[Seasons: Winter XI]
Here in the PNW, there is no bad weather; there is only bad clothing. The long, grey, thirty-five-degree-and-raining winter months would force every Californian I know to crave coffee and a couch. But in the PNW, that’s perfectly good conditions for a hike—so long as you have the right layers.
Winter is when we layer our clothing. A big bulky overcoat on top of a t-shirt is not functional; it doesn’t encourage being active. A good mixed material shirt, a down mid-layer, and a quality shell will protect against almost all the elements, store efficiently, and can be layered on or peeled off depending on the fluctuating temperatures.
Winters are a reminder that even if a season appears one-dimensional—grey and cold—it’s complex and always evolving. “Hunker down and wait it out” is like an overcoat: it’s bulky and too simplistic. It doesn’t account for the particularities of the seasons or the complexities of the weather. Layered seasons require layered responses.
There’s ultimately no bad winter season; there’s only bad advice on how to engage it.
