How to Prepare & Pack for a Winter Day's Adventure
Not going to lie: I’m finding winter to be a lot this time around. Getting out the door with two young children, alllllllllll of our gear, and my sanity seems to be nearly impossible. Yet, somehow we make it happen.
If you too struggle with the act of getting outside with littles in the cold… Solidarity to you! I’ve learned some tricks that may help you out a bit.
Tips:
Do your research. Winter adventures require smart prep work, as they occur on shorter days, in cooler temperatures, through snow- and ice-covered trails. All of these factors can make your outing more consequential if things go wrong. So before heading out, search detailed instructions, read trail reviews, and download maps of the area you’ll be exploring.
Pack the big ticket items the night before. Whether you’re going downhill skiing/snowboarding, xc-skiing, ice-skating or hiking, pack the large pieces of gear in your vehicle beforehand. This includes snowboards, skis, skiing/hiking poles, chariots, sleds, ice skates, hard-structured kid carriers and micro spikes.
On the morning of, dress them in their base layers after breakfast. I used to think I was being proactive by dressing them in their base layers first thing. However, as you may very well know, babies and toddlers aren’t the most graceful of eaters. I’d find myself having to change them out of their raspberry-stained or peanut butter-smeared outfits all over again. For the love of merino wool, save your base layers and do the job once!
Keep a storage bin near the entryway. This is where I keep my kids’ mitts, toques, neck warmers, booties and extra wool socks. Not only does it make it easy to access all of these small items on our way out the door, but it ensures I don’t forget any!
Pack layers into a separate bag. I usually stash our mid-layers, down layers, and aforementioned small items into a bag, separate from the daypack I’ll be bringing along for the adventure. The reason being: I’ll be putting all of these layers and accessories on my kids and myself in the parking lot, before hitting the trails. It just helps streamline the process! For more depth on layering, see here.
Facilitate an activity while you get organized. I can’t quite think straight when my kids need me. So before I get my daypack organized, I try to set up an activity that will keep them engaged for a while so that I can focus on packing everything I need. This may look like:
Pulling out toys/books that they haven’t played with/read in a while.
Starting pretend play (and retreating once they’ve taken over the plot!).
Bringing out the art supplies and challenging them to draw certain things.
… Or simply baby-wearing if what they want is to be close to you!
Have an emergency kit stashed in your vehicle. So important! Not only for safety purposes, but in case you forget anything in the craziness that is exiting the house.
Alright! As for what should go into your daypack…
Packing List:
Diaper kit. Include a plastic bag in case you need to pack out any dirty diapers.
Water bottle. Insulated water bottles are key for winter activities, as they keep your water, tea or hot chocolate warm for long periods of time. There’s truly nothing better than cupping and sipping on a hot bevvy mid-activity!
Snacks. Again, insulated food containers do a superb job at keeping your food warm. However, you can always keep your snacks close to your body to ensure they don’t freeze and go rock-hard.
Extra mitts and thick socks. For yourself and for any little explorers you may have with you.
Foam pad (like the Therm-a-Rest Z seat). It comes in handy for you to rest on while feeding your baby, for your toddler to sit on while snacking, or for either to lay on whilst undergoing a diaper change, as it provides excellent insulation.
A first aid kit, including an emergency blanket and toe/hand warmers.
A headlamp. After all, the days are short!
Communication & navigation tools. Whether it’s your cellphone if you’re staying within service or a fancier gadget (i.e. Garmin, SPOT, etc.) if you’re heading further away, pack a means to communicate with others in case of emergencies. Also, ensure you have a map of the area you’ll be exploring downloaded beforehand.
Extra room. Okay, not quite something you should pack… But something you should keep in mind while packing. Try to make space for layers that you or your child(ren) may need to shed. The moment you feel yourself getting too warm, stop and strip down a layer. Avoid pushing past to the point of sweating, as this can cause you to get cold once you stop exerting energy. The same goes for your children, so check in!
Save this list (and feel free to add to it!) to further streamline your next winter outing. Power to ya, mama!