Hiking Weather Instruments
. . . Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful
Image by girolame via Flickr
Which is a rather large problem when you’re hiking, because you’re outside too! The weather really can transform the challenge of a hike into a whole new ball game, taking it to a completely new level . . . hiking in the sunshine is completely different from being caught out in a thunderstorm halfway along the trail . . . your hiking boots getting squelchy, your back pack getting heavier and everyone doing ”Quasimodo” impressions beneath their water proofs. If you know that there’s a change in the weather then it’s a good idea to prepare, find a place to shelter, dress appropriately and stick together.
“Don’t knock the weather; nine-tenths of the people couldn’t start a conversation if it didn’t change once in a while.” - Kin Hubbard
See what I mean about sticking together . . . it’s really easy to become separated when the weather closes in around you . . . and dangerous too!
A change in the weather conditions can create a minor inconvenience when you’re at home, maybe even bring the whole city to a standstill for a while (remember the snow that fell in New York 2010 . . . talk about a white Christmas) but generally speaking it’s not going to affect things the way that it would if you were hiking halfway along a mountain trail . . . they get very slippery when wet and snowy you know.
No . . . I love you Dino but don’t let it snow . . . let it stop . . . it ain’t even close to Christmas yet!
Hiking Weather Instruments
Hiking weather instruments are designed to be lightweight, compact, and most importantly a reliable source of information about what the weather is going to do next. There are two basic types of weather instruments you can choose from when you’re hiking;
- Turn The Radio On . . . . the weather radio, not listening out for “Our Tune” on the love song channel. Weather radios are available for hikers in many guises . . . some need batteries, some are self powered (with a handle to recharge – brilliant idea and perfect for hikers who are good at winding things up). Keep tuned into the NOAA weather band and you should have plenty of warning on when to make an early camp and batten down the hatches, or turn around and hike back to the car (not everybody hikes on overnighters you know, day hikers can have a lot of fun too and they also need to know about changes in weather conditions . . . day hikers are often traveling lighter than overnight back packers and might not even have enough equipment with them to cope with a change in the weather). Hiking weather radios don’t cost the earth, you can pick one up for less than $50, and that’s $50 well spent (I mean less than $50 well spent).
- Hiking weather gauges . . . allow you to keep an eye on the weather situation yourself, with just a little bit of know how to read the signs. Even if you don’t “know how” you can read the instruction manual to find out! Anyway, these hand held weather stations are a perfect way to provide the hiker with altimeter readings, barometer, thermometer and even a compass in many cases. Flashlight bulbs are often included . . . hikers love bits of equipment which can do more than one thing, it all makes for more space in their backpack, anyway, hiking weather gauges are available from less than 50 bucks too, so it’s up to you which you would prefer, but do make sure that you keep an eye on the weather for your own safety.
Awww, he’s cute . . . and he’s got some pretty good advice too, really dark clouds are a good clue that rain is on the way!
“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” - John Ruskin
