Monica Devino

Monica Devino, a technical consultant with Oxford Consulting in Boston, Massachusetts, enjoys running and hiking in her spare time. Hikers like Monica Devino need to carefully consider their choice of gear and clothing for a hike.

Denim and cotton make poor choices for hikers. These fabrics’ strong water retention leads to sweatiness in hot weather and chills if things abruptly shift toward cold or wet. Polyester and nylon quickly move sweat off skin and dry out in short order, making them better choices. Depending on the weather, hikers should also consider a jacket to deal with cold or wet days.

As tempting as it may be to expose one’s feet with sandals or flip-flops, hiking footwear should be sturdy, providing support and traction. This is especially important on wet, rocky, or overgrown trails. These same principles apply to legwear, too, as rocks and branches can shred through thin, tight, or clingy legwear.

Overall, hikers should work to anticipate the conditions of the hike when choosing what to wear on a hike. Even those who spend a lot of time outside need to recognize that hiking trails can differ from paved walkways and well-groomed suburban nature walks, and plan for both geographic and climate challenges.

Hiking Vermont's Mount Mansfield — Hiking Vermont’s Mount Mansfield

The recipient of a bachelor’s in management information systems, Monica Devino is a software development professional who serves as a workday absence management consultant with IBM Global Business Services. Outside of her professional obligations, Monica Devino enjoys hiking Mount Mansfield, the highest mountain in Vermont.

Mount Mansfield gets its name from the fact that its summit ridge, when viewed from the east, resembles a human face; moreover, its most prominent features are named the Adams Apple, Forehead, Nose, and Chin, the latter of which is its highest point, at 4,393 feet. The most-visited mountain in the state, it has more than 200 acres of arctic tundra. Although it is suitable for hiking in all four seasons, visitors should be cautious of blowing snow in the winter, especially above the tree line. In winter, it’s better to hike along less exposed routes such as the Laura Cowles Trail.

The Laura Cowles Trail spans 2.7 miles with an overall elevation gain of 2,600 feet. It is more direct than the more popular Sunset Ridge Trail, which constitutes a 3.3-mile trek to the top of the mountain. Other popular trails include the 1.3-mile Toll Road and 2.3-mile Long Trail. While most hiking trails require no more than a day’s trip, there is lodging available for a fee at the Green Mountain Club’s Taft Lodge.