A few years ago a friend from work invited along on a winter camping trip. I had read a lot about winter camping in magazines and online and always wanted to try it, but up until then I didn't have anyone to go with. Most people that I talk to think it is crazy and will not even consider trying it. However, if you are well prepared and have the right gear it can be a really good time. For us it has become an annual event that I am always looking forward to.

For photos and information for our trips scroll to the bottom of this page or click here.

Below is a list of what I take winter camping and tips from what I have learned on our trips.
I included links to many of the items on Amazon if you would like to learn more.

1. Gear Sled - The nice thing about camping with snow is that you can use a sled to haul your gear instead carring it all on your back. This allows you to pack plenty of warm gear without having to worry too much about the extra weight. I use the Emsco Heavy Duty Expedition Sled which is 66 inches long and has plenty of holes to use for tiedowns. Another good option that a couple guys have use is the Shappell Jet Sled. This sled is mostly used by ice fisherman and has nice high sides and seems to be a little more rugged than the other options.

The first year I used dry bags for my clothes and then warped everything else in a tarp. The next year my friend had the idea of using plastic storage totes and we have doing this ever since. They keep everything nice and dry and are easier to pack and unpack. To pull the sled I put the rope above the hip belt of my back pack and then it pulls against the internal frame. I also started running the rope through PVC pipe to keep it from sliding into my legs on downhills.

2. Snowshoes- Even when the snow is not too deep it is nice to use snowshoes because of the extra traction they provide.  I use an old pair of Tubbs thatI have had for several years.  Most guys are now using the MSR Snowshoes that have traction rails on the outside as well as the typical under foot claws.  You can also buy 6-Inch tail extentsions that can be removed to customize the float depending on the snow pack.   Cross county skies can also be used, but it is more difficult to navigate tight trails and climb steep hills.

3. Tent - For winter camping I use a 3 season dome tent that we bought from LL Bean several years ago. It has a pretty heavy duty rain fly with almost full coverage. This was the tent that we used for kayak camping before we had kids and it is much heavier than my single wall backpacking tent and takes a little longe to setup.  I like to have the tent and rain fly combination because it is actually surprising how much heat stays trapped inside the double wall tent.  I can keep my water bottle next to me outside of the sleeping bag and it usually will not freeze even in temperatures down to the single digits.   However, I think you would be fine in a lightweight backpacking tent except for in really heavy and wet snow.  One of the guys uses only his rain fly and ground cloth and then builds a wall of snow around the outside and he has been fine.  

Before setting up the tent it is best either dig down to the ground or stomp the area down with your snowshoes.  Both ways seem to work fine and I usually decide based on how deep the snow is.  In addition to the tent it is also nice to bring along a small tarp.  You can use it as a cooking shelter when it is snowing and I like use it by the door of my tent to keep form tracking in too much snow.

An insulating sleeping pad is probably just as important as your bag for keeping you warm and comfortable during the night.  Since I am not worried about weight I also double up here too. Even with the 2 pads I often can feel the cold starting to soak though from the ground by morning.  My first pad is a Therm-A-Rest Z-Lite .  This lightweight closed cell foam pad with an egg carton texture is comfortable by itself and is my goto pad for backpacking trips. It was also recently updated with an aluminized surface that reflects heat. On top of this pad I have one of the standard Therm-A-Rest self inflating pads. I like knowing if I get a hole in the inflatable pad at night I still have the foam pad for insulation. 

5. Hand Warmer Packs - One of things that I have found to help stay warm when the temperatures really drop are the air activated hand and foot warmer packs. I am partial to the Grabber brand warmers becasue they are based right in West Michigan. These little packs give off a surprising amount of heat and will last from 6 to 8 hours. On cold nights I put one of these in the bottom of my sleeping bag and another in one of my pockets. I have also read that filling a Nalgene bottle with boiling water and then putting this inside your bag is another way to stay warmer at night. I have not tried this method, although from what I have been told is that it does not last long enough and it can make your feet feel a little damp.

6. Footwear - For winter hiking I like to wear my uninsulated backpacking boots with a single pair of SmartWool Heavy Hiking Socks.  I have found that layering socks does not seem to work well for me.  My feet stay warmer with just a single pair of good wool socks.  I think when you layer it tends to hurt the circulation to your toes and they get cold faster.  Cold feet are the worst, so avoid cotton and spend the money on a couple good pairs of merino wool socks. The wool drys fast, naturally fights odor and still insulates fairly well even when wet.  

For around camp at night I pack in a pair of LaCrosse Ice King hunting boots.  These bootsare expensize, but I have had mine for over 20 years and they are still very warm. My feet tend to get a little damp when I am hiking so it is nice to have a dry pair of socks and boots to change into a the end of the day.  I always pack 3 pairs of SmartWool Socks and1 pair is kept dry and just for sleeping.  Another trick that I recently discovered is to remove the liners from my LaCrosse Boots and wear them for sleeping.  I am fairly tall and my feet hang off the end of the sleeping pad and are up against the tent wall when I strech out. My feet always seemed to get cold until I started wearing the liners.

One thing that can ruin your day is accidentally flipping the snow up off the back of your snowshoe and into the back of your boot. To keep this from happening I always wear Outdoor Research Gaiters. They help keep your pants dry in deep snow and keep it our of your boots.

7. Base Layer - When you are outside and being active in the winter a good base layer is the most import thing for keeping you comfortable. You will want something that fits close to your skin made from either a synthetic or wool material that will dry fast and wick away moisture. Avoid cotton because it holds the moisture and does not insulate well when wet. I use a SmartWool Long Sleeve Shirt paired with Patagonia Capilene Midweight Bottoms. The SmartWool Shirt was a gift and is a new favorite of mine. It dries fast and because it is made from wool it can be worn a few days in a row and still stay fairly fresh. I always make sure to also take a second base layer that I keep dry and reseved for just at night. I supose that you could "go commando" under your base layer, but I choose the quick drying and odor resistent ExOfficio Give-N-Go Boxers. If someday I win the lottery I will get some of these for everyday of the week.

8. Coats - A water proof and breathable shell is a must for winter camping. If you do not already have one look for something with a big hood with a built in visor to help keep the snow out. I have an old Columbia jacket that I bought for sking back in high school that I still really like. So I would advise spending the money to get something good and keep it forever. Along with my shell I take a mid wieght fleece coat, light weight fleece shirt and a soft shell vest. All of this gives me several layering options that I can customize for any weather. I find that most of the time for hiking I wear my North Face Lightwieght 1/4 Zip Fleece and Soft Shell Vest unless it is snowing or windy. I try to setup my layers so that I am starting a little cold for the first 5 to 10 minutes of the hike. Then when I stop I try to add a layer before getting too cold again.

9. Pants - Like most things I also take 3 pairs of pants. I mainly wear my North Face Convertable Hiking Pants. Wearing my gaiters keeps the bottom of my pants legs dry and this works good unless wet snow is falling. Sitting around the fire at night I pull an old pair of ski pants for extra warmth and water resistance. Then my backup pants are just some athletic wind pants.

10. Hats and Gloves - For hiking I have a thin fleece beanie that is just enough to keep my ears warm, but breaths really well. Then I pack another thicker knit hat for a night. Gloves are another thing that I use the rule of 3. i have thin fleece gloves that I wear for hiking, setting up camp and cooking. Then I take a set of ski gloves for colder weatther and doing things like cutting fire wood when my hands are in the snow. For really cold weather I just bought some Outdoor Research 3-Finger Gloves that I really like. These gloves have the best the design and the most features of any gloves that I have ever owned. They have removable liners with hand wamers pockets. Both the wist and cuff adjustments are easy to use with both gloves on. I also really like the wrist lanyards for when you quick take them off to do something. This is also a nice feature to keep you from dropping them off a chairlift. I chose to go with the 3-finger verison becasue I also wanted to use them for riding my fat tire bike in the winter. If you do not have a reason for lobster claw type glove I would go with some of the Outdoor Research Mittens.

11. Water and Food - In cold weather it is still important to drink a lot of water. It is hard to gauge when much fluid you are losing becasue it evaporates fast in the cool dry air. When you get dehydrated it is also harder for your body to keep itsellf warm. Most of the time we have to melt snow for water. Leave your water filter at home because the fliter will freeze up and may even crack. Fresh snow is susposed to be okay to drink, but I usually bring it up to a boil just to be safe. If you are by a lake or river where you can safely get to open water this will save you time and fuel compared to melting snow. You also want to bring this water up to a boil for at least 2 minutes. If there is not fresh snow on the ground you may want to pour it though a coffee filter to get outdebris that may have fallen from the trees.

I use the MSR Pocket Rocket Stove for boiling water and cooking. Backpacking stoves like this that use the canister fuel do not work as well when temperatures get down into the mid teens. The first few times that I used my stove in cold weather it worked fine, but then I had a really cold night where it was only at about 20% with the valve all the way open. Since then I started warming the fuel canister in my coat before I use it and have not had another problem.

You will find that being out in the cold all day makes you really hungery becasue of all the extra calories you burn just to stay warm. Another good thing about winter camping is that you do not have to worry about food spoiling. I probably should take advantage of this more, but usually just keep things pretty simple. For breakfast I usually just have oatmeal or ganonla bars and a couple handfuls of trail mix. With this I like to warm up with a cup or two of Starbucks Ready Brew Coffee. Make sure to pack an insulated coffee cup with a lid to keep warm while you drink it.

Lunch is usally just a sandwich or wrap. For dinner in the winter I like to have a can, or sometimes 2, of a hearty soup or stew. I stay with keep it simple strategy by heating it up right in the can on my stove or in the fire. I like doing it this way becasue my pot stays clean and the only thing I have to clean up is a spoon. Before doing this make sure the can dose not have a plastic lining. Also it is best to stay away from cream based soups. One time I tried a creamy clam chowder and it started burning on the bottom of the can while the top was still cool. That meal of barely warm chowder with extra mesquite flavor was a little disappointing. It is also a good idea to eat a little something right before going to bed. The extra calories will help you stay warm during the night. Go ahead and treat yourself with something like a calorie rich candy bar, you have earned it.

I have camped in the winter with guys who have even packed in a cast iron dutch oven in their sled, so the food options are really endless. I must admit that the pineappple cake for desert and the western scramble for breakfast was really good. Although, still I do not think I will be dragging in all this extra weight.

12. Miscelanous -