How to Layer Up Correctly
Avoid the endless sweat-and-freeze cycle on the mountain.
Begin your hike feeling a little chilly. Your body warms up fast once you move uphill. If you start bundled up, you'll be drenched in sweat within ten minutes. That trapped moisture hits you with a freezing blast the second you stop for a break.
Base layer: synthetic or merino wool, worn against the skin to wick moisture away. Never cotton. It holds sweat and stays wet all day. Insulation: a fleece pullover you can throw on the moment you stop. Shell: a waterproof jacket for wind and rain. Keep both the fleece and shell easily accessible in your pack.
The most important habit is stopping to remove layers before you start sweating heavily. Not after. When you stop for lunch, put the fleece on immediately, before your body cools down. If wind picks up or rain starts, layer the shell over everything.