Recap post of significant hikes this winter season. It was a great winter hiking season!
We had less snow this year overall than last year, but we had a period of very cold weather through January and February, so that I wore the traction spikes on most of my walks (compared to only once last year).
December was unseasonably mild, and there was no hint of winter. I did a ton of great hiking with Pete, mum, Dave, and Lexi, but all under normal conditions. So those hikes are not listed here. See Harpers Ferry Three Peaks and Harpers Ferry to Raven Rocks.
Here are the seven snowy mountain hikes from this season:
4 January 2022: First ascent of Loudoun Heights of 2022
8.08 miles / 1,798 ft. / 3 hrs 2 minutes
At last, some snow! Barely a dusting, but it was still great to see winter arrive at last.
8 January 2022: Snowy Loudoun Heights
8.19 miles / 1,766 ft. / 3 hrs 28 minutes
A lovely walk up snowy Loudoun Heights. Couple of inches of snow. Bluebird conditions!
16 January 2022: Loudoun Heights Extended
9.81 miles / 1,984 ft. / 3 hrs 57 minutes
I extended my usual walk by tagging the park boundary sign. It snowed during the walk, which is always a fun experience. As I walked home through town, I saw a car that had slid off the road into the fence and narrowly avoided dropping further down into the stream bed. Yikes!
More photos on Instagram. And video 1, video 2, and video 3 from the day.
25 January 2022: Icy Stone Fort Loop
8.57 miles / 1,633 ft. / 3 hrs 30 minutes
The prolonged period of cold meant that none of the snow melted and where it was stamped down on the trails, it turned into inches of ice. Definitely a day for the traction spikes!
1 February 2022: Cold Loudoun Heights
8.18 miles / 1,771 ft. / 3 hrs 42 minutes
Cold! I’ve used my huge down mittens on most of the winter hikes this year. Indispensable!
13 February 2022: Keys Gap return and Loudoun Heights
16.94 miles / 2,800 ft. / 6 hrs 57 minutes
A fantastic, long winter hike, the longest winter hike of this season. I’m counting this as 1 of my 12 challenge walks for 2022 (goal is to do 1 per month, 12 for the year. More on my goals for 2022).
13 March 2022: Snowy Loudoun Heights
8.36 miles / 1,777 ft. / 3 hrs 43 minutes
The most scenic walk of this season. A surprise late season snowstorm dumped a few inches of heavy snow on Saturday. A cold night ensured it was still all there the next day. It coated everything. Stunning!
Ben Collins Outdoors 