What to pack for Arizona in December

Lows around 27°F. Goes under the shell when the wind picks up.

Wear one, dry one. Cotton stays wet all week here.

The layer you'll wear more than any other.

Lows drop to minus 3 degrees Celsius at altitude.

Wind chill makes exposed fingers numb within minutes.

Frozen ground and snow cover the terrain most days.

High altitude and clear winter air intensify UV rays.

Insects remain active even as temperatures drop.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Remote terrain and cold weather demand basic medical supplies.

Short daylight and cold drain phone batteries quickly.

Dark by 5:15pm. Every campsite chore after that is a two-hands job.

Domestic travel means you skip the checked-bag line entirely.

Nine point eight hours of daylight means shorter hikes.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

Snow and wind make regular gloves wet and useless.

For the mornings and the nights.

Desert air is dry and wind reaches 18 kilometers per hour.

Snow falls here in December and nights freeze hard.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

Altitude and dry air dehydrate you faster than you notice.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Desert terrain makes it easy to lose gear on trails.

Winter gear takes up more space than summer packing.

Layers for temperature swings between sun and shade compress better organized.

Heavy winter clothing and boots need real luggage space.

Wool and synthetics need washing every few days in cold.

Lows around 27°F. One blanket that packs small covers the car, the campsite and the beach at sunset.

Snow works into boots and socks on the trail.

Lips crack fast in desert cold and thin air.

Tap water is safe but hands get very dry here.

Desert insects bite and sun exposure is still intense.

Cold reduces battery life on every device you carry.

Travel through populated areas near the national park.

Bulky insulated gear fits better when compressed tight.

Dry desert air and wind chap skin everywhere.

Pockets and hands lose heat fast in minus three degrees.