Winter Travel
I prefer to travel, hike and camp in winter, and when I do, I normally go somewhere colder than where I live. Many people find this strange - warm beaches in summer are a much more popular holiday option.
On this page you'll find some of the advantages of winter travel that I've enjoyed. I just want to show that we who prefer the colder, unpopular months are not mad - we simply value different things, and there is some reasoning behind our choices.
Disclaimer: These are my observations based on travel in temperate climates in Australia, New Zealand, and to a lesser extent Canada and USA. The camping part is based on experience in Australia only. Obviously not everything will apply to all countries or climates. Ski resorts, where winter is peak season, are an obvious exception.
WINTER TOURING IN GENERAL
- Cheaper airfares, greater availability of seats. Getting your first choice of dates and times, and finding discount fares, is much easier in winter than in the popular holiday periods when it seems everyone is wanting to travel at once. Applies to bus and train travel too.
- Less traffic on scenic roads, making driving much more pleasant.
- Good deals on accomodation. Outside of ski resorts, winter in cold areas can lead to low-season bargains. I've sometimes paid less than half price, as owners would rather receive low rates than see a room remain empty.
Discounts on car hire - as with accomodation, I've been blessed with bargain rates in winter.- Flexibility - fewer things need to be booked ahead in winter, making it easier to be spontaneous, vary plans to suit the weather, and linger in favourite places.
- Taking leave from many jobs can be easier in winter, with fewer other staff competing for time off.
- Peace and quiet. If you want a beach all to yourself with no other footprints on it, or you want to enjoy the sounds of a waterfall without it being drowned out by busloads of noisy tourists, then winter is best.
- Reality. The winter off-season is often the best time to experience the true character and ambience of a place, not when it is invaded by peak season crowds. Locals are sometimes friendlier to visitors when their numbers are fewer.
Later sunrises - those who like photographing sunrises, or using the early morning light, will appreciate not having to get up so early to do this in winter.
WINTER HIKING
- Fewer flies and mosquitoes. Hordes of bush flies and march flies can spoil a walk in the warmer months, but they are refreshingly absent in winter.
- Temperatures more comfortable for outdoor activities - body temperature is easier to regulate by adding or removing layers of clothes.
- Less perspiration. This means less risk of dehydration, less drinking water required, and clothes get less smelly.
- Drinking water more readily available - creeks that dry up in summer are wetter, and fresher, in winter. Little or no need to carry lots of heavy water.
- Snakes are relatively inactive. This makes winter much safer for hiking than summer. Especially for solo walkers, whose quieter approach means they generally encounter more snakes than people in groups.
Fewer people. In many places the wilderness tracks can be packed out in summer, pariticularly the school holidays. This can destroy the feelings of remoteness, solitude, peace and quiet that make such places attractive in the first place.- Less pollen and dust. Spring can be an unpleasant time for hay fever sufferers, and dust can be an irritation to eyes and noses in summer in dry areas. In contrast, winter air is cleaner and kinder to sensitive noses.
WINTER CAMPING
- Less competition for the best campsites.
- Tent cooler in daytime. In summer the sun can quickly heat up the inside of a tent, making it feel like an oven, and restricting its daytime use. In cold weather this is not a problem.
- Natural refrigeration - milk and perishable foods can be carried in cold weather without going off.
When camping on snow:
A level smooth tent site is almost guaranteed. With a bit of digging, bumps can be removed, and even a moderate slope can be levelled if the snow is deep enough.- Abundant clean water close by - when melting snow for water, any campsite on snow is close to a plentiful supply. It is also less likely to be contaminated than creek water.
- The perfect campsite is easier to find. Without snow, finding a campsite that is level, and near water, and sheltered, and has a spectacular view, is tricky if not impossible. Compromises are the norm; a view is often sacrificed for level ground or shelter. However, when snow camping, the spot with the best view is fair game, with shelter a secondary concern. To some extent, shelter can be created by building snow walls.
- Waste disposal - its not a pleasant topic, but human waste must be disposed of, and in fragile wilderness areas the most environment-friendly method is to carry it out. In warm weather this could be unappealing! When snow camping its just a matter of leaving "it" to freeze solid, then storing it in a sealed container for transport. When frozen, leakage and odour aren't an issue.
DISADVANTAGES
To be fair, winter travel has aspects that don't suit everybody.
- Cold weather - easily counteracted with warm clothing, but not everybody likes it. Having your drinking water (and sunscreen!) freeze overnight is an inconvenience.
- Shorter daylight hours - this can limit outdoor activity, although in middle latitudes like Australia the daylight hours aren't really all that short, particularly in late winter. Getting an early start goes a long way towards getting around this..
- Closures - some tourist attractions close in the off-season, and snow can close roads in some areas (or make driving a bit of an adventure).
- Melting snow for water can be time consuming and requires more fuel to be carried (which may be offset by less need to carry water).
Despite some disadvantages, winter travel tickles the fancy of many people. Next time you see someone working through the summer then venturing into the great outdoors when the weather turns cold and inclement, just remember there is method in our madness. And that we are all different.