In backpacking circles, shoulder season refers to the time of season between the full peak (summer) and off season (winter) hiking periods. Shoulder season timing varies by region. In the fall, warm care-free summer days are gone and likely replaced by crisp, but often pleasant shorter days with nighttime temperatures calling for that warmer sleeping bag you may have stashed away for the summer. Sudden cold snaps aren’t uncommon, and in many parts of the country, you can encounter significant snow, then warming and melt cycles.

Shoulder season hiking can bring a wide variety of weather and anything from warm to chilly temperatures.

Shoulder Season in Spring

In the spring, winter still holds its grip on the land and in colder parts of the country the ground in many places will still be covered with a season’s worth of slowly melting snow. Spring is beginning to show itself and winter might be over, but it also might not be…the weather could surprise with a late-season snow storm as well. Overall, shoulder season often calls for a blend of summer and winter gear with most hiking through pleasant daytime temperatures and crisper nights, but with a dose of unpredictability thrown in to make things interesting.

Though not quite full on winter, shoulder season may just be the time of the year to get that hot water bottle going at night and would be a great time of the year to add in those down booties you might have left behind on summer trips, and perhaps along with some hand warmers as well.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in Issue 11 of TrailGroove Magazine. You can read the original article here.