How to prepare for snowsports with kids

The most anticipated day of the year in our household finally came this past weekend.

No, it wasn’t anyone’s birthday. Nor was it a special holiday. But you’re getting warmer (or perhaps I say colder?)…

Saturday was our first day trip to Mount Hood to go sledding, hiking, and basically just rolling and stomping around in the first big snow of the season.

We are fortunate enough to live in an eastern suburb of Portland that is about an hour-long drive to the notorious snow-covered peak, and we’ve been keeping an eye on the weather for more than a month anxiously awaiting the day that we could dig out our snow gear from the back of our closets and plan a day trip to the mountain. It’s one of our favorite outdoor activities.

There are plenty of sno parks and ski lodges to choose from in Oregon, but our favorite spot on Mount Hood is White River West off Highway 35. It’s a massive (normally rocky) area where a rushing creek slices through the middle of a wide-open space between two treelines, and it has the perfect hills for sledding and trails for hiking or snow-shoeing or cross-country skiing—basically any activity you’d love to do in the snow. And it’s rarely overly crowded.

And this past weekend, it got dumped on.

We grew up in the South, so for us, cruising down the 26 until we enter what feels like the portal to Narnia is magical every time we do it. I mean, this ain’t no Alabama dusting or sporadic ice storm. Back home, if we’re lucky enough to see even a few snowflakes, we can head outside in jeans and a T-shirt and not shiver once. But in Oregon, we’re talking waist-deep snowdrifts. Initially, we felt way out of our depths when it came to preparing for snow sports here. And we’ve learned the hard way that the secret to actually enjoying a day in the snow, rather than shivering your buns off, is all in the preparation. So I’ve put together a few tips that will ensure your day in the snow doesn’t turn into the Great Meltdown (figuratively and literally).

Invest in the right clothing. While this is true of most outdoor activities, it’s especially important in extreme weather. Having snow creep up your pants leg or your own sweat freeze against your skin would mean game over. So, we layer this way:

A base layer that wicks moisture away from the skin (don’t even think about cotton; think wool or poly blend, or even activewear with wicking technology). You can make economical choices here; I wear my Calia running tights with a thermal base layer top that I bought at Target. The Mr. and the kids wear basic All in Motion brand thermal sets, also from Target.
Wool winter socks. Technically, this is still a base layer, so again, think moisture-wicking to prevent clammy, cold feet.
Waterproof bibs. These really are the secret sauce. We invested in good-quality snow bibs, and they haven’t failed us yet. The Mr. and I have these and these Burton bibs from REI.com, and the kids each have this one from Columbia (in black, so we can pass them down to the next kid when the older sibling outgrows theirs). The benefit of buying bibs is that, unlike pants, you don’t have to worry about snow creeping down into your waistband. Our kids literally roll around and crawl in the snow and stay completely warm and dry for hours.
The kids’ bibs are insulated; the grown-ups’ are not. I’m pretty hot-natured, so this combination works for me. But waterproof technology (rather than water resistant) is the key. Bibs are specifically designed to have an additional inner layer that cinches at the bottom of the leg (called a cuff guard) to prevent snow from creeping in. I love that the kid’s bibs were also designed with Outgrown technology, meaning we can let the seams out and extend them to get another year or more of wear out of them. Bibs can be expensive, so we raided our local Columbia outlet and found these at a fraction of the cost.
Insulated, waterproof outer layer. We prefer the 3-in-1 interchange coats from Columbia. Like the kids’ bibs, their coats also have the Outgrown expandable/extendable technology to extend their wearability. We also like that the inner shell is insulated, and could be taken out depending on the outside temp, but the outer layer is completely waterproof. We also like Columbia’s insulated and waterproof gloves, which have clasps to fasten them to each other and cinch around the wrists. Another outlet find for the family bought with a BOGO deal. (Columbia is basically our favorite go-to for most outdoor activities. Not an affiliate; just a true fan.)
Insulated, waterproof boots. We bought these for the kids, and the Mr. and I use our hunting boots, which keep our feet toasty warm and completely dry.
Hats, gaiters, headbands…This is all personal. Our daughter and I like fleece headbands or wool toboggans (or beanies, as they call them in the PNW); the guys all wear beanies. Sometimes, if it’s snowing or the wind is blowing, we’ll add gaiters, but usually we don’t need them. (Our jackets also have built-in face guards.)

Take the right supplies. Depending on the actual snow sport you enjoy, the list of necessary supplies will look different. But for a typical day out in the snow that includes sledding, hiking, building a snowman, etc., these are the things we take with us:

A backpack. They make backpacks especially for snow sports, but we found our hiking backpacks are the best option for us. (They’re from Osprey; I have the Mira and Kelley has the Manta.) They are water resistant and include a rain cover if it's pretty wet out; they include all the best pockets and storage and even a water reservoir, and they are ergonomically designed to be worn comfortably for extended periods of time.
Trekking poles. You can spend a small fortune on trekking poles, but we found these on Amazon that work perfectly. They include mud and snow baskets, tips for concrete or rocky surfaces, end caps and a bag for storage, and the ability to adjust the length to accommodate both my 5’2” self and my 6’ husband. And since they’re made from carbon fiber, they are lightweight, and the ergonomical cork handles are also a plus. They make all the difference when hiking through thigh-deep snow and are a knee-saver when traversing hills.
First aid kit. We’ve had our share of minor injuries while out in the snow and learned our lesson the hard way how important it is to be prepared. (I’ll never forget having to wipe my daughter’s bloodied nose with her COVID mask.) We have this one and this one.
Water. Even though it can be a pain to haul around filled stainless steel water bottles for a family of five, it’s definitely a necessary thing to have when you’re huffing and puffing out in the middle of the forest. It can get really chilly trying to quench your thirst by eating snow. (And there is always the less heavy water bladder option.)
Snacks. Packs of trail mix or granola bars can extend the amount of time we can spend with the kids out in the snow before we need to grab a decent meal. Playing in the snow is excellent exercise, and they can work up quite an appetite, even if they don’t break a sweat.
Hand and toe warmers. These pocket-sized instant warmers are nice to have on hand.
Chapstick or petroleum jelly. Spreading a thin layer of Vaseline on our faces before heading out in the snow helps prevent wind-chapped faces, and keeping Chapstick handy is also beneficial for the same reason.
Odds and ends. We always take a flashlight, a pocket knife, hand sanitizer, a compass, an emergency whistle, travel microfiber towels, and sunscreen in our backpacks as well. In fact, these never leave our bag, so they’re always on hand if we were to need them when we venture outdoors.
Snow toys/tools. Our family shares three sleds, and we take a shovel with us to help shovel out a sled path and “steps” to help the kids climb back up to the top of the hill.

Set appropriate expectations. With any outing we enjoy as a family, we prepare our kids beforehand by reminding them of the possibility that plans may fall through, and that flexibility is essential. We also give details of our plan for the day so that our kids know what’s coming next, and the rules for how we expect them to behave. This kind of priming helps prevent bad attitudes before they start. Also, as parents we aim to have realistic expectations of what our kids can handle. (They probably won’t enjoy a two-hour hike as much as I do, and they probably won’t be able to walk in the snow as fast as Dad can.) We try to move at their pace as much as possible while also encouraging them to try things out of their comfort zones. But respecting their capacities makes adventuring as a family more fun for everyone.

What is your favorite snow activity? Are there any essentials you would add to this list?