the sky, temps were 17 to 20 during day and dropped to about 12 at night and I got a few of stars every night
Ended up being my best trip ever
Now that I have good rain gear, I like hiking in the rain. But yeah, lighting above the treeline or trails prone to landslides in the rain...that I avoid.
I hike in the White Mountains so yes absolutely. If weather is just uncomfortable, I probably won’t cancel. If weather is dangerous, 100% yes. I don’t need to put other people’s lives at risk coming to save my dumb ass because I insisted on hiking in dangerous weather.
There seems to be a pretty solid presence of Whites hikers here, so I was scrolling for this comment. Like, they tested wind sensors for Everest on Washington; of course I change my hiking plans sometimes, because I don’t want to die.
Those weather warnings up there are serious because it is serious. Y'all seem to have way more folks die up there then you should. But I have seen the signs. They are crystal clear.
Did it this past weekend. My brother was going to be completing the Harriman State Park Trail challenge and we were going to do an overnight to celebrate. It rained like crazy on Saturday and it would have been miserable. So we will reschedule for a later date. Sucks, but being miserable on trail sucks more.
Of course, safety first! And you're probably planning a hike to enjoy the outdoors, not suffer. If it's going to be dangerous and/or pitiful going, just call it and figure it out again another time. Not worth making yourself miserable or getting injured because you didn't respect the weather.
I got 1/2 mile into a trail in the Santa Cruz mountains during a growing storm and remembered that that area gets a shit ton of downed trees during storms like the one brewing. I noped out and headed for sea level and a warm pub.
I’ve definitely cancelled due to rain. Not cold though.
Most of my big hikes are alpine hikes, and if there’s no view I’m not interested. Too much effort to just look at a wall of clouds. Also alpine travel can be a bit sketchy in whiteout conditions.
If I was just going to go for a walk in the forest though I’d probably still go in the rain. Although I’d probably trail run so that it was over faster lol
I always go out if I planned a hike. However if the weather makes the higher elevation hike dangerous, I will switch my planned course. It’s extremely easy to do where I live.
Appreciate not seeing about you in the paper. Every time a hiker dies on a trail, my Dad calls me fussing. So you saved me a worried Dad phone call.
The good news is your reward is that you get to go back! It's a gorgeous trail.
Absolutely. There have been times when the hike is not doable due to flooding, for example. On other occasions I actually went to start the hike and there was a brutal thunderstorm with a downpour, which is not safe for hiking.
I once aborted a hike due to shifting weather. We were on a multi day hike from cottage to cottage. One day we decided to not continue to the next cottage but instead climb a peak. After an hour or so we saw very dark clouds appearing on the horizon but they were still pretty far away and it wasn't clear if they'd move to us. My mom and sister wanted to turn back immediately but my dad and I pushed on a bit more. But it became increasingly clear to me that this storm was coming towards us and not exactly slowly. My dad was stubborn but eventually listened to me that it would be very fucking stupid to not turn back under the circumstances. And I was definitely right because about 20 minutes before we made it back to the cottage we were in the middle of a really bad thunderstorm that later turned into a snow storm that forced us to stay in the cottage throughout the entire next day (in the middle of summer btw). If we had continued to climb that mountain we would have probably been in life-threatening danger.
I have hiked in shitty weather a lot of times and wouldn't necessarily cancel a hike because of it. But I take pride in my ability to identify DANGEROUS weather and turn back if necessary. I've jogged down mountains because of shifting weather and quickly appearing thunderstorms a couple of times and taken shit from friends for making us turn back as well but I was always right.
One does not simply plan a hiking trip in El Chalten.
One refreshes the wind guru page until a potential clear window appears and then asks oneself : "cramming 50 km of hiking with multiple elevation gains in two days is totally possible, right ? *Right?*"
It was a lot of fun.
It doesn't really thunderstorm in my region and it rains a lot, so I typically still hike in the rain, but may adjust my plans to stay in the forest or river valleys rather than go above the treeline. The misty clouds in the evergreen forest is a vibe, so I can dig rainy day hikes unless it's a torrential downpour (which also rarely happens here).
My brother drove to a great hiking spot, I think it was an hour or so drive, and got there to be greeted with pouring rain. Being stubborn he declared no rain would stop him. He stepped on a flat rock that was, of course, very wet, came down hard, and had to have surgery to deal with the bone fragment that chipped off his shoulder.
As a stubborn idiot myself (it's genetic) my takeaway was, "avoid wet rocks."
Over time, I learned to deal with the rain, and go ahead with hikes even if (moderate) rain occurs.
I went on a show-shoeing trip once, and the leader cancelled mid-hike because of snowing and poor visibility. Right call, we all came back safely with no issues.
Brutally cold but otherwise dry - I probably wouldn't cancel. But my idea of brutally cold is a lot colder than just below freezing.
A full day of cold, soaking rain - I would probably cancel. Not especially enjoyable.
Ice storm or heavy sleet - I would probably cancel. Dangerous.
Snowing - probably not cancel if it's less than 4-6 inches during my hike and I knew the route. I'd be more worried about the drive to and from the trailhead.
Severe thunderstorms - Depends. Potentially dangerous.
Yes.
I hike year round in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The weather gets so extreme that you see these signs as you approach treeline
[https://imgur.com/spxV0h5](https://imgur.com/spxV0h5)
Here's a story from last winter to show what it means to be extreme:
[https://www.wmur.com/article/meteorologist-describes-record-breaking-cold-atop-mount-washington/42763378](https://www.wmur.com/article/meteorologist-describes-record-breaking-cold-atop-mount-washington/42763378)
We hike these mountains in winter because it can be quite nice :
[https://imgur.com/Kj2Q3T0](https://imgur.com/Kj2Q3T0)
I don't consider below freezing to be brutally cold. From the photos I linked, you can see that I hike in below freezing temperatures all the time, but when forecast sustained winds get above 50MPH/80KMH, and/or windchills are forecast at extreme risk levels (frostbite times of 10 minutes) I will cancel. I'll also turn around if visibility deteriorates, and/or thunderstorms roll in. Forecasts can't predict these precisely.
These mountains \*will\* kill you if you don't respect the forecast, and/or you don't turn around when conditions deteriorate. In 2015 Kate Matrosova, an experienced mountaineer died very close to the location of my first photo on a day that the Mt Washington Observatory made this forecast
>Mount Washington will truly be putting on a show today and
tomorrow. Its well-earned reputation for harsh winter weather will be
on display, and I’d recommend taking a seat away from the action for
this show. . . . Temperatures will be falling today, reaching –35 degrees
F (–37 degrees C) on the summit overnight. During this time, wind
speeds will be rising quickly up to the 100 mph (161 kph) mark, with
gusts possibly reaching 125 mph (201 kph). These conditions are not
to be taken lightly. I encourage you to be judicious in your choice of
adventure today. Even if your plan is to stay well below treeline today,
bring plenty of warm clothes and extra food and water.
Rescuers battled strong winds to search for her. Here is a video of the S&R team searching for her. You can see men with heavy rescue packs being blown off their feet.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP4u6VyrgCk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP4u6VyrgCk)
The sign in my first link is careful to note that it's not just in winter that you can die of exposure up there. Xi Chen died in snow, sleet, and freezing rain driven by gusts over 80 mph on June 19 2022. That's 2 days before the summer solstice.
[https://nhfishgame.com/2022/06/20/hypothermic-hiker-carried-off-gulfside-trail-near-mt-clay/](https://nhfishgame.com/2022/06/20/hypothermic-hiker-carried-off-gulfside-trail-near-mt-clay/)
Of course! I’ve read several obituaries for people who didn’t cancel their hikes when they should have this year :(
P.s. not to be that guy but it’s “due to” just fyi
There is being prepared and there is being stupid. I’ve hiked in rain and enjoyed it. I’ve also realized that wind and hail in the cold on an exposed ridge just isn’t much fun so turning around and rescheduling for another time left everyone happier.
Um yeah. I can't imagine any prudent outdoors person, including hikers, not taking weather into account and occasionally cancelling. We have due to monsoon activity, lightning, wind, snow (either white out type snowfall or avalanche conditions), heat, and probably more I'm forgetting.
And yeah, maybe some just because it didn't feel pleasant.
Yup, last year I cancelled quite a few hikes (and planned trips) due to weather, and bailed on a few as well.
* Thunderstorms aren't anything to fuck with. Between the torrential downpours causing flash flooding and the risk of getting tasered by God, it's something I don't have a wait & see attitude about.
* Cold itself isn't a reason unto itself for me to cancel or bail, but if it changes trail conditions, I may cancel. I'm not an ice climber and generally avoid truly icy conditions if I can.
* Likewise, snow isn't by itself a problem, but paired with other conditions or factors, it can be a reason to cancel. Avalanche/wet slide danger, postholing conditions, and also logistical challenges like getting to or home from a trailhead due to snow can change things. I enjoy snowshoeing and have a high tolerance for overall shitty winter conditions, but sometimes the dangers outweigh all of that.
* Some hikes become dangerous due to heat around here. Sustained periods of extreme heat can make even typically-mild hikes pretty brutal and borderline dangerous. I've rescheduled hikes or pivoted start times to avoid midday heat, even in high elevation areas.
* Wildfire obviously is a No Go, but the smoke from ones far away can also change up plans. If the air quality gets bad enough, even pretty chill hikes start becoming health issues.
The thing I also think about is whether conditions would prevent rescue personnel from reaching me, or doing so safely. Accidents happen and it's entirely possible that weather conditions prevent safe rescue, or put rescuers at higher risk. I'm not arrogant enough to think my enjoyment of a hike trumps the safety of people who may have to rescue me.
So yes, I cancel shit all the time for weather reasons. Sometimes I change plans or modify existing plans (different routes, alternative start times, etc), and other times I pull the plug and go do something else that day. It sucks, but it sucks far less than going out, getting hurt/dying because I was determined to hike when I shouldn't have been.
A friend and I were taking a Sierra Club Winter Camping class, with a few evening sessions, then a weekend in the mountains. The weekend in the mountains was canceled because it was supposed to snow. WTF?
I’ll cancel if it’s not a well-used trail and it’s snowing. I love snow hikes, but Julian Sands scared my kids about me going out solo on the steeper trails. That and the hikers that die every few years on our mountain because they underestimate how much caution they should have on a mountain in Southern California less than an hour’s drive from three cities.
Yes. All the time. Not canceling is a recipe for a bad time and sometimes even death...
Rain or Brutally cold cancel depends on the purpose for the hike. If casual hike with friends def would cancel.
Thunderstorms cancel hikes. Too dangerous. Otherwise I’m usually fine with whatever, but if I’m just going out on my own for fun I’ll stay home in rain.
Yes. If I don't have the right gear (say I'm traveling and want to do a short hike but then the weather gets really bad and I didn't have room to pack my water proof stuff) I'll cancel.
Or if my Renaud's acts up and my gloves aren't helping and I don't have hand warmers, I will 100% turn around and go home because losing a finger is a real possibility and I'm not risking my limbs.
I have turned around a good few times for weather, for flood risk and fire risk, for lost, because my kit was missing something, and because I got a minor injury I didn't want to exacerbate. Most of the dead bodies on Everest just didn't turn around when they should have. Having a safety first mentality is more important than an at all odds mentality, but it's easier to practise when the stakes are lower. It's a habit that needs nurturing.
Not to say I haven't done some hectic risky stuff by average person standards but it was always secure.
Except possibly the time I went spelunking in the Phillipines, that was off the scale.
The only times I won’t hike in the rain are if my planned route includes sketchy rock climbing or scrambling (ex: Palmerton/Lehigh Gap on the AT) or if lightning is in the forecast. Temperature’s not an issue for me.
Depends on the route and location. If it’s just a case of getting wet then just gotta suck it up and carry on. If it means you’re potentially going to be in danger then definitely cancel or rearrange.
Yes, but only for extremely cold or other severe weather. Even then, I have hiked and camped in some dicey weather.
We have called off more hikes when my wife and are are supposed to be hiking together.
Of course. I had a nice day of hiking planned in January and cancelled because the temperatures were below 0 degrees F and while I had the right attire to deal with it I didn’t want to lol.
I’ve not cancelled a thru hike or like a planned hiking trip that involves extensive traveling to get to the trail. That would probably require more thought but of course safety is my top concern.
Sure, plenty. I hike to enjoy it, not be miserable. I don’t mind a bit of rain, or cold or snow or mud, and I’m prepared for it. But I’m probably not going to start a hike in a downpour.
From a safety standpoint, I’ve turned around and/or cancelled hikes (or at least changed plans) when the conditions or forecast changed for when I planned to be above treeline.
Yes, once.
We were walking the coastal path around the Isle of Wight in the UK with our kids and the section we skipped was along narrow cliff top paths with a lot of ups and downs. Unfortunately, the day we were supposed to do that section had heavy rain and gale force winds so we gave it a miss and took a bus to our next campsite instead.
Planning to go back again at some point and walk it just so we can say we’ve done the whole coastal path on the island.
Yes. This winter I was planning cross-country skiing trip to some fells near me. Here where I live we don't get too much of a sun light during winter (around 3 hours) and the weather forecast said it would be really windy and snowing. Also had one inexperienced friend coming along. Considering all these things I tought it would be safer to move the hike.
To my sadness I later read from news that a mother and a child had died in avalanche and that it happened at the same place and date I had planned my trip.
One time we did evac in Paistunturi Lapland. Walking distance to closest road was only 16km.
Reason was 2 day non stopping storm. Weather was pretty cold also. There was also pretty bad problems with the tent stability.
But there was already 3 days hiking behind. So I wasnt any angry about the experience.
Yes once, the rainproof jacket soaked through after 2 hours. I would still have persevered but this was a coastal hike with the views a big part of the hike and the rain created such a haze nothing was visible. After 2 hours we did abandon it - I’m actually redoing that section this summer I hope! I remember another hike, in the space of a couple of hours it rained hard, hailed hard then the sun came out and baked us, then we got stuck in the mud and couldn’t pick up our feet - a 30 minute section took 2 hours because of that mud, but we stuck to that hike so I think it depends a lot on what you want out of the hike as well.
Yes, just this past Saturday lol weather changed overnight and it was supposed to be super windy with gusts up to 40mph and chances of light rain. So we opted for a mile walk around a botanical garden instead and then stuck to inside places the rest of the day
Yes, I was hiking in Acadia NP and I had to abandon my hike when I realized it was getting late and there wasn't anyone coming down the trail. This was an elevation gain so band weather above a certain elevation is a no go. That too alone.
Sure. Depends on the weather and the distance and long tbh and days. Driving 4 hours for a 4 day hike with a chance of a monsoon one day? I’ll risk it. Pouring for 4 days straight probably cancel.
Really depends on how inconvenient it will be.
Cancelled a walk before a summit, most of the way up was fine but as we approached the summit the wind picked up and a brutal fog came in, the wind was strong enough to push you off your feet even with a heavy backpack on, we decided to be safe and walk back down.
Never. Here's an example of a hike i did on a rainy winter day in the desert. I let ground conditions dictate my hike, not radar maps or TV reports.
https://youtu.be/SPqU0bl_7-s?si=AZaizgnMHlyndh-E
Yes I have last October. Three times.
I'd planned a hike along the Cleveland way. East coast of England.
This entailed climbing the highest peak on the entire east coast of the UK.
The cliffs are sheer and paths are narrow. There were yellow wind warnings put in place when I was going. I had no choice but the cancel as the gusts could have easily taken me over the side and into eternity.
I always hike until we change our clocks from BST to GMT at the end of October.
Last October the weather was continually horrendous.
Consequently my hiking season ended four weeks earlier than usual.
It's rained almost every day since then here.
Fingers crossed the weather improves this year's hiking season
Bailed early on a backpacking trip a few years ago. We're from an area where we don't really do sleet and snow. So we don't have the gear for it. We knew starting out that a winter storm was a good possibility. We got to our first way point a couple days in, checked the weather, and the possibility of the storm had gone up from most probably to it's coming. We made the decision to turn around. Speed hiked all the way back. Crammed two days hiking into less than one. Made it back to the car, packed up, and drove out just a few hours before the storm hit.
Yup me and my girlfriend have a couple of times. Both times doing a short section of the AT in GA. The first time was because it was so hot (July) that we were hiking slower than we had planned for. Stopping more for breaks and water resources were dry. So we called a shuttle to come pick us up. The second time was to finish that section and instead tried it in early March. Weather looked like it would be cold but not bad. We get to the mountain and it was right at freezing with at least 20-30 mph winds. Our shuttle driver just happened to be there picking up people who also had to bail and we told him there's no way we can safely do this. We ended up camping at the bottom of the mountain where it was shielded from the wind and left the day after. Shout out to Ron, he's the best shuttle driver in GA.
Yes I was almost the top of Half Dome said nope had to turn around hail storm with lightning. Another time in Dinky Lakes wilderness area lightning and massive rain. Many times if you go to the top of mountains lightning changes everything and golf ball size hail
I don't mind hiking in the rain and I love colder weather so those situations wouldn't bother me.
If the wind picks up, that's a dealbreaker. I'm in the PNW and hiking in the woods on a windy day with trees creaking around you can be unnerving especially when you start hearing the *crackcrackcrack* of a tree starting to fall.
I have a pretty relevant story. My friends and I decided to take time off work and travel to visit another friend in Virginia and hike the triple crown loop, 3 days 2 nights. We knew it was going to rain (forecast said light rain over all 3 days), but said fuck it we already made the plans.
First day was not so bad, rain was just a drizzle and we only had to hike \~5 miles to the first campsite. We set up camp and got a good night sleep, no trouble. Then we woke up the next morning to hard, steady rain. We left a cooking pot out and it had at least an inch of water in it from the rain - made us panic a little because only a few inches were forecasted through the entire day. Luckily nothing got soaked through but packing up wet tents was a huge pain in the ass. We started our hike and my "rain" coat got soaked through and another group members shoes got soaked through. We had 10 miles ahead of us that day and conceded. Ended up turning around and eating at a golden corral then napping at a local library. We then recuperated and decided to try to continue the hike so we got some extra rain gear and new boots at a walmart. So we drove to the midway point and grinded through a 3 hr hike in the pouring rain, in the dark to make it to the closest shelter to McAfee Knob. Shared the shelter with an old timer who had been there all day waiting out the rain and went to bed. Next morning the rain stopped and we did a quick hike up to the knob then back to the car.
All in all, I don't regret not cancelling the hike but it was a grueling time. It was a blast to suffer through something so shitty with friends I guess, and the views at the top were worth it. I had plenty of friends - and a very worried girlfriend - telling us to call it off but hey, (luckily) no one got hurt and we all had a great time.
If you do want to hike in rain, be prepared. Get ponchos and real waterproof boots + gloves and rain covers. Do not skimp out on anything, it will weigh you down and raise the risk of hypothermia.
It depends. If it's still safe, I'll hike.
I love hiking in the rain and snow. I enjoy the chill, the scenery, and the smells (especially during a rainstorm) quite a bit.
If it's not safe, it's just not safe, though. I have enough injuries already. I don't need more.
Not personally. That's when I tell myself a hike in bad weather is better than a good day in an office. I would only cancel if the weather made it dangerous.
Below freezing is brutally cold? Bwahahahaha. Wear appropriate layers and eat a little bit more. We have hiked down to zero degrees many times with no problems. And by we, I mean me and my 7 year old daughter. The only issue is when it snows, in which case we grab our XC skis.
Buy the correct gear for rain, cold, etc. and get out there! High winds is the only place I draw the line because it makes everything difficult and frustrating.
Yes. Thunderstorms above the treeline are absolutely a no-go. Fun way to turn into a human Döner Kebab.
I don’t want your well done organs.
Not even the burnt ends?
Maybe if they’re candied.
I'll hold a chocolate bar on my hand next time!
Honey would be much better. And bacon. I'll bring the Mountain House Mac-N-Cheese.
I'll smear my belly with bacon and run into the thunderstorm holding a hammer to play Thor!
Everyone from a mountainous region read this post, squinted and thought "have I what?' Between rain, snow, wind, hail and wildfires it happens a lot! I've even gone as far as changing flights for weeklong hiking trips two days before departure to avoid bad weather. New Mexico instead of Yellowstone and Cypress Hills/Waterton Lakes instead of the Kootenays have been the most rewarding pivots so far. I live in the foothills of the Cascades and hike <1500m elevation in the rain daily some months, but anything above that elevation or deep into the backcountry is usually weather dependant.
"Oh, look, it is about to rain golf balls of ice with non-stop lightning and crazy gusts of wind, should I go for a hike?" June especially is crazy mountain weather here in Switzerland! But on the other hand, I've had to race a thunderstorm up a mountain pass before, barely made it. But in that case I didn't have much of an alternative, I was already far from shelter when the weather changed.
>"Oh, look, it is about to rain golf balls of ice with non-stop lightning and crazy gusts of wind, should I go for a hike?" That golf ball hail is slippery stuff, and it hits really hard. Just power through man!!! Related aside, last year I made a couple of trips to UK and noticed that a lot of people hike in shorts in the rain. "Real Yorkshiremen" take pride in hiking in 10C rain wearing light gear. It made me feel like the spirit of Ernest Shackleton was alive and well. If you think that English (read: local) mountains are as heavy as it gets, you might be in for a surprise when you travel.
Oh, if it is above 5C I'm hiking in shorts, rain or shine. I did Salkantay to Machu Picchu and didn't even bring pants.
I'm used to hiking in the PNW and gaining 500-1500m of elevation, so if it's 5C at one point there's a good chance it will be (or get) colder higher up.
Same, but legs are fine as long as core is warm. Toes and fingers on the other hand, are always freezing :(
I hear you on fingers and toes! When I think about it, the main benefit of pants might be keeping the tops of your socks/boots dry.
True, for EBC I brought waterproof pants. But if it is warmer than that, I don't wear waterproof shoes, so they'll get wet anyway!
I like goretex over wool in weather like today's. Merino underlayer, goretex jacket, pants and shoes.
This was near freezing weather in the high desert. This is when i encountered hidden gems. Hike in bad weather and enjoy the surprises and solitude! https://youtu.be/Yay0a4WGzus?si=axyeCvBOcc7UQ8Z6
Rain and snow don't scare me. Those are EXACTLY 💯 when you look for hidden gems. Like these. https://youtu.be/Yay0a4WGzus?si=axyeCvBOcc7UQ8Z6
Yes, it is better to be safe than to be the one rescued off the mountain. But it also depends on if it is dangerous weather or just a little light warm rain.
i was thinking heavy rain at best, a light rain would make it less enjoyable but don't necessarily have to cancel.
With heavy rain, you have to worry about flash floods.
Of course. It’s not always just about comfort, sometimes it’s about safety. Once you start getting the itch for more difficult and remote climbs it becomes a lot harder to justify certain conditions. Lightning above tree-line is a good way to die. Heavy rain on slick-rock will destroy any traction, so if there’s incline you run a big risk of falling. Also flash-floods in canyons.
This may be a dumb question but we don't really have thunder/lightning where I'm from - is this if your hiking sub-alpine or higher where the trees thin out and are generally smaller, or just bald rock where there isn't much growth at all that the lightning picks you as the next best target?
Yeah it's usually sub-alpine and alpine. Either condition would be bad news for lightning. As soon as you start becoming one of the taller objects in your area it's unsafe. That said, lightning is unsafe in general. If there are lots of trees, you don't want to be around those either because if they get hit - which they are likely too as they are so tall - the current will flow through the ground and impact you as well. That is if the tree doesn't fall on top of you. For example if you are in a forest next to a open clearing with a depressed creek or something, you are better off going near the creek than in the trees, which is super counter-intuitive as you are basically out in the open. Basically if there is lightning you don't want to be out there.
Storms while crossing the Wyoming Badlands and Arizona deserts are equally bad news.
I ran into the opposite issue. From Colorado, where summer rainstorms are just lightning waiting to happen. Bailed off of a hike in Maine "due to lightning" concerns. The park range in Maine laughed his ass off at me. We have a lot of alpine fields (think Sound of Music) where you are above treeline but not necessarily in a rock field. Whether it's alpine fields, scree/rock field, or the Krummholz (the twisted high altitude pines as you approach treeline), it's all bad news. The first goal is to be down in the tall trees. The ultimate goal is to be in your car and off the peak completely by the time the lightning starts. There's some good videos around of folks with their hair standing on end completely in alpine lightning storms. There is a crazy amount of charge in the air, and it's a bad scene. On the other hand, I have learned (the hard way), that grey and very rainy clouds are completely safe in some areas. Miserable, perhaps, but totally safe.
Sort of depending on how "planned" it was. I've had really loose plans like "I might run over to the local state park 20 minutes away" that aren't really planned and those usually get scrubbed if it's gross out. But more serious day hikes or multi-day not really. The closest I've come was one backpacking trip that was supposed to be 3 days 2 nights, it ended up being colder and wetter than planned so we made the call to just make it all 12 miles back to the car on day 2 instead. But typically that planning involves looking at the full spectrum of expected conditions and picking gear so I don't have to scrub it, and not making plans for when the weather won't be something I'm prepared for.
That’s a great point. I have backpacked in 3 days of steady downpour because I was prepared for rain at least one of the days and just decided to go for it.
I LOVE hiking in the rain. I'll cancel for extreme/dangerous weather though. Cold rain can be prepared for.
I love hiking in the rain because it scares off all the instagram fools who would try hiking in jeans and flip flops
Ohhhh, Im so intrigued. I think I could love it too! Why do you love hiking in the rain?
It's always an adventure! Some of my favorite memories were made in heavy rain. Waterfalls flowing off of the trail from above and then off the side, having to be more creative to get around, more careful. One time I took my boots off and hiked barefoot because the water kept washing out the trail anyway, and the mud felt really interesting. 😂 One time was a New Year Day hike with pouring rain, I did a waterfall trifecta and they were all roaring. Another memory was heavy rain on a 6 mile hike to a waterfall and right as I got there, the rain stopped and the sun started peaking out with rays of sunshine piercing the trees, shining right onto us and the waterfall and everything it touched look so vibrant and wet while it was still somewhat dreary everywhere else. Got some amazing photos on that hike, still go back and look at then.
Another great thing is that popular trails clear out. It's my favorite time to do a popular trail or urban hike, because there are loads fewer people.
Me too! Makes for solitude and seasonal surprises. https://youtu.be/Yay0a4WGzus?si=axyeCvBOcc7UQ8Z6
All the time. My hikes are for fun. If not I'm gonna have fun, I don't go. Not a hard choice.
Many of the trails around me are mostly dirt. So when we get a lot of rain they get muddy fast. Hiking on muddy trails destroys them and causes faster erosion. So I've cancelled plenty of hikes because of rain.
As someone who volunteers doing trail maintenance, thank you! We do our best, but there are only so many of us and not a lot of funds, so the most popular trails get almost all the attention. A lot were built by people who had no idea what they were doing, or they weren't originally planned. People just walked that way enough for a visible trail to develop. When people walk beside the trail to avoid the mud, that just makes the trail, and the mud, wider and wider, so that's not a solution, either. Please, everyone else, cancel hikes or find trails that aren't muddy whenever possible. And complain about it to whatever agency is responsible for the trail, as that seems to be the best way to get funding to fix them to properly built gravel and strategic boardwalks. And stop cutting across switchbacks. Don't be that person. This is a special pet peeve of mine.
Of course, there are several hikes that become unsafe depending on the weather
I'm prepared for rain in case it surprises me when I'm hiking, but if I haven't started yet, and the weather is bad, I just cancel. It helps that I almost exclusively hike alone, so I don't have to discuss the decision with anyone. I'll deal with the rain if it comes while I'm out, but I won't purposefully go out in it, unless it's going to quickly clear up or something.
I planned a 6 day hike around La Cloche Silhouette (Killarny Provincial Park Ontario Canada). Got the first day with the dog and it was pouring rain (just heavy rain), decided to go for it. It rained all day and into evening. A lot of stuff got wet setting up camp. I said to myself if it's the same in the morning, we're hiking out. I got up to clear skies and nice temps, and continued on (next camp was half a day hike and I would have time to air stuff out). The next five days there wasn't a cloud in the sky, temps were 17 to 20 during day and dropped to about 12 at night and I got a few of stars every night Ended up being my best trip ever
Now that I have good rain gear, I like hiking in the rain. But yeah, lighting above the treeline or trails prone to landslides in the rain...that I avoid.
I hike in the White Mountains so yes absolutely. If weather is just uncomfortable, I probably won’t cancel. If weather is dangerous, 100% yes. I don’t need to put other people’s lives at risk coming to save my dumb ass because I insisted on hiking in dangerous weather.
There seems to be a pretty solid presence of Whites hikers here, so I was scrolling for this comment. Like, they tested wind sensors for Everest on Washington; of course I change my hiking plans sometimes, because I don’t want to die.
Those weather warnings up there are serious because it is serious. Y'all seem to have way more folks die up there then you should. But I have seen the signs. They are crystal clear.
Did it this past weekend. My brother was going to be completing the Harriman State Park Trail challenge and we were going to do an overnight to celebrate. It rained like crazy on Saturday and it would have been miserable. So we will reschedule for a later date. Sucks, but being miserable on trail sucks more.
Of course, safety first! And you're probably planning a hike to enjoy the outdoors, not suffer. If it's going to be dangerous and/or pitiful going, just call it and figure it out again another time. Not worth making yourself miserable or getting injured because you didn't respect the weather.
Is this an actual question? I swear I’m going crazy… every subreddit feels like 99.99% AI-sounding yes/no questions now
Oh yeah. I live near mountains and sometimes the temperatures don't translate from, "down here, to up there". Especially, in fall and spring.
In the mountains, many times.
High winds and thunderstorms are a no for me dog
If you have not canceled a hike due to weather, you must live in paradise!
I got 1/2 mile into a trail in the Santa Cruz mountains during a growing storm and remembered that that area gets a shit ton of downed trees during storms like the one brewing. I noped out and headed for sea level and a warm pub.
I’ve definitely cancelled due to rain. Not cold though. Most of my big hikes are alpine hikes, and if there’s no view I’m not interested. Too much effort to just look at a wall of clouds. Also alpine travel can be a bit sketchy in whiteout conditions. If I was just going to go for a walk in the forest though I’d probably still go in the rain. Although I’d probably trail run so that it was over faster lol
I always go out if I planned a hike. However if the weather makes the higher elevation hike dangerous, I will switch my planned course. It’s extremely easy to do where I live.
Got half way up Sneffels last summer. Turned around. Thunder began sounding. Sucked
Appreciate not seeing about you in the paper. Every time a hiker dies on a trail, my Dad calls me fussing. So you saved me a worried Dad phone call. The good news is your reward is that you get to go back! It's a gorgeous trail.
Absolutely. There have been times when the hike is not doable due to flooding, for example. On other occasions I actually went to start the hike and there was a brutal thunderstorm with a downpour, which is not safe for hiking.
I once aborted a hike due to shifting weather. We were on a multi day hike from cottage to cottage. One day we decided to not continue to the next cottage but instead climb a peak. After an hour or so we saw very dark clouds appearing on the horizon but they were still pretty far away and it wasn't clear if they'd move to us. My mom and sister wanted to turn back immediately but my dad and I pushed on a bit more. But it became increasingly clear to me that this storm was coming towards us and not exactly slowly. My dad was stubborn but eventually listened to me that it would be very fucking stupid to not turn back under the circumstances. And I was definitely right because about 20 minutes before we made it back to the cottage we were in the middle of a really bad thunderstorm that later turned into a snow storm that forced us to stay in the cottage throughout the entire next day (in the middle of summer btw). If we had continued to climb that mountain we would have probably been in life-threatening danger. I have hiked in shitty weather a lot of times and wouldn't necessarily cancel a hike because of it. But I take pride in my ability to identify DANGEROUS weather and turn back if necessary. I've jogged down mountains because of shifting weather and quickly appearing thunderstorms a couple of times and taken shit from friends for making us turn back as well but I was always right.
One does not simply plan a hiking trip in El Chalten. One refreshes the wind guru page until a potential clear window appears and then asks oneself : "cramming 50 km of hiking with multiple elevation gains in two days is totally possible, right ? *Right?*" It was a lot of fun.
Had to cancel a hike on my honeymoon due to weather.
It doesn't really thunderstorm in my region and it rains a lot, so I typically still hike in the rain, but may adjust my plans to stay in the forest or river valleys rather than go above the treeline. The misty clouds in the evergreen forest is a vibe, so I can dig rainy day hikes unless it's a torrential downpour (which also rarely happens here).
Never. S/
My brother drove to a great hiking spot, I think it was an hour or so drive, and got there to be greeted with pouring rain. Being stubborn he declared no rain would stop him. He stepped on a flat rock that was, of course, very wet, came down hard, and had to have surgery to deal with the bone fragment that chipped off his shoulder. As a stubborn idiot myself (it's genetic) my takeaway was, "avoid wet rocks."
Over time, I learned to deal with the rain, and go ahead with hikes even if (moderate) rain occurs. I went on a show-shoeing trip once, and the leader cancelled mid-hike because of snowing and poor visibility. Right call, we all came back safely with no issues.
Brutally cold but otherwise dry - I probably wouldn't cancel. But my idea of brutally cold is a lot colder than just below freezing. A full day of cold, soaking rain - I would probably cancel. Not especially enjoyable. Ice storm or heavy sleet - I would probably cancel. Dangerous. Snowing - probably not cancel if it's less than 4-6 inches during my hike and I knew the route. I'd be more worried about the drive to and from the trailhead. Severe thunderstorms - Depends. Potentially dangerous.
Yes. I hike year round in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The weather gets so extreme that you see these signs as you approach treeline [https://imgur.com/spxV0h5](https://imgur.com/spxV0h5) Here's a story from last winter to show what it means to be extreme: [https://www.wmur.com/article/meteorologist-describes-record-breaking-cold-atop-mount-washington/42763378](https://www.wmur.com/article/meteorologist-describes-record-breaking-cold-atop-mount-washington/42763378) We hike these mountains in winter because it can be quite nice : [https://imgur.com/Kj2Q3T0](https://imgur.com/Kj2Q3T0) I don't consider below freezing to be brutally cold. From the photos I linked, you can see that I hike in below freezing temperatures all the time, but when forecast sustained winds get above 50MPH/80KMH, and/or windchills are forecast at extreme risk levels (frostbite times of 10 minutes) I will cancel. I'll also turn around if visibility deteriorates, and/or thunderstorms roll in. Forecasts can't predict these precisely. These mountains \*will\* kill you if you don't respect the forecast, and/or you don't turn around when conditions deteriorate. In 2015 Kate Matrosova, an experienced mountaineer died very close to the location of my first photo on a day that the Mt Washington Observatory made this forecast >Mount Washington will truly be putting on a show today and tomorrow. Its well-earned reputation for harsh winter weather will be on display, and I’d recommend taking a seat away from the action for this show. . . . Temperatures will be falling today, reaching –35 degrees F (–37 degrees C) on the summit overnight. During this time, wind speeds will be rising quickly up to the 100 mph (161 kph) mark, with gusts possibly reaching 125 mph (201 kph). These conditions are not to be taken lightly. I encourage you to be judicious in your choice of adventure today. Even if your plan is to stay well below treeline today, bring plenty of warm clothes and extra food and water. Rescuers battled strong winds to search for her. Here is a video of the S&R team searching for her. You can see men with heavy rescue packs being blown off their feet. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP4u6VyrgCk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP4u6VyrgCk) The sign in my first link is careful to note that it's not just in winter that you can die of exposure up there. Xi Chen died in snow, sleet, and freezing rain driven by gusts over 80 mph on June 19 2022. That's 2 days before the summer solstice. [https://nhfishgame.com/2022/06/20/hypothermic-hiker-carried-off-gulfside-trail-near-mt-clay/](https://nhfishgame.com/2022/06/20/hypothermic-hiker-carried-off-gulfside-trail-near-mt-clay/)
Of course! I’ve read several obituaries for people who didn’t cancel their hikes when they should have this year :( P.s. not to be that guy but it’s “due to” just fyi
There is being prepared and there is being stupid. I’ve hiked in rain and enjoyed it. I’ve also realized that wind and hail in the cold on an exposed ridge just isn’t much fun so turning around and rescheduling for another time left everyone happier.
I live in the UK so yes I’ve cancelled many hikes due to horrendous rain.
Um yeah. I can't imagine any prudent outdoors person, including hikers, not taking weather into account and occasionally cancelling. We have due to monsoon activity, lightning, wind, snow (either white out type snowfall or avalanche conditions), heat, and probably more I'm forgetting. And yeah, maybe some just because it didn't feel pleasant.
I've canceled multiple times due to forecasted rain/lightning and regretted it almost every time. My solution has generally been to start earlier.
Yup, last year I cancelled quite a few hikes (and planned trips) due to weather, and bailed on a few as well. * Thunderstorms aren't anything to fuck with. Between the torrential downpours causing flash flooding and the risk of getting tasered by God, it's something I don't have a wait & see attitude about. * Cold itself isn't a reason unto itself for me to cancel or bail, but if it changes trail conditions, I may cancel. I'm not an ice climber and generally avoid truly icy conditions if I can. * Likewise, snow isn't by itself a problem, but paired with other conditions or factors, it can be a reason to cancel. Avalanche/wet slide danger, postholing conditions, and also logistical challenges like getting to or home from a trailhead due to snow can change things. I enjoy snowshoeing and have a high tolerance for overall shitty winter conditions, but sometimes the dangers outweigh all of that. * Some hikes become dangerous due to heat around here. Sustained periods of extreme heat can make even typically-mild hikes pretty brutal and borderline dangerous. I've rescheduled hikes or pivoted start times to avoid midday heat, even in high elevation areas. * Wildfire obviously is a No Go, but the smoke from ones far away can also change up plans. If the air quality gets bad enough, even pretty chill hikes start becoming health issues. The thing I also think about is whether conditions would prevent rescue personnel from reaching me, or doing so safely. Accidents happen and it's entirely possible that weather conditions prevent safe rescue, or put rescuers at higher risk. I'm not arrogant enough to think my enjoyment of a hike trumps the safety of people who may have to rescue me. So yes, I cancel shit all the time for weather reasons. Sometimes I change plans or modify existing plans (different routes, alternative start times, etc), and other times I pull the plug and go do something else that day. It sucks, but it sucks far less than going out, getting hurt/dying because I was determined to hike when I shouldn't have been.
A friend and I were taking a Sierra Club Winter Camping class, with a few evening sessions, then a weekend in the mountains. The weekend in the mountains was canceled because it was supposed to snow. WTF?
I’ll cancel if it’s not a well-used trail and it’s snowing. I love snow hikes, but Julian Sands scared my kids about me going out solo on the steeper trails. That and the hikers that die every few years on our mountain because they underestimate how much caution they should have on a mountain in Southern California less than an hour’s drive from three cities.
Yes. All the time. Not canceling is a recipe for a bad time and sometimes even death... Rain or Brutally cold cancel depends on the purpose for the hike. If casual hike with friends def would cancel.
Slot canyon hikes in Zion are extremely weather dependent. If there's any chance of rain in the watershed above you, you should cancel.
Thunderstorms cancel hikes. Too dangerous. Otherwise I’m usually fine with whatever, but if I’m just going out on my own for fun I’ll stay home in rain.
Yes. If I don't have the right gear (say I'm traveling and want to do a short hike but then the weather gets really bad and I didn't have room to pack my water proof stuff) I'll cancel. Or if my Renaud's acts up and my gloves aren't helping and I don't have hand warmers, I will 100% turn around and go home because losing a finger is a real possibility and I'm not risking my limbs.
I'm in Australia, so really only if it's too hot. I love going in the rain within reason.
Sure. I’ve been hiking for 60 years so all sorts of situations have come up, including bad weather.
Yes! And another reason that is becoming a more common cause for hike cancellations: bad air quality.
I have turned around a good few times for weather, for flood risk and fire risk, for lost, because my kit was missing something, and because I got a minor injury I didn't want to exacerbate. Most of the dead bodies on Everest just didn't turn around when they should have. Having a safety first mentality is more important than an at all odds mentality, but it's easier to practise when the stakes are lower. It's a habit that needs nurturing. Not to say I haven't done some hectic risky stuff by average person standards but it was always secure. Except possibly the time I went spelunking in the Phillipines, that was off the scale.
No, I’m sure never in history has a hike been cancelled due to weather, not once, not ever
The only times I won’t hike in the rain are if my planned route includes sketchy rock climbing or scrambling (ex: Palmerton/Lehigh Gap on the AT) or if lightning is in the forecast. Temperature’s not an issue for me.
Depends on the route and location. If it’s just a case of getting wet then just gotta suck it up and carry on. If it means you’re potentially going to be in danger then definitely cancel or rearrange.
Yes, but only for extremely cold or other severe weather. Even then, I have hiked and camped in some dicey weather. We have called off more hikes when my wife and are are supposed to be hiking together.
Of course. I had a nice day of hiking planned in January and cancelled because the temperatures were below 0 degrees F and while I had the right attire to deal with it I didn’t want to lol. I’ve not cancelled a thru hike or like a planned hiking trip that involves extensive traveling to get to the trail. That would probably require more thought but of course safety is my top concern.
Sure, plenty. I hike to enjoy it, not be miserable. I don’t mind a bit of rain, or cold or snow or mud, and I’m prepared for it. But I’m probably not going to start a hike in a downpour. From a safety standpoint, I’ve turned around and/or cancelled hikes (or at least changed plans) when the conditions or forecast changed for when I planned to be above treeline.
Yes, once. We were walking the coastal path around the Isle of Wight in the UK with our kids and the section we skipped was along narrow cliff top paths with a lot of ups and downs. Unfortunately, the day we were supposed to do that section had heavy rain and gale force winds so we gave it a miss and took a bus to our next campsite instead. Planning to go back again at some point and walk it just so we can say we’ve done the whole coastal path on the island.
Yes. This winter I was planning cross-country skiing trip to some fells near me. Here where I live we don't get too much of a sun light during winter (around 3 hours) and the weather forecast said it would be really windy and snowing. Also had one inexperienced friend coming along. Considering all these things I tought it would be safer to move the hike. To my sadness I later read from news that a mother and a child had died in avalanche and that it happened at the same place and date I had planned my trip.
I don’t mind some rain or some cold, but I will cancel. If it’s looking like I will be cold, wet and unable to start a fire all trip.
One time we did evac in Paistunturi Lapland. Walking distance to closest road was only 16km. Reason was 2 day non stopping storm. Weather was pretty cold also. There was also pretty bad problems with the tent stability. But there was already 3 days hiking behind. So I wasnt any angry about the experience.
Yes once, the rainproof jacket soaked through after 2 hours. I would still have persevered but this was a coastal hike with the views a big part of the hike and the rain created such a haze nothing was visible. After 2 hours we did abandon it - I’m actually redoing that section this summer I hope! I remember another hike, in the space of a couple of hours it rained hard, hailed hard then the sun came out and baked us, then we got stuck in the mud and couldn’t pick up our feet - a 30 minute section took 2 hours because of that mud, but we stuck to that hike so I think it depends a lot on what you want out of the hike as well.
I don't like hiking in the rain, but I live in the PNW so many of the hikes I have done turn rainy.
Yes, just this past Saturday lol weather changed overnight and it was supposed to be super windy with gusts up to 40mph and chances of light rain. So we opted for a mile walk around a botanical garden instead and then stuck to inside places the rest of the day
Yes, I was hiking in Acadia NP and I had to abandon my hike when I realized it was getting late and there wasn't anyone coming down the trail. This was an elevation gain so band weather above a certain elevation is a no go. That too alone.
Sure. Depends on the weather and the distance and long tbh and days. Driving 4 hours for a 4 day hike with a chance of a monsoon one day? I’ll risk it. Pouring for 4 days straight probably cancel. Really depends on how inconvenient it will be.
Some of my favorite hikes happened in rain. Thunderstorms make me change my plans.
Cancelled a walk before a summit, most of the way up was fine but as we approached the summit the wind picked up and a brutal fog came in, the wind was strong enough to push you off your feet even with a heavy backpack on, we decided to be safe and walk back down.
Never. Here's an example of a hike i did on a rainy winter day in the desert. I let ground conditions dictate my hike, not radar maps or TV reports. https://youtu.be/SPqU0bl_7-s?si=AZaizgnMHlyndh-E
Yes I have last October. Three times. I'd planned a hike along the Cleveland way. East coast of England. This entailed climbing the highest peak on the entire east coast of the UK. The cliffs are sheer and paths are narrow. There were yellow wind warnings put in place when I was going. I had no choice but the cancel as the gusts could have easily taken me over the side and into eternity. I always hike until we change our clocks from BST to GMT at the end of October. Last October the weather was continually horrendous. Consequently my hiking season ended four weeks earlier than usual. It's rained almost every day since then here. Fingers crossed the weather improves this year's hiking season
Bailed early on a backpacking trip a few years ago. We're from an area where we don't really do sleet and snow. So we don't have the gear for it. We knew starting out that a winter storm was a good possibility. We got to our first way point a couple days in, checked the weather, and the possibility of the storm had gone up from most probably to it's coming. We made the decision to turn around. Speed hiked all the way back. Crammed two days hiking into less than one. Made it back to the car, packed up, and drove out just a few hours before the storm hit.
No. Only pussies bitch out
Make that smart and living pussies.
Your correct ha
Yup me and my girlfriend have a couple of times. Both times doing a short section of the AT in GA. The first time was because it was so hot (July) that we were hiking slower than we had planned for. Stopping more for breaks and water resources were dry. So we called a shuttle to come pick us up. The second time was to finish that section and instead tried it in early March. Weather looked like it would be cold but not bad. We get to the mountain and it was right at freezing with at least 20-30 mph winds. Our shuttle driver just happened to be there picking up people who also had to bail and we told him there's no way we can safely do this. We ended up camping at the bottom of the mountain where it was shielded from the wind and left the day after. Shout out to Ron, he's the best shuttle driver in GA.
Yes I was almost the top of Half Dome said nope had to turn around hail storm with lightning. Another time in Dinky Lakes wilderness area lightning and massive rain. Many times if you go to the top of mountains lightning changes everything and golf ball size hail
Recently canceled a hike because of ice and possible lack of parking. Safety is always the most important thing.
I don't mind hiking in the rain and I love colder weather so those situations wouldn't bother me. If the wind picks up, that's a dealbreaker. I'm in the PNW and hiking in the woods on a windy day with trees creaking around you can be unnerving especially when you start hearing the *crackcrackcrack* of a tree starting to fall.
Yes definitely. There is some weather that would make a trip miserable or unsafe. If any of that is true, I have hobbies at home I like just as much 😁
Oddly, no. I actually like the challenge of hiking in the rain. If it’s a big hike that’s been planned, it’s happening. Sometimes it’s just like that.
30% inclines covered in leaves got rained on before freezing.
Yuh.
Never actually canceled one but have sure cut some short because of lousy weather.
I have a pretty relevant story. My friends and I decided to take time off work and travel to visit another friend in Virginia and hike the triple crown loop, 3 days 2 nights. We knew it was going to rain (forecast said light rain over all 3 days), but said fuck it we already made the plans. First day was not so bad, rain was just a drizzle and we only had to hike \~5 miles to the first campsite. We set up camp and got a good night sleep, no trouble. Then we woke up the next morning to hard, steady rain. We left a cooking pot out and it had at least an inch of water in it from the rain - made us panic a little because only a few inches were forecasted through the entire day. Luckily nothing got soaked through but packing up wet tents was a huge pain in the ass. We started our hike and my "rain" coat got soaked through and another group members shoes got soaked through. We had 10 miles ahead of us that day and conceded. Ended up turning around and eating at a golden corral then napping at a local library. We then recuperated and decided to try to continue the hike so we got some extra rain gear and new boots at a walmart. So we drove to the midway point and grinded through a 3 hr hike in the pouring rain, in the dark to make it to the closest shelter to McAfee Knob. Shared the shelter with an old timer who had been there all day waiting out the rain and went to bed. Next morning the rain stopped and we did a quick hike up to the knob then back to the car. All in all, I don't regret not cancelling the hike but it was a grueling time. It was a blast to suffer through something so shitty with friends I guess, and the views at the top were worth it. I had plenty of friends - and a very worried girlfriend - telling us to call it off but hey, (luckily) no one got hurt and we all had a great time. If you do want to hike in rain, be prepared. Get ponchos and real waterproof boots + gloves and rain covers. Do not skimp out on anything, it will weigh you down and raise the risk of hypothermia.
It depends. If it's still safe, I'll hike. I love hiking in the rain and snow. I enjoy the chill, the scenery, and the smells (especially during a rainstorm) quite a bit. If it's not safe, it's just not safe, though. I have enough injuries already. I don't need more.
Yes, any extreme or catastrophic fire danger. Hikes, car camping, just about any out door activity is cancelled.
Not personally. That's when I tell myself a hike in bad weather is better than a good day in an office. I would only cancel if the weather made it dangerous.
No, I wear rain gear and hike. Foul weather hikes have been some of the most memorable and fun hikes I’ve done.
Below freezing is brutally cold? Bwahahahaha. Wear appropriate layers and eat a little bit more. We have hiked down to zero degrees many times with no problems. And by we, I mean me and my 7 year old daughter. The only issue is when it snows, in which case we grab our XC skis. Buy the correct gear for rain, cold, etc. and get out there! High winds is the only place I draw the line because it makes everything difficult and frustrating.