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Winter Camping tips

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Rusticles
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 1,333
If anyone of you has done this before give me your tips, I know some of you probably have some good ideas. We make this trip annually, (3rd year) where we load up our sleds and wagons and head into one of our favorite zones for a few days. We have decent amount of room to bring things and weight isn't much of a factor getting to the camping spot so we can be somewhat comfortable.
Feb 25 2015 11:30AM
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El.Guapo
Posts: 2139 - Karma: 3,173
Don't show a girl your downstairs business. It's already small but in the cold it will be hard to find.
Feb 25 2015 12:09PM
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fragglemuffin
Posts: 3312 - Karma: 444
If it's real cold at night and you don't have the best bag / sleeping pad, heat some water over the fire, pour it into a Nalgene / other bottle that won't melt and cuddle up with it when you go to sleep. That and bring lots of whiskey.
Feb 25 2015 12:25PM
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ggfski42
Posts: 651 - Karma: 700
Check the forecast. Seems like common sense, but you have no idea how many people head out into the woods for a few days with zero idea what the weather will be like.
Feb 25 2015 12:35PM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 1,333
ggfski42Check the forecast. Seems like common sense, but you have no idea how many people head out into the woods for a few days with zero idea what the weather will be like.


Haha, last year when we did this trip we were watching the forecast like hawks all week and it was getting progressively worse all week, we decided to tough it out though, It ended up being -35C in the evenings. and about -20C during the day. We decided to forgo the tent for a snow shelter. It was so fucking cold, so cold that we were putting our beer in boiling water to thaw them out and have beer slushy haha. We survived though for 4 days.
Feb 25 2015 1:59PM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2178 - Karma: 1,333
fragglemuffinIf it's real cold at night and you don't have the best bag / sleeping pad, heat some water over the fire, pour it into a Nalgene / other bottle that won't melt and cuddle up with it when you go to sleep. That and bring lots of whiskey.


Never thought of that, that's actually a very good idea. I usually use a bunch of those hand warmer things in my sleeping bag. We're bringing a wall tent with a stove this year.
Feb 25 2015 2:00PM
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soulskier
Posts: 17805 - Karma: 3,821
Ever heard of a gp medium?

those things are pretty awesome and the one we have at deer camp has a liner and an opening in the roof for a chimney

that, some bunk/cots, and a wood stove of some sort and you should be good
Feb 25 2015 2:45PM
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AT-AT
Posts: 3281 - Karma: 3,256
Just make sure you have enough food, water, and warm clothes.

Don't skimp out on setting up a bomb proof tent/shelter and get a fire roaring. If you go out prepared for what the weather is to be, you will be just fine.
Feb 25 2015 2:47PM
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caucasian_chad
Posts: 4078 - Karma: 3,625
I did learn something at Mt. Hood last May. If there's wet heavy snow falling, don't pitch your tent under trees. Snow will fall on your tent in big clumps all night and make a shit ton of noise and you will get no sleep. Then you will slip and fall off the log walk between your tent and the car in your half awake state and get soaked because the log is icy, and lucky for you the river level will be up because it snowed last night. But at least your iPhone didn't get fried because the battery was dead because you were playing Pokemon all night because you couldn't sleep. Your smokes will be destroyed though, and you'll have to sit in the day lodge at Timberline until your jacket and snowpants dry out somewhat.
Feb 25 2015 11:57PM
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Dragonslayer101
Posts: 283 - Karma: 857
Just remember to watch out for the Yetis
Feb 26 2015 12:24AM
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kim_jong_ill
Posts: 1019 - Karma: 3,147
Make sure you use multiple sleeping mats to get you as high as possible off the ground. Also, double bagging and making snow walls around your tent aren't a bad idea. lastly, cuddle with a warm water bottle and eat a lot.
Feb 26 2015 12:37AM
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LucasTrent
Posts: 138 - Karma: 1,460
weed and whisky
Feb 26 2015 12:45AM
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robotdna
Posts: 1232 - Karma: 2,959
Something that is counter-intuitive that I consider the MOST important tip of winter camping is ventilation. Open as many vents as you can manage while still being out of the wind. This allows moisture from your breath, body and clothes to move away from your down bag and not create a soaking wet sleeping bag by morning. A wet down bag is useless.
Feb 26 2015 2:25AM
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