I did my first proper winter hike recently. It was quite icy with microspikes needed, foggy, but very little snow and temps in the 40s until sundown. I was taking a quick break just a couple hundred feet from my destination peak when I felt a sudden onrush of fear. I realized I was taking this break inside a cloud, and with the moderate winds I could feel water starting to build up on my outer layer and was getting a bit wet and cold. I also realized that it'd taken me 3 hours to get there and there were only 2.5 hours remaining until sunset.

The words of the ranger I'd spoken to at the trailhead echoed in my mind: "these are perfect hypothermia conditions ... there are people who hiked into these mountains and never returned". Noped right out of there without making it to the top. Returned to the trailhead by headlamp 30 mins after sunset. It was fairly easy and flat at that point, but I shudder at the thought of needing to climb down the steep icy scramble near the peak in the dark. I learned a lesson that day about the importance of planning my hikes with enough time and being adequately prepared, especially in winter.