Winter camping??
- Thread starter mikes99ss
- Start date
sweeperguy
Active member
Haven't done it, thought about it. Would be cool. Can't get any of my riders to consider it.
I have camped in winter more times than I care to recall, both young and dumb and well, no other option, if your a real outdoorsy type, it can be done, the better the gear the better the outcome
you can make it one night rather easy on just basic's, won't be much fun however, but can sure be done
I would do a little research on things so you know before you go , like deal!
all gear is NOT the same here!
However I would ALWAYS prefer to sleep indoors these days, I never ride many places where I am far from things any how, or not in my normal riding area's , just ain't any!
to me, nothing like a hot shower and heat after a long day riding to me ,
a hot meal, some TV and or a good cold beverage makes it way better for me!
the outdoors I enjoy a lot, but after a while, I want to come indoors to sleep in warmth /comfort anymore!
getting old sucks LOL
you can make it one night rather easy on just basic's, won't be much fun however, but can sure be done
I would do a little research on things so you know before you go , like deal!
all gear is NOT the same here!
However I would ALWAYS prefer to sleep indoors these days, I never ride many places where I am far from things any how, or not in my normal riding area's , just ain't any!
to me, nothing like a hot shower and heat after a long day riding to me ,
a hot meal, some TV and or a good cold beverage makes it way better for me!
the outdoors I enjoy a lot, but after a while, I want to come indoors to sleep in warmth /comfort anymore!
getting old sucks LOL
Winter Camping?
Will somethin' like this work for ya?
From Animal Planet: The Last Alaskans — TV Series:
(click →) "How To Survive In The Alaskan Wilderness", vital necessities: Shelter, water, fire, food.
Will somethin' like this work for ya?
From Animal Planet: The Last Alaskans — TV Series:
See Season 1 Episode 4 (click →) "Everything Is Hungry (2015)", plot Summary quoted here in part:
Something like this, from The Alaska Wilderness League:
(click →) "How To Survive In The Alaskan Wilderness", vital necessities: Shelter, water, fire, food.
I love the challenge of it. If it's just a little bit crazy then it's probably something I want to do.
go for it then,if you get too cold ,
load up and go home
or stay up and keep the fire going
many of folks over the yrs have spent the night out in very cold winter weather with very little gear , NOT planned sleep overs and made it, so going in prepared, you shouldn't have any real issue's but maybe a chilly night
I think people these days are just getting SOFT and loosing some basic skills , a big fear of loosing convinces for many
stop's them from expanding there minds and having more adventures in life!
load up and go home
or stay up and keep the fire going
many of folks over the yrs have spent the night out in very cold winter weather with very little gear , NOT planned sleep overs and made it, so going in prepared, you shouldn't have any real issue's but maybe a chilly night
I think people these days are just getting SOFT and loosing some basic skills , a big fear of loosing convinces for many
stop's them from expanding there minds and having more adventures in life!
C
Cirrus_Driver
Guest
bearrassler
Well-known member
Back in the early 70's when I was a lot younger we had a little pull behind pop up camper on skis. When opened it had a small bed on each side with a narrow isle in between and a table at one end. It got you off of the ground and had a small pad to sleep on, I did stay in it quite a few nights and we ran a small catalytic heater in it. It was cold in there when the outside temp was -20 but it was a lot of fun. I wouldn't do it now though.
yeah only 1 time did I really think we were going to have to spend the night and it was not a feeling I want to repeat. but let us know how it was . call me crazy but imho march would be a much better time to play than jan
I work with a guy that has Winter camped and went snowshoeing a few times in the UP, he says that he loves it. Funny thing is that he is either Mexican or Central American and handles it just fine. Another guy I know said he would winter camped often, he would just cuddle up with his German Shepard.
I have ran in to people a few times deep in the woods in the winter around clam lake who have been walking and camping what ever that walking trail is up there some had been hiking and camping for weeks . yes they looked and smelled it . one guy flew here from like Norway to hike and camp this trail for 4 weeks . um yeah not this guy lol
600_RMK_144
Active member
Feel pretty prepared to do so in a pinch. but NO would not do it intentionally.
I have. My college buddies and I would do it every year during the closest weekend to valentines day. It was planned as a protest to the hallmark holiday. This way, we had an annual planned trip - and will say it eliminated some of the "soft" women from long term relationships. My girlfriend, now wife, joined two different times. Would like to do this with our children now, but really doubt the wife would go again.
If you go, a few tips:
- Good gear is gold. Get a -30 deg bag. You will need one that has a hood with a good drawstring. If it becomes very cold, the drawstring will freeze from your moisture during breathing. In the morning, you will need to work the frozen string apart to open your bag. If you are closter phobic, this can be a pretty negative experience. Just something to be aware of.
- Your best bet to stay warm is getting off the ground. Even a good bag compresses when you sleep, and the air trapped between you and outside of the bag is what keeps you warm. An air-mat is minimum (and what I used), but cots would be better.
- A four season tent is a must if there is risk of snow. I used a 3 season and we received 2-3" of snow and was at risk of collapse and does not "breath" the way it should during a snow event. So imagine if you are stuck in your sleeping bag, takes you 2-5 minutes to work the frozen draw string open and you are in a collapsed tent.
- Make sure you open your boots when you call it a night. No matter how good of boot you have, it will have moisture in it. When the boot cools off, it will freeze in what ever position you left it last. If it is not open, in the morning you will not be able to get your foot in.
- Avoid alcohol. It will keep your body cooler.
- I would take a propane lantern to take the chill out of the tent as I was getting ready to hit the hay, and right in the morning.
The coldest night we had was -14F. It was so cold the ranger was worried about us and checked in a few times. We were a bit chilled, but all fine. During our years of doing this, it was a lot of fun. We snowshoed, played bocchi ball, horse shoes, cooked on an open fire and had a great time. If you are well prepared, certainly is not bad.
If you go, a few tips:
- Good gear is gold. Get a -30 deg bag. You will need one that has a hood with a good drawstring. If it becomes very cold, the drawstring will freeze from your moisture during breathing. In the morning, you will need to work the frozen string apart to open your bag. If you are closter phobic, this can be a pretty negative experience. Just something to be aware of.
- Your best bet to stay warm is getting off the ground. Even a good bag compresses when you sleep, and the air trapped between you and outside of the bag is what keeps you warm. An air-mat is minimum (and what I used), but cots would be better.
- A four season tent is a must if there is risk of snow. I used a 3 season and we received 2-3" of snow and was at risk of collapse and does not "breath" the way it should during a snow event. So imagine if you are stuck in your sleeping bag, takes you 2-5 minutes to work the frozen draw string open and you are in a collapsed tent.
- Make sure you open your boots when you call it a night. No matter how good of boot you have, it will have moisture in it. When the boot cools off, it will freeze in what ever position you left it last. If it is not open, in the morning you will not be able to get your foot in.
- Avoid alcohol. It will keep your body cooler.
- I would take a propane lantern to take the chill out of the tent as I was getting ready to hit the hay, and right in the morning.
The coldest night we had was -14F. It was so cold the ranger was worried about us and checked in a few times. We were a bit chilled, but all fine. During our years of doing this, it was a lot of fun. We snowshoed, played bocchi ball, horse shoes, cooked on an open fire and had a great time. If you are well prepared, certainly is not bad.
snomoman
Active member
When I was in boy scouts in my young years (oh soo long ago) our troop would have a camping trip
once a month, even in winter. My dad worked in the Chicago loop at the time and would stop by this army surplus center to see what was available to buy for my boy scout trips. One day he came home with this 2 piece army surplus sleeping bag for me. It was filled with some type of down feathers, real lightweight & would roll up real tight. The thing was incredibly warm, almost too warm. You needed to wear a hat though to keep your head & ears warm. The worst part was when you had to take a pee in the middle of the night.
Our troop would also have a winter campout in eagle cave somewhere in the southwest portion of Wisconsin.
We would sleep in the cave where the temperature was around 55-60 degrees. They had a killer toboggan hill
that no one could get all the way down without wiping out.
Has anyone ever been to eagle cave?
once a month, even in winter. My dad worked in the Chicago loop at the time and would stop by this army surplus center to see what was available to buy for my boy scout trips. One day he came home with this 2 piece army surplus sleeping bag for me. It was filled with some type of down feathers, real lightweight & would roll up real tight. The thing was incredibly warm, almost too warm. You needed to wear a hat though to keep your head & ears warm. The worst part was when you had to take a pee in the middle of the night.
Our troop would also have a winter campout in eagle cave somewhere in the southwest portion of Wisconsin.
We would sleep in the cave where the temperature was around 55-60 degrees. They had a killer toboggan hill
that no one could get all the way down without wiping out.
Has anyone ever been to eagle cave?
lofsfire
Active member
So mikes99ss are you looking at this like a backpacking sled trip where you would camp on the trail or camp at one spot and return each night? Are we talking tent or trailer?
I have been trying to set my trailer up for dual use. Need batteries and furnace installed at this point and I'm ready to go for winter. As far as summer camping the AC works great in my trailer. Here is my 2014 R&R custom built trailer.
3 day after buying it last July. I had a camping trip planned for Grand Haven, and it worked great! (air mattress on the floor)
inside
Getting finished outside and after inside was gutted and redone. (new electric, insulation, door and windows, and gas line.)
Inside
In use
Here is a night shot of my lighting upgrades. It was pitch black without the lights on...
I have been trying to set my trailer up for dual use. Need batteries and furnace installed at this point and I'm ready to go for winter. As far as summer camping the AC works great in my trailer. Here is my 2014 R&R custom built trailer.
3 day after buying it last July. I had a camping trip planned for Grand Haven, and it worked great! (air mattress on the floor)
inside
Getting finished outside and after inside was gutted and redone. (new electric, insulation, door and windows, and gas line.)
Inside
In use
Here is a night shot of my lighting upgrades. It was pitch black without the lights on...
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