You might be wondering why any sane person would want to try winter camping. The apparent negatives are myriad: It\u2019s cold, wet, snowy, windy, and miserable. Why would you want to experience that? Well, the positives are also that it\u2019s cold, wet, snowy, windy, and miserable. The positives are<\/em> the negatives.<\/p>\n Everyone\u2019s been on a vacation that was \u201cruined\u201d by bad weather or crazy bad luck befalling them, only to have it become one of the most vivid, best memories of their lives because it was so intense, difficult, and out of the ordinary. It becomes a story you can tell for years after. Even though it\u2019s \u201cbad\u201d in the moment, it\u2019s a source of joy for the rest of your life.<\/p>\n There are more reasons to winter camp, of course:<\/p>\n Winter camping is not the same as winter backpacking. There is some overlap, but camping implies access to a car, while backpacking implies severe weight limitations. This post is about winter camping\u2014so it assumes you have a little more room to pack things.<\/p>\n To begin with, the most important part of winter camping is to prepare yourself for the physical reality of being outside in the cold. It\u2019s going to be cold and possibly wet, but you are prepared for it. You can handle it. It will not break you. You have to know what you\u2019re signing up for. Accept the climactic realities, and you\u2019ll be able to focus on transcending them and having fun.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t just sit around in the cold and hope to have a nice time. You must be active. You have to be hiking, snow-shoeing, cross country skiing, skiing or snowboarding or sledding. You should be having snowball fights and building snow forts. Staying active keeps your body temperature up and makes meals all that much more satisfying.<\/p>\n If you stay active like you should, this will take care of itself, but maintaining a higher calorie intake will help you maintain body temperature and cold tolerance.<\/p>\n With a large enough fire you can handle any amount of cold weather. If you\u2019re lucky, your campsite will come with a fire ring. If you\u2019re not, you\u2019ll have to build a fire directly in the snow. You can\u2019t just start the fire right on the snow. It\u2019ll melt and put out the fire. Instead, spend some time stomping down the snow until it\u2019s compressed and flat, then lay down a piece of sheet metal or create a \u201cfloor\u201d of heavy logs upon which you can build the fire.<\/p>\n If you didn\u2019t bring your own wood, you\u2019ll have to find it in the area. To identify burnable wood in winter, keep these tips in mind:<\/p>\n This is a nice foldable fire pit you can throw in the car and take camping. This is a decent one with a grill attached.<\/p>\n Ground should be flat and sturdy, so you may have to pack down snow until it\u2019s level and compact. You should have a windbreak, either natural (large trees, rocks, etc) or manmade (build your own out of snow) to minimize the amount of wind hitting your tent.<\/p>\n Avoid camping under dying or rotting trees that look liable to break off in high winds or drop a 20 foot branch on you. Get a spot with ample views of the sunrise. Nothing like our sun\u2019s rays to cheer you up on a cold morning.<\/p>\n If you can only cover one thing with warm fabric, focus on the extremities. Keeping your head, hands, and feet warm and dry are the most important part of surviving winter camping. You could be in a T-shirt and shorts and as long as your extremities are warm and dry (and you\u2019re staying active), you\u2019ll feel fine.<\/p>\n Synthetic water repellant gear is extremely helpful when layered over more natural materials. So get the plastic rain jacket, but layer wool underneath it. You\u2019ll also want the most synthetic rain fly for your tent you can find.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll want a few things on hand to survive and thrive in the winter:<\/p>\n If there\u2019s no snow or just a few inches, you can get around just fine in boots. I\u2019d recommend sticking to minimalist waterproof boots; look here for a discussion of the best ones.<\/p>\n If there\u2019s a lot of snow, my absolute favorite way of getting around is on snowshoes.<\/p>\n Wool was designed by the hand of natural selection across millions of years to provide breathable protection against cold weather. Then humans take that raw, near-perfect substrate and make it even more perfect by turning it into fabric. If you want to survive cold weather, wear wool clothing, wool socks, shirts, gloves, and sweaters. Use wool blankets. Use wool insoles.<\/p>\n If you really want to splurge, you can even get a sleeping bag made entirely of wool (with a little cotton).<\/p>\n A four season tent has sturdier poles (to withstand wind), thicker material (to keep out the cold and keep in the warmth), and better\/more extensive water and snow resistance than three season tents. This is a solid choice I\u2019ve heard good things about: the REI co-op basecamp tent.<\/p>\n To really live it up, splurge for the \u201cglamping\u201d tent, complete with a heat-resistant jack for a wood stove. Go Hemingway-on-safari style.<\/p>\n Start with one foam pad directly on the ground with an inflatable on top of that. This minimizes body heat loss to the cold ground.<\/p>\n Foam pad should be closed cell.<\/p>\n Indoor-safe propane heaters can extend your ability to camp into even bitterly cold winters. This one is nice\u2014it\u2019s a good price, it\u2019s reliable, has great reviews, and it has instant shut-off when knocked over.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll want the ability to cook reliably on a stove in case the fire isn\u2019t working out. The Trangia from Sweden is very well-regarded. Glue some aluminum foil to a piece of plywood and use that to cook on.<\/p>\n Most importantly, enjoy yourself. You come from a long line of ancestors who braved cold weather and even\u00a0lived<\/em> outside in the cold their entire lives. You can handle a weekend camping in the snow.<\/p>\n How do you guys like camping in the snow? What are your best tips and tricks?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
What to Remember When Winter Camping<\/h2>\n
Accept that you will be cold and uncomfortable<\/h3>\n
Stay active<\/h3>\n
Keep calorie intake up<\/h3>\n
Know how to build a fire in the snow<\/h3>\n
\n
Choose the right location<\/h3>\n
Cover your extremities<\/h3>\n
Use synthetics sparingly, but using them<\/h3>\n
Winter Camping Essentials<\/h2>\n
Pack basic tools<\/h3>\n
\n
Get the right footwear<\/h3>\n
Wear wool<\/h3>\n
Sleep in a four season tent<\/h3>\n
Use two sleeping pads<\/h3>\n
Indoor propane heater<\/h3>\n
Get the right cook stove<\/h3>\n
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