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Basecamp Tips: Top 3 Easy Winter Hikes Stop hibernating a n d start hiking with t h e s e low-risk, high-reward trips, 0 • Trail as i t switchbacks through maple-beech- birch forest. In .4 mile, Cardigan Mountain keep left through red Hocking Hills SP, OH State Park, NH spruce and balsam Conkles Hollow Mt. Cardigan fir. In another .4 mile, climb glacier-carved Sample winter h i k i n g A typical3 , 1 5 5 - f o o t g r a n i t e l e d g e s for t h e during this p o p u l a r peak never rises a b o v e final push to the s u m - p a r k ' s least-crowded the trees, but this mit. bare ever since a n s e a s o n on an u n d e - 5-mile round-trip to 1855 fire. Layer up o n manding trail w i t h a bald s u m m i t offers this often-windy peak g o o d signage (trac- panoramic views in while enjoying views of t i o n d e v i c e s recom- return for a gentle, the iconic granite and mended; s e e top). 1,250-foot ascent. conifers of the White Follow t h e level, Park at the start o f the Mountains to t h e north p a v e d C o n k l e s (closed) l - m i l e r o a d a n d the more gentle H o l l o w G o r g e Trail a t o the summer park- peaks of the Green mile between sheer, ing area and use this Mountains to t h e 200-foot B l a c k H a n d f i r s t , f l a t stretch t o g e t southwest. sandstone cliffs. This used t o your snow- 300-foot-wide can- shoes (recommended T R A I L H E A D 4 3 . 6 4 5 2 5 3 , yon rarely r e c e i v e s in s n o w more than 10 - 7 1 . 9 4 3 841*; 67 m i l e s d i r e c t s u n , encourag- inches deep). From north o f M a n c h e s t e r off i n g elaborate i c e for- the upper lot, start Cardigan Mountain R d . m a t i o n s . Explore s i d e along t h e West Ridge INFO biUy/CardiganSP trails t o find frozen, Get a grip Traction devices can t u r n your regular boots into ice-eating machines. W e like t h e 2012 Editors' Choice Gold Award-winning Kahtoola MICROspikes ($60; kahtoola.com). intermittent waterfalls trail to a trio of log and the area's trade- cabins offers the luxury m a r k above-ground, overnight without the e r o s i o n - c a r v e d over- slide risk, thanks to hangs called "recess the area's low-angle caves." Once you've topography. Starting g o t a handle o n winter from t h e Vail Pass t r a v e l , t a c k l e a nearby trailhead, snowshoe or moderate s e c t i o n ski the w i n t e r p a t h over o f the Buckeye Trail open terrain, through between Old Man's pine forests, and across C a v e a n d 100-foot- meadows. Once at the deep Ash C a v e (the hut, enjoy like-home state's largest) o n a amenities including 6-mile p o i n t - t o - p o i n t . f l u s h toilets, propane heat, and a kitchen- TRAILHEAD 39.453277, it's a night in the back- -82.573435; 55 miles south country without the o f Columbus off Big Pine schlep (except food Rd. INFO bitly/HockingSP and sleeping gear) or • fear of freezing. Day trip to local hiking, like the well-marked and low- angled Shrine Pass White River NF, C O R o a d , which drops Shrine Mountain 2,529 feet over 9 miles Inn with views of Mt. of the Holy Cross. Colorado is famous for its backcountry huts- TRAILHEAD 39.528445, and its avalanche -106.218025; 8 0 miles west of danger. This 2.7-mile Denver off 1-70. INFO huts.or Dress code Layer smart wlckmg baselayer, th nudlayer, msulatmg pufy, waterproof shell Learn more at backpacker. com/layers. 24 BACKPACKER 03.2014 *Ptug these tat/tong coordinates into Googte Maps for tur-by-tur driving directions.