Well, we did it! Our little chunk of rock, water, and ice made it one more lap around our perpetual energy source. Equally predictable this time of year is that water evaporated up into the sky will fall back to our mountains in the form of snow. Exactly where it will fall and how much, however, is still a guessing game. Although snow in the Southern Appalachians can usually be expected, there are some things we should remember in trying to move about in this white fluffy stuff.

Tromping through snow has many challenges and can be difficult—if not dangerous—for the ill-prepared. Always take into account the elevation of a chosen destination. For every thousand feet of elevation, subtract five to seven degrees of temperature. So a storm in Asheville (approximately 2,600 feet) might produce only light, cold rain. But that same storm is probably producing snow higher up.

And then there’s the wind. It can load (stack it in one place) snow as well and a snow-covered trail can impede your progress or perhaps halt it altogether. Keep this in mind if traveling just after a windy storm.

When venturing out into the snow, keep these thoughts in mind. For one thing, snow will get into everything! The deeper the snow, the more it will creep into every last stitch of clothing. Take special care to prevent snow “leakage” where gaps between articles of clothing allow snow to worm its way in. Tuck in undergarments and cover the socks. A pair of gaiters (fabric products that cover the gap from the top of the shoe to the bottom of pant leg) helps keep the feet warmer and prevent the socks from being filled with snow. Hoods on jackets work well too. Use them to keep snow from sliding down your back.

Moving through snow can be a slow and surprisingly exhausting process. Take this into account in advance and plan for adequate travel time. Where on dry ground, one might easily hike 2.5 miles in an hour, cut that in half if moving on snow. Traveling in deeper snow can result in the dreaded “plunge-step” where, with every step, your legs sink all the way in. Escape from this is not without significant effort. Think travel via snowshoes will be easier? Get back to me on that one!

Lastly, remember, the body is striving to stay warm on these cold snowy days and this effort, in and of itself, burns a fair amount of calories. Add to this some extra weight in the pack from more clothing and a series of “post-hole” steps and your body can quickly exhaust its fuel supply. When one’s body does not have enough fuel to produce heat, hypothermia is soon to follow.

So grab an energy bar or a candy bar, tuck clothing in tight, do some simple assessments, and bundle up. There is a winter wonderland out there awaiting the intrepid traveler. Negotiating through it, although hard and tiring, can be an enjoyable experience. Think about it. Have you ever seen a snowman with a frown?

Stuart Cowles is the owner of ClimbMax (climbmaxnc.com) at 43 Wall Street and is an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker. He can be reached at 828.252.9996.