Hiking
in Calgary & the Alberta Rocky Mountains
CANADA
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Hiking
in Calgary & the Alberta Rocky Mountains
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What to Wear
Conditions
can change quickly in the mountains so it is very important that you bring
more clothing than you think you will need on the full day hikes. Dressing
for Activity in the Outdoors
The best way to regulate your
temperature while being active is to use the layering system. You can adjust
your temperature by adjusting your layers. Just
remember: Lot’s of thin layers are much better than fewer thick layers and
the type of fabric makes a big difference. The Wicking Layer:
This is your
first layer or your underwear layer. It comes in direct contact with your skin
and is responsible for moving moisture away from your skin. Wicking layers
should be synthetic materials that are designed to let moisture pass through. If
you wear cotton as your underwear layer it will trap moisture and you will get
chilled. Synthetic materials disperse perspiration so you remain warm even when
you are damp.
The Insulating Layer:
Your second
layer, and possibly third or fourth if it is very cold, traps and reflects heat
back into the body. It should be breathable so moisture moves through the layers
and gets away from your body. Fleece is the best insulating fabric. It has
millions of fibers and air pockets that trap warm air molecules. Fleece keeps
you warm even when it is wet and fleece dries very fast. Wool is good at
insulating but it doesn’t dry as fast as fleece and when wet it gets quite
heavy. Again, cotton is evil!
The Shell Layer:
This
final layer protects your body against wind, rain and snow. You can use a
wind-proof / resistant, water proof/ resistant or a combination of the two as
your shell layer.
We hike in all types of weather so be prepared and have a wonderful fresh-air fitness experience! All photos, graphics and written material are Copyright ©
1997- 2009 Fit Frog Adventures™.
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