When Leaves Fall, Your Clothes Count.

It may not be obvious to those who don’t spend a lot of time on the trails during this time of year, but as Autumn progresses, the trails become a clutter of dry leaves. The near silent clump of boots on hardened dirt and rocks and roots is traded for the rasping ‘shh shh shh’ of walking through drifts leaves.
If you pay extra attention to the ground as you noisily tramp along (which you should, since on warmer days, you may well wander across the occasional snake, well camouflaged by the leaves) you may notice at about which time of the season, which leaves fall.
You may not notice them, but sycamore trees start early. So do willow oaks and locusts. These trees will begin in late August, or, if it’s a particularly cool onset to Fall, even earlier. By mid-October, the maples are all changing color and beginning to drop moderately. By Thanksgiving, especially if there’s a nice north wind bringing a cold-front, the oaks will let go.
If you have the desire to walk among the bare trees, in this cooler weather, or if you need to go rake your yard, here are a few things to keep in mind about how to dress for it.
As winter approaches, daylight is more scarce, especially in the mountains. Between the wooded valleys that may only get a few brief moments of sunlight, and the dwindling temperatures at night, some days may not even reach the highs that the weatherman calls for.
Keeping this brisk truth in mind, it may be necessary to inventory your hiking apparel to make sure that it is safe and warm for colder temps.
To begin, anything made of cotton should be folded and put away until spring. Jeans, cotton socks, skivvies, t-shirts, hoodies and so on, are a bad choice. Veteran hikers will tell you ‘Cotton Kills’. It’s true.
This is because cotton retains moisture. The same principles that make cotton ideal for keeping you cool in Summer are the same principles that make it dangerous for you  in Fall and Winter. As you move, you sweat. As you sweat, the cotton clothing keeps the moisture against your skin. When you settle into a more calm activity, you’ll find that the chill of your clothes helps to enhance your chill. That’s just if it isn’t raining or if the wind isn’t blowing. You may find in that situation, with nothing more than a hoody, that you’re in a very bad situation.
So, avoid cotton. Polyester, or many other lightweight synthetic materials widely available for athletes are very good for winter hiking. Synthetics are designed to ‘wick’ the moisture from your skin, keeping you and your clothes dry.
Columbia makes a whole line of very affordable and effective clothes, from undies to hats that will help keep you warm and dry.
Another good idea is to wear ‘peelable layers’.
As you move along the trail, even in winter, you warm up. Before you begin to sweat, remove a few outer layers until you are comfortable, and keep going. If you feel chilly, bundle up again.
If you watched a high speed playback of any group of experienced hikers on the trail, you noticed how often they pull on and off their coats and hats.
Hikers must be constantly aware of their state of comfort, and adapt to it, to keep themselves at the optimal temperature.
Regardless if you are on the trail, or outside just a few feet from your door, wearing the proper gear in cold weather will keep you warm, happy and safe during the late fall and winter.