Learning When to Nope-Out (Part 1)

It's inevitable. One day you're going to check the weather after shoring up your plans for a big hike, and your heart will sink. Those perfect conditions have shifted and now things are looking a little less than ideal. If you're anything like me, there's no way you're going to let a little change in weather alter your whole weekend plan - especially when you've already made all your arrangements!

If you haven't been here before, keep reading. If you have been here before, still - keep reading. It's easy to get summit fever and start making rash decisions. Afterall, as long as you pack appropriately and take all the safety precautions, you'll "probably be fine". Now, before you assume this post is just to scare you into being extra safe, and encouraging you to nope-out of every less-than-ideal hiking day, you are sorely mistaken. But first, let's start with a quick story-time.

The view pictured above was taken from the summit of Mt. Lafayette in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire. (AllTrails) It's home to some of New Hampshire's most breathtaking views. However, when planning out this trip up north, I was met with a tough decision. The weather forecast, though started out as perfect at the beginning of the week, was now not exactly ideal. What was a beautifully sunny day was now (one night before my trip) overcast with sustained winds of over 35mph at the peak, gusts up to 60+mph, high humidity and below freezing temps at the summit.

I spent hours pining over my decision to go or not go. I read blogs, chatted with fellow hikers, and watched more forecasts than I’d like to admit. But finally my stubborn attitude got the best of me and I decided to go for it. I’d hate to say it was a mistake, because I learned so much from the experience, but it was definitely far from ideal. Weather aside, the view at the top was completely white-out. I was essentially in a cloud, looking out at… a cloud. The photo above was captured right before I started my descent when there was a quick break in the clouds. Granted, the view was incredible for those few seconds - but what a bummer to not be able to experience the view in all its glory! Moral of the story? I probably should have picked a different day for this summit. There are plenty of other solid hikes with “no views” at the summit that would have been better suited for this day.

Now with all this said, was it the end of the world? No. Were the conditions dangerous? Not really. (Keep in mind, I always pack appropriately.) But the real issue was that I am not out here just to bag summits. I absolutely love to enjoy nature and all the beauty she has to offer. And the views for me are one of the greatest rewards for all my efforts climbing those 4,000+ feet to the top.

Ok so now we're primed up and ready for the good stuff. Let's talk about what we're all here for. Lists! Before you find yourself in a situation like mine, do yourself a favor and create your own nope-out checklist. Don't wait until you have to make the decision to nope-out or not. Write it out before you plan your next hike, and then stick to it! This checklist will look different for everyone, but here are some key points on mine...

Weather

• > 60% cloud cover

• Sustained winds above 35mph at the summit

• > 20% Chance of rain during the time scheduled for the hike

But don't stop there! Weather is only one section of a nope-out checklist. Feel free to add things like wellness, including how you're feeling the night before (or morning of) a hike. Also keep in mind things like road conditions (especially if you are a winter hiker). Keep in mind, this list can be used for things other than just hiking. Create a list for skiing or snowboarding, kayaking, climbing, you name it.

The reality here is, we all love what we do, and we're stubborn. We live in a world where truly nothing is out of reach, and we want to be "unstoppable". Sometimes we forget to set boundaries, and it is these situations where we can find ourselves in deep regret. So, create some boundaries for yourself ahead of time, and let clear-headed you make the call. You'll be glad you did.

With Love, Peace, and Wine,

Molly