Hiking in the winter doesn’t get all the love it deserves, with winter hikes you get fresh air, gorgeous mountainscape views, additional health benefits, fewer crowds, and so much more.
Scenic Benefits
We all know that Armenia has an exceptionally beautiful landscape, but It's not all about the heross country skiing and have fun going down the mountain. You can grab the snowshoes and see what it’s like to walk on meters of snow. You can even pack your ice skates and hike to a lake or pond and have yourself a bit of a winter paradise when you get to your destination.
Whatever your mode of transportation so long as you get out into nature, you will be doing yourself a favor.
Winter vs Summer
Summer hikes are a great way to experience the wonder and beauty of Armenia, but what you get with a winter hike in the mountains is an escape into another world that does wonders for your mind and body.
Besides, there are fewer bugs, less sunburn,fewer crowds, and cheaper accommodations for the overnight hiker “during the off season.”
So put on your thermal layer, grab your winter boots, trade the bucket hat for a beanie and we’ll see you out there while the winter is still going on.
Good Vibes Good Times
Warm and Cozy
Let’s not kid ourselves, half the fun of winter outings are about coming back to a nice warm and cozy home with a fire and hot cocoa. There are hundreds of cabins, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, and winter hotels nestled in the mountains that will give you the ideal rest and recovery after a long day on the mountains, and who doesn't love a hearty dinner and breakfast.
Beyond Hiking
We all love a good hike but the mountains simply have so much to offer. The fact is, that in the winter offers you activities that you just can't do in the summer, such as:
Ice Skating: Lots of hikers pack their skates and head to the mountains to find that lake or pond to skate on.
Snowshoeing: Usually when people walk on snow their feet sink so deep they can’t walk. Try snowshoeing and feel what it's like to walk on powder.
Cross-Country Skiing: Did you know that you don’t have to walk when you hike? You can ski uphill or literally across the plateaus with beautiful views and if you ski uphill, your descent will be one of the easiest you have ever had.
Health benefits
Probably the biggest reason to hike in the winter months are the endless health benefits, and we bet there are some you didn’t know about.
Just Breathe
Let's start with the obvious, a breath of mountain air can cure anything. When the fresh air is nice and cold, you instinctively feel the need to take a long deep breath. Taking deep breaths of quality air improves lung capacity and inhalation, flooding your body with crisp oxygen, especially if you’re coming from an urban environment.
Get the Blood Flowing
Hiking in the cold is known to help with your immune system and overall blood circulation. Pretty much the same benefits you would get from a cold plunge, just way more fun and way more affordable. After being in cold temperatures, your body works harder to keep you warm, which means your circulatory system and heart start working at optimal capacity and training your blood vessels for a long and healthy life.
And with the added blood flow you get an increase of white blood cells that fight infection and keep diseases away. Your grandma might have told you to stay inside where it's warm, but if you’re hiking you become your own heat source and you can be warmer than if you were at home.
Burn Fat and Grow Muscle
Have you ever noticed how animals who spend their time in the cold end up being bigger and stronger than animals that spend their time in warm temperatures? That's because colder temperatures enhance muscle growth and calorie burn. Walking through cold temperatures adds an extra element of exertion to your hike, add that to resistance in the snow and you have yourself a better back, core, and leg workout than you would have gotten in the summer. Burn more calories, eat good food, and build strong muscles.
Walking on Snow
One great thing about walking in the snow is the softer impact on your joints and back. There are few things more satisfying than the crunch of snow underneath your boots and when you find you got twice the workout with a quarter of the pain, then you might start making a habit of hiking in the snow.
Body and Mind
While physical benefits are what our friends will see and notice, there are a bunch of mental benefits to winter hikes as well. Winter can be a drag, with more hours of night and less sun, it's easy to get bummed out and sometimes for no reason at all. Here are some of the mental health benefits to get you out into the mountains to beat the winter blues.
The White Silence
Snow makes things quieter because sound waves get absorbed by the snow instead of bouncing back. Which means you can enjoy a peaceful and tranquil time breathing fresh air and getting some sun while looking out into the mountainscape views of Armenia. Seems like the outdoor enthusiasts idea of rest and relaxation.
Boost Your Creativity
The peace that comes from an outdoor winter hike often leaves a person with less stress, higher cognitive output, and enhanced creativity. It's no surprise that many of the world's greatest artists found inspiration in nature, maybe it's time to let Armenia’s mountains become your muse.
Get the Sleep You Need
You will sleep like a baby because hiking winter mountains requires more effort and is more challenging on the body, which improves the quality of sleep. While you will feel energized during your hike, afterwards when you wind down and settle in for the evening, you will get the rest you need to kick off the days and weeks to come.
