Forest survival specialist, explorer, adventurer, trainer, speaker and author
The freedom of sleeping outdoors, waking up to a magnificent landscape and enjoying all that nature has to offer motivates me on every outing. In winter, camping has its good sides: no flies, taking trails accessible only by frozen lakes, watching breathtaking white landscapes. In short, I love sleeping in the wilderness all year long!
You are also like me and you think that the summer season is still too far away to practice your favorite activity, camping? You feel nostalgic just thinking about those beautiful memories of waking up in the middle of nature and breathing the fresh air.
In fact, maybe it's time for you to cut back on that time to extend the pleasure of sleeping outside all year long.
With the appropriate preparation, nothing is impossible by following a few rules and adjusting your equipment and your mind to the cold season.
Mind and Will
First of all, a lot goes on between the ears when doing a winter activity. If the phrase "It's too cold outside" is in your vocabulary, you may already have two strikes. But, you're still not out. Being cold, freezing your extremities and suffering are often the biggest fears of winter camping. Yet, there are so many ways to deal with this situation. So, why not be resilient and adapt to the inevitable winter weather?
We set ourselves the goal of trying the experience. If we are already scheduled to try, it is a step in the right direction. We must have the will to do it.
The equipment
You will understand here that everything becomes a little more complex due to the cold. But someone who is well equipped and prepared, will realize the experience and will want to do it again!
Let's start with the clothes.
Have two types of clothing for your stay. Day and night clothes. During the day, a little more aerobic so you can move around without sweating too much, using the onion technique.
Read the blog post on this topic
Nightwear will be what you slip into in order to be warm when you're not working. Large mittens, thick socks, down jackets, warm underwear and mittens will be appropriate. Maximum insulation and waterproofing to avoid the cold and humidity. Why not hand warmers?
Read the blog post on this topic
The water
The conservation of liquid water can be problematic. Carry one or two large insulated bottles (1 to 2 liters, Thermos type). Several models are available in supermarket stores. They will allow you to keep your water hot or simply liquid for several hours in a row, which is essential if you ever use freeze-dried meals that need to be rehydrated.
In these circumstances, a Nalgene type bottle of one liter of hot water will act as a hot water bottle and will only improve your sleep.
The food
I strongly suggest things that require very little handling or cooking management. Despite their high cost, freeze-dried meals are still one of the smartest choices, at least to start out in this field. You add the amount of hot water you want, wait for the magic to happen and enjoy. They are generally very good and very high in calories. There is something for everyone. Bring a long spoon or fork so you don't get your hands dirty around the edge of the bag. Hot beverages will also be appreciated.
The stove will be one of the most practical items to cook with or to melt the snow. Be sure to select one that uses a fuel that can go below freezing. You will need a fairly large bowl to go with it. Three liters of capacity seems to me acceptable for snow melting. Moreover, at this size, the stove can be stored in it.
The camp
The shelter, contrary to many thoughts, does not have to be a winter ultra hytech tent. Not at all. I have been using a three season tent for a long time in this type of activity. The big difference in these tents is the sturdiness and the ability to withstand a snow load such as a good nightly accumulation. So, if you are just starting out in the field, the four-season tent should not be one of your priorities. Use what you have on hand while being mindful of possible accumulation. As you probably already know, I don't have a tent when I'm camping in any season. I stay under a tarp all year long, even in stormy weather.
Whatever the type of camping, it will be necessary to choose well its site for the night. We recommend a rather flat place while being sheltered from the wind and it will be necessary to compact the snow before erecting the shelter.
It is rather in the sleeping bag that you should invest. It is in this moment of recuperation that you can sleep in peace and quiet to enjoy the activity. Call on the advisors of sports stores to advise you on the subject and do not skimp on the gradation of the bag. Don't forget that the insulation of the floor is just as important as the envelope that surrounds you. The mattress should be wide enough to prevent your elbows from touching the ground. We recommend a width of 24 inches (61cm).
Improve your sleep during winter camping.
Read this article if you are interested in this subject.
Several small accessories will be necessary to improve the comfort of the camp such as a light shovel to dig a hole in the snow and make a fire or simply to level your camp area. In addition, a headlamp and a candle lantern will provide good lighting, since the sun sets early in the winter. And why not a folding chair and a small insulating cushion to watch the fire during the evening?
By the way, you will need a huge amount of fuel to enjoy it all evening.
Appropriate modes of transportation
It's all well and good to talk about equipment, but you also need to carry all that stuff. Whether you are skiing or snowshoeing, you will also need a backpack or a sled (pulka) to carry everything. All this is a personal choice. It is however preferable to use the sled on flat surfaces. The slopes are not suitable for this type of transport, as they make it difficult to move around.
Preparation and testing
Now that you have the basic equipment, it's time to try it out before exposing yourself to a long expedition. Above all, don't get too excited before you even start. So, give it a try at your home or a friend's home. Set up at your home and make it your goal to stay there overnight. That way, you can get in if anything goes wrong. You will be able to adjust the missing items for your next outing which will be longer in distance (lighting, spare batteries etc.)
Once you have completed the experiment with the adjustments made, the adventure awaits you.
Don't forget the basic items for any outdoor activity. Read the blog post on this subject.
We look forward to meeting you in the forest.
Forest survival specialist, explorer, adventurer, trainer, speaker and author
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