How to Create a Winter Backpacking Group

Winter backpacking is much safer if you are in a group but how do you find other people interested in this activity? If you live in Washington State, join our winter backpacking Meetup. If you live elsewhere, the tips outlined here are for you.

This information is intended to help you find other winter enthusiasts and build a winter backpacking group where you live. There are many ways to go about growing a backpacking group. The suggestions offered here are based on the history and experience of our Pacific Northwest group.

1. Use Social Media

Some hikers use Facebook, Meetup, WhatsApp, and WeChat to organize events and share photos. Other platforms may also work. I mainly use Meetup and WhatsApp. The easiest to use are perhaps Facebook and Meetup. You simply search these platforms for hiking groups nearby and/or create your own.

Our group is based in Washington state. The mountains and forest are not far away and people living here want to get out and enjoy abundant natural beauty. Hiking, backpacking, and climbing have a long history in the state. The state has 31 designated Wilderness Areas and is home to Mount Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades national parks. It also has Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, 3 national recreation areas, and 8 national forests. The Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest alone extends 140 miles from Canada to the boundary of Mount Rainier National Park. All of this outdoor wilderness, parkland, and forests, has helped create an outdoor recreation culture in the state.

Be Patient

Even with around 12 million Washington and Oregon residents and the 24 ski areas claiming 4.5 million ski visits in 2022–23, it is still hard to find winter backpackers. It took about 6–8 years to build up the group to a level that can do events nearly every two weeks of the year.

This should be possible in other states too, especially ones with large wilderness areas and existing hiking communities, such as California, Colorado, New York, Utah, Wisconsin, Michigan, West Virginia, Georgia, and many other parts of the world.

It takes time because you need to have enough winter events and participants for word to spread.

Build Friendships in the 3-season Hiking Community

Initially, I met other backpackers by joining hiking Meetups in the Seattle area. The largest hiking Meetup in the Seattle Area is Seattle Outdoor Adventurers which has 27,000 members and around 80 organizers. I have heard the Sierra Club in Los Angeles and Orange Counties represents 43,000 members and that the Los Angeles Hiking Group has 15,000 members. The Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) is considered the largest hiking group in Colorado with 10,000 members. There are similar large hiking groups in New York and New Jersey. Michigan has the Hiking Michigan Welcome organization. Wisconsin has the Milwaukee, has three growing hiking groups. Idaho has the Idaho hiking Club and a hiker who moved from our area to Idaho stated the Utah Hikers and Backpackers Meetup. If there is no hiking group in your area you can start one.

I joined different Meetups but eventually found Hike to a Summit which had around 1500 members. This Meetup had a core of maybe 100 devoted 3-season day hikers. They did hikes exactly as the name implies. They would hike to a summit to enjoy the views and then hike back down the same day. Their Meetup changed hands several times before the main organizer moved away. After that I used the Meetup to organized overnight backpacking trips.

Hike to a Summit was a good Meetup for day hikers, but it became clear that few people in that Meetup were interested in overnight backpacking, and fewer were willing to go backpacking in cold weather. Day hikes are fine, but I want sunsets, star-filled nights, sunrises, and winter landscapes. Different Meetups and organizers emphasize different types of events and attract people with different interests. Some do short day hikes, some overnight trips, some scrambling and climbing, etc.

The Winter Backpacking Meetup

Wanting to find more people interested in winter backpacking, I decided to start a new Meetup called Winter Backpacking in the PNW, which I later changed to simply Winter Backpacking. This name allowed people to understand the emphasis was on winter activities such as snowshoeing and overnight camping. The App allows me to share photos that indicate that we are doing snow activities and not trying to find low-elevation lakes and rivers where most people go in the wintertime. 

For years the group was small and I often had to cancel events because too few people signed up. This all changed with the COVID-19 pandemic. As the Pandemic ended, people were eager to get back outdoors and membership suddenly grew. Most important, word about our group was spreading in the hiking community. Another hiker agreed to help and having two organizers improved the experience for people attending. More people signed up for events and some events reached the 12-person limit.

The Winter Backpacking Group Page

In 2021, I started a Facebook group page. The purpose of the Facebook group page was to allow people interested in winter backpacking to share their experiences and photos from around the world. The group page has nearly 3000 members but low participation which is why I’m sharing these tips for how to organize a winter backpacking group.

There are many Facebook group pages for hikers and backpackers. In our area there are the Washington Hikers and Climbers, Mountain Loop Highway Hikers And Backpackers, PNW Washington Hiking Group, and many more. Individuals use these group pages to find other hikers and share information such as road closures and trail conditions. 

In addition to Meetup and Facebook, WhatsApp is a useful tool for event planning. The messaging feature on Meetup is unreliable. People are not always seeing the messages, but they are more responsive to WhatsApp messages. I don’t always use WhatsApp, but if people sign up for an event that involves more planning and coordination, I invite them to join a WhatsApp chat group to discuss the planning. These discussions include permit information, who is carpooling, shuttling if the final trailhead is different from the starting point, gear requirements, after-hike restaurant options, and so on.

I also created this website, WinterBackpacking.com, to explains the gear and skills needed for winter backpacking in the mild and often wet conditions of the Pacific Northwest. Every person joining the Meetup receives a short welcome letter discussing the liability release, basic gear requirements, and further reading on WinterBackpacking.com.

I share photos and videos on Instagram and TikTok to let people see what the events are like. Apart from using social media, I do not do any advertising or promotion. All events are free except for costs such as transportation and permits. Most events don’t require permits.

2. Ask for Help

Hiking groups often split into fast and slow hikers. New hikers can struggle with balance in deep snow and are sometimes filled with anxiety and fear making mistakes or being left behind. As an organizer, it is hard to look after new hikers, slow hikers falling behind, new hikers getting too far ahead and also keep the group together, and be upfront navigating to the planned destination.

If you can identify a person who can assist you with the organizing, it will make it easier to keep the group together. Enlist a capable hiker to help you. Someone who will help you reign in the ones that want to take needless risks. Explain that you want them to consult with you and help keep the group together. Be encouraging. Two heads are better than one. It is good to give everyone a voice in the group, but ultimately, decisions need to be made. If you can make the decisions with another respected hiker in the group, it is easier to maintain group unity and safety.

3. Vetting Members

Vetting members is challenging. Some people will sign up who lack the basic fitness, skills, and gear to participate. Some will bring backpacks that are too heavy for them to carry. Some cannot balance on snowshoes nor have the strength necessary to break trails. For this reason, when people request to join, I ask them two simple questions:

• What is the most difficult hike you have hiked recently? and
• Do you carry the ten essentials?

The answers people give provide an idea of their abilities and skills. If someone says they don’t know about the ten essentials or don’t carry them, you can encourage them to get more experience and skills before joining the winter backpacking events. 

Beware of people whose most difficult experiences are to places where they relied on tour guides. They may expect you to take care of them.

There will be people who show up unprepared. Some people don’t read the event information and gear requirement notes and some will not agree with or respect your advice and planning. You can do a few gear checks to understand whether a person is paying attention.

In some ways people who are new to backpacking adapt more quickly than experienced 3-season hikers who are set in their ways and gear choices.

Gear checks

It is unrealistic to examine everyone’s pack before an event. However, if you recommend helmets and people show up with no helmets, it lets you know who is taking your advice seriously and who is not. I usually only check a few obvious things: 

1. Transceiver: Even if they can’t use it properly, they should be wearing one. At the bear minimum, you can turn it on for them and at least you can find them if they are buried in the snow.
2. Snowshoes: Are they mountain terrain or flat terrain? This is visually obvious. If they have flat terrain snowshoes and you know the route will be over steep slopes and hard snow, you want to advise them to come back another time with the correct snowshoes.
3. Trekking poles: Some people prefer to hike without trekking poles but in deep snow with a heavy pack, they will likely be unable to balance. Trekking poles also need to be fitted with snow baskets to provide support in fresh snow.
4. Solid pad: Some people think their air mattress is sufficient because it may have more than enough R-value. They don’t realize a solid pad is also needed around camp and as a backup for air mattress failures. This gear ommission is often deliberate because they don’t yet understand the need or the gear redundancy strategies used by the group.
5. Nalgene bottle: For safety reasons, water should be carried on the outside of the winter backpack. The bottle should also be clipped on to secure it. Some people insist on using a pack bladder in winter. They don’t understand that this is dangerous and likely to freeze, making it useless. A Nalgene bottle is essential for comfort and first aid. Both of these issues are easy to spot without opening a backpack.

I usually pack extra gear in my car to solve some of these issues, but if you see a person getting too many basic things wrong, you know to ask more questions before heading out together. Some people will consciously ignore a gear recommendation when they don’t understand why it is necessary.

Direct Message New Attendees

If a person is new to the group, it is best to reach out to them before the event and discuss gear basics. Ask them questions and see if they are responsive, argumentative, or resistant. This direct message discussion will allow you to give them a heads-up about what to bring and expect. It will also help you know if the person is adding useful skills to the group or will be a problem. The questions I ask are:

1. How heavy is your pack? A pack over 40–45 lbs is a red flag. The heavier the pack the more likely they cannot keep up with the group or will be falling over in deep snow or slipping on steep slopes. Talk to them about reducing the pack weight. Sometimes people show up with heavy backpacks without even bringing the necessary gear. 
2. What is your sleeping bag rating? If they don’t know, encourage them to find out and possibly upgrade or bring a sleeping bag liner to boost performance. For deep cold events, it is essential to know that members are not exceeding the limits of their gear.
3. What is your gear’s R-value? They need a minimum of 4–6 R-value. Even if an air mattresses has 4–7 R-value, they still need a solid pad for around camp.

Manage Expectations

Attendees usually arrive by car or public transit and meet together at a Park and Ride. Post the Meetup point, directions to the trailhead, trail name, and trail number. Provide a coffee shop or ranger station address if you will be stopping along the way. As an organizer, I direct message my cell/text number to attendees so they can contact me if they are going to be late or have trouble with directions. I ask people to show up early and we usually allow 15–20 minutes for anyone who is late. After that, they have the option of trying to meet the group at the trailhead. If drivers caravan to the trailhead, that will help prevent drivers from getting lost. I also share my InReach address. 

In the Meetup event comment section, you can share weather forecasts, links to the avalanche forecast, and any special gear requirements, such as bear canisters, transceivers, snowshoes, microspikes, helmets, ice axes, etc. You can also encourage them to check their headlamp batteries, stove fuel level, and fire starters. If you anticipate hiking in the rain, snow, whiteouts, or darkness, provide instructions so they can be mentally prepared and bring the appropriate gear.

At the trailhead, emphasize that people are expected to hike together. Putting slower hikers at the front of the group can help. Have a lead navigator and a trail sweeper to manage the back and front of the team. Establish stopping points so that the lead and sweep can communicate the group’s status. Be aware that most hikers will need to stop and adjust layers within the first 20–30 minutes of the hike.

Expect Some Suffering

Even if they have all the right gear, new members will likely suffer on the first event because they don’t yet understand the skills required to prevent warmth loss. You will need to keep an eye on them. In most instances, they will observe the behavior of the other more experienced members and learn what to do to stay warm and safe. They will see which gear and methods works best and they usually upgrade before their next trip.

If hikers follow best practices they will be comfortable and never shiver. However, new hikers are just learning and for that reason you need to know about the early signs of hypothermia and keep an eye on their behavior.

4. Build a Team Mindset

Some backpackers and hikers are introverts who like their solitude. As an organizer, you want to get everyone to respect the group and be a team player. This will increase safety. There are specific things you can do to build a team mindset. The key is to stay together—ride together, hike together, eat together, and camp together. There is always time around camp for people to wander around and have solitude.

1. Carpool together. Most Meetups have a designated gathering point such as a Park and Ride. From there, people can carpool to the trailhead.

2. Hike together: This is the hardest thing to do in cold weather. People need to maintain a sufficient pace to keep warm and not everyone has the same pace. Nonetheless, set expectations at the start of the hike. Get faster hikers to stop and layer up at points along the way.  

3. Eat together. If the drive to the trailhead is long, try to have a place to stop for coffee and a restroom break. At the campsite, dig a cooking pit in the snow. This provides a place for everyone to sit together at meal times. I usually dig a C-shaped pit for the whole group while everyone sets up their tents. This shape allows everyone to see each other during meals. This is an important practice because it helps ensure that everyone gets a hot meal, their water resupplied, and a hot water bottle for the night. It also allows you as organizer to find out how everyone is doing or if there are any issues that need your attention.

After the hike, find a restaurant where everyone can have a meal together before returning to the Park and Ride. Often, the food options are limited and subpar but I can usually find a pizza place or a Mexican or Thai restaurant that can accommodate most people including vegetarians and those with halal restrictions.

4. Camp together. Left to themselves, some hikers will walk off and set up their tents away from the group. Encourage everyone to camp fairly close together. This is important for safety. In a storm, the wind makes it hard to hear people in trouble. If you need to get everyone to break camp and move off an exposed ridge because of a sudden lightning storm, you want everyone close by. Any gear or warmth problem is easier to manage when it is easy to communicate with the group.

Ultimately, your winter backpacking group is an opportunity for people to make friends. As you get to know people in the group you can help facilitate these friendships. 

5. Encourage Self-sufficiency

It might seem contradictory to the goal of team building, but gear sharing is not the safest practice. In winter conditions, gear redundancy, and gear self-sufficiency are important. 

• Gear redundancy: First, if a stove fails, someone else can offer theirs as a backup. If the whole group is relying on one or two stoves and they fail, it could create a serious safety issue. If an air mattress fails, another hiker can share a solid pad (combined, two pads are 4 R-value). If a tent blows away, someone can share their tent.
• Gear self-sufficiency: If someone gets ahead of the group and gets lost, gets separated from the group in a whiteout, or decides to turn back, they need a complete gear set to be safe. If you plan to share a tent and that person doesn’t show up for the event, what will you do? Everyone should have a complete gear kit. They should arrive self-sufficient, know the route, and be ready to navigate safely.

6. Have a Liability Release

If you want to limit your liability you may need to seek professional legal advice—something I can’t offer. Liability is a serious concern. For every event I plan, a Release of Liability is posted in the event description and I request an acknowledgment that participants are releasing the organizer from liability. Everyone is informed in the Welcome Letter that joining the Meetup means that they are accepting of the Release of Liability. Some organizations are stricter and require a signed document, such as the Sierra club.

• Avoid charging or accepting any payments because that may be interpreted as indicating you have a fiduciary duty.
• Make it clear that everyone is responsible for themselves and for knowing the risks they are accepting.
• Never understate the dangers or risks involved.
• Never characterize a route or activity as “safe.” Any hike into the mountains, any time of the year, involves hazards that could result in injury or death.
• Encourage people to join, but make it clear that the dangers and hazards are real and are part of the experience.

7. Be Inclusive

The goal is to increase safety by building a team and that’s easier to do if you have an inclusive mindset and strategy. It is best to set aside assumptions about who will be interested in winter backpacking or capable of doing it.

When it comes to carrying a heavy pack up a mountain, I have not found that large men are better at it than small women. Often when I post a difficult hike, it is mostly women who sign up. Some members are experienced mountaineers and others are office workers just discovering outdoor recreation.

Neither gender nor age are indicators of ability. Many of the strongest and most capable hikers in our meetup are small and in their 50s and 60s. Many of the slower hikers are better able to reach the destination on longer routes. The general guideline is that a backpack should be no more than 20% of a hiker’s body weight. For the smaller hikers in our group, it is closer to 30%. You cannot judge a person’s abilities or commitment by appearance.

My own observation is that Meetup groups that are more inclusive tend to have more participation and longevity.

Creating a safe and welcoming Meetup experience is not difficult. Here are a few basic tips:

• Avoid gender assumptions.
• Avoid comments about a person’s appearance.
• Avoid comments and jokes about sex and sexuality.
• Don’t over-explain. Before offering advice, consider prefacing it with “I would like to offer some advice but I don’t want to be explaining something you already know.” They will appreciate the respect and usually indicate whether you should proceed.  
• Let people take care of themselves. Don’t touch or give physical assistance unless it is requested.
• Have a three-person minimum.

Some of our events are majority-male and others are majority-female. The membership stats for our Facebook Group page are about 60/40 male/female with the largest number of hikers in the 45–54 age demographic. For some reason, it seems that people are more adventurous in that age group.

Seattle, like most American cities, is a diverse place with people from around the world. This diversity is reflected in our Meetup group. We have hikers ranging from early 20s to mid 60s from China, Taiwan, India, Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Latvia, Israel, Syria, Iran, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Germany, France, Netherlands, and more. Thankfully, the people who join in our activities are openminded and accepting of diversity.

Many are already experienced backpackers and others are new to the activity. People from every background enjoy winter backpacking. Don’t assume that there is any particular ethnicity, gender, or age group will not be interested in winter backpacking, capable of handling the challenges involved, or unable to be your friend.

People are individuals and everyone loves the wilderness in their own way. My own experiences with winter backpackers has confirmed my belief in the fundamental oneness and goodness of humankind. I am grateful for all the people who have joined in on these wilderness adventures.

Guard Your Group Reputation

As I mentioned earlier, it takes time to build up a Meetup and for word to spread around the hiking community. Reputation is important. People need to hear that the group is a safe space and welcoming. People accept that the mountains can be dangerous but they don’t want to be harassed by other hikers or feel unwelcome. It is up to you as the organizer to create a positive and inclusive culture. A successful Meetup is a real joy, don’t let anyone or bad behavior spoil the group reputation.

The Cost Barrier

One barrier that cuts across gender and ethnicity is costs. Because winter backpacking requires a larger investment than 3-season backpacking there is a tendency for some people to not participate even though they are interested. Worse, some hikers will omit gear that is important for safety because of the costs.

If I had to buy new winter gear, using my current recommendations for just the top ten items, the cost would be around $2,800 (without tax) and that’s with some items on sale. Some people will spend more for a bicycle or a hotel on one vacation, so comparatively, it is not much costs and the gear can last for years. Nonetheless, the costs will inhibit some people, especially if they are unsure if they will enjoy the activity.

Like many activities, it is possible to start out with low-cost gear and upgrade later. For my first trip, I used a heavy synthetic zero-degree sleeping bag that cost less than a hundred dollars.

Be mindful of the cost barrier. Avoid creating a culture where people feel unwelcome if they don’t have the best name brands or most expensive gear. Some hikers are good at making 3-season tents work in winter conditions. There are hikers who participant regularly with gear I wouldn’t choose. As long as they are safe and it works for them, it’s okay. The goals are safety and participation.

Because gear costs can be a barrier, it is useful to keep some extra gear around to loan out. Most importantly, I have two extra transceivers. Beyond that, I can outfit someone with a complete kit if necessary. If they have a good experience, they will likely get the necessary gear and come again. There are few things more satisfying than introducing someone to an activity that has such high rewards and enjoyment.

Offer Events for Beginners

One way to encourage participation is to offer a range of events, some easy enough for beginners and some that require less gear commitments. I have two main types of events for beginners. At the beginning of winter, I plan short snowshoe trips to an area near a ski resort. This allows beginners to try out their gear and learn techniques from more experienced members.

At the beginning of summer when there is still some snow to camp on but the air is warmer, I plan several short hikes to introduce hikers to snow camping. This allows hikers to experience camping on snow without having to upgrade their 3-season kits. Fear of camping on snow is one of the biggest barriers to people participating. Giving hikers this basic skill enables them to get over this fear.

Planning events in the spring, summer, and fall, also allows new members to meet members who have experience in winter conditions. This process of building relationships in warm-weather conditions encourages new members to join for the colder events.

Let us know your thoughts and suggestions

The path that led to our winter backpacking community is one way to do it. Perhaps you know some additional or better ways. Please share your ideas, experiences, and challenges below. Your comments and questions are welcomed.