Winter Camping, It's Cool!

No crowds, no bugs. If you like camping in the summer, there's no reason to pack it in during the winter months. Here are some tips.

Let's start with clothing, dress in layers so you can easily adjust your clothes to regulate body moisture and temperature. Three types of layers are considered normal: a liner layer against your skin such as Patagonia Capilene, an insulation layer (fleece), and a water- and wind-proof outer shell.

Don't even think of wearing anything made of cotton! Cotton loses its insulating qualities when it gets wet, whether from rain or sweat. Cotton also takes a long time to dry out. Wool or synthetic materials are much better suited to winter camping in cold weather conditions.

Your boots should have waterproof outer shells such as oiled leather or plastic. Even though fabric and leather boots may have Gore-tex linings, the outer layers will absorb water which will eventually freeze, placing a block of ice next to your foot.

Protect against heat loss through your head by wearing a hat. Over half of your body heat can be lost through your head.

Wear one pair of wool socks like the ones we carry from Wigwam and Smartwool. Be sure to carry plenty of dry socks. Wet socks can be dried overnight in your sleeping bag, preferably by placing them close to your body.

Make sure your gloves, especially liners, are not too tight on your hands. If they are too tight, they can constrict the blood flow and keep your hands from warming up. Carry extra gloves or liners to change into if your first pair gets wet. Gloves can be dried out overnight in your sleeping bag.

Eat, drink and be happy!

Include plenty of carbohydrates in your diet to provide fuel for hiking and for simply keeping your body warm.

One-pot meals for supper are the easiest way to cook in the winter. Food should be easy to fix and tasty enough to be appetizing.

Drink plenty of water, even though you don't think you are thirsty. Dry winter air will dehydrate you quickly without you noticing until it is too late. Water is necessary for your body to generate heat. Keep your water bottles from freezing in your pack by putting them in a wool sock or insulated bottle cover. You can make bottle covers by taping closed cell foam around your bottles.

Water mixed with something such as Gatorade, lemonade, etc will freeze at a lower temperature than plain water.

When melting snow for water, put a small amount of water in the pot first to keep from "scorching" the pot before the snow starts to melt.

Carry a few coffee filters to strain water melted from snow. Snow invariably contains bits of dirt, leaves, bugs etc that you might not want in your drinking water.

In below-freezing weather, turn your water bottles upside down so that the ice forms at the bottom of the bottle instead of in the opening.

The extra time needed for cooking and/or melting snow for water will require you to carry more stove fuel than for summer trips.

Where you'll hang out.

Three-season tents may not be sturdy enough to handle the high winds and snow buildup that sometimes accompany winter storms. They may also be too ventilated to provide much shelter from a blowing storm.

On the other hand, with the mild winter weather we've been having here in Wisconsin, three-season tents can work fine for winter camping.

Select a tent site that is sheltered from the wind if possible. Hanging a tarp between trees can help block the wind from your tent if needed.

Try to avoid any vegetation and set your tent up on snow if possible. Snow is the ultimate "No Trace" campsite because all signs of your camp will disappear when the snow melts in the spring.

Pack down the snow where you want to set up your tent before you set it up. Otherwise your body will melt a deformation into the loose snow. When that deformation refreezes it will make changing your sleeping position quite uncomfortable.

In windy, exposed campsites on snow, dig a hole 1-2' deep in which to set up your tent. This will reduce the amount of wind that blasts your tent. Digging out a 1'-2' deep pit under the vestibule area of the tent makes getting in and out of the tent easier.

Attach 4' - 6' of cord to each of your tent stake-out points so you can use rocks or logs for anchors if the ground is too frozen to drive in stakes or the snow is too soft to hold a stake.

Regular tent stakes usually don't work very well in snow. Instead you can use snow flukes or special snow stakes or skewers for anchoring your tent.

If you know you will be on snow of 2-3 foot depth, carry a snow shovel to aid in fixing a tent space and digging out a kitchen trench. Dig a trench about 2 feet deep and 2 feet wide. Sit on one side of the trench (on a pad), place your feet in the trench, and use the other side as a table top

Carry a closed cell foam pad to sit on in camp like our Crazy Creek chairs or a Thermarest pad. Frozen ground or a shelter floor will quickly pull body heat out through your rear end. You can also use your sleeping pad to sit on.

An insulated coffee mug will keep hot drinks hot much longer than regular cups. Large insulated mugs can also be used for soups, etc at mealtime.

Keep plenty of hot drinks available as you sit around camp in the evening. The extra fluids are helpful and the heat is welcome. Limit alcohol intake as alcohol thins your blood and inhibits the body's ability to warm itself.

Snack before you go to bed so that your body will have enough fuel to generate heat during the long winter night.

Exercise for a few minutes before getting in your sleeping bag. This will warm up your body and make it easier to warm up a cold sleeping bag. Do not bring a heater into your tent! Propane heaters can start fires and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Besides, propane doesn't work well at or below freezing. Same holds true for liquid fuel lanterns.

Always use a pad under your sleeping bag in the winter. Many people suggest two pads. Insulating yourself from the ground is more important than insulating yourself from the cold air.

Sleep with a stocking cap on your head to help hold in your body heat. Cinching up your mummy bag so that only your eyes, nose, and mouth are exposed is another way to hold in heat.

Don't breathe inside your sleeping bag at night. Breathe through a stocking cap or bandana instead. Moisture from your breath will wet your sleeping bag and reduce its insulating ability.

Putting a bottle of warm water in the foot of your sleeping bag will help keep your feet warm during the night. Don't forget to seal it well.

Some final thoughts...

Chemical heat packs can be used to warm feet and hands if necessary. Most types usually last several hours.

Store extra batteries in your sleeping bag or close to your body to keep them warm. Cold will reduce the life of the batteries significantly. Use LED lights such as the Princeton Tec Eos. They are lighter than standard flashlights and last much longer.

Have fun!