Has anyone here been crazy enough to go camping when there is snow on the ground? I would never go camping when there is snow on the ground, myself. I just don't see how it would be possible.
Winter camping can be a unique and delightful experience. As
@Simplify,
@ponderosa, and
@Pathfinder1 describe so well, it can be a particularly peaceful, beautiful experience.
If you already 3-season camp, then you're likely most of the way there already. You will just need a few more things.
First, a person needs the right mentality. If a person isn't excited and happy to be there, it's unlikely that they'll have a good time. Also, movement builds heat! So if a person is happy and moving and exploring, they'll be warmer. If a person gets grumpy and hunkers down, then they actually get colder. It's sort of counter intuitive.
Next, it's important to have some basic knowledge about winter camping. A really easy, fun read is
Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book, Revised and Even Better!: Traveling & Camping Skills For A Winter Environment. It's a great starter book for winter camping. You can ignore the ski part at the beginning if you're not into that aspect of winter travel.
You really need to understand the different methods of keeping thing warm. Again, they can sometimes be counter intuitive. For example, some people worry about having enough space in their tent for all their big winter gear, but I find I spread out less during the winter and need less space. Anything I don't want freezing comes into my sleeping bag with me. So I put my boots and other things in a waterproof bag and keep it in my bag. The same goes for headlamps, extra cloths, etc. I sometimes sleep on top of things too, like my pack, to give myself even more distance off the ground.
Next, you need the right gear. These are some things to consider:
1)
Winter sleeping bag - This is where the big expense can occur. I use a -20 degree sleeping bag, as temperatures can dip well below 0 degrees in my area, particularly at night. I got my winter bag during a 30% off sale at EMS.
2)
Sleeping pads - Typically the standard sleeping pad you use during 3-season camping won't be enough. To sleep on snow you want to have at least an R-value of 5.0. Anything less and you will be loosing significant heat through to the snow/ground. The cheapest way to get enough insulation is to stack two sleeping pads on top of each other. I pair an inflatable pad (R = 4.9) with a Z Rest or RidgeRest (R = 2.6), so I have an R value of 7.5.
I think this is the biggest mistake that people make, not having enough insulation between themselves and the ground. It doesn't matter how warm your sleeping bag is rated, if you're losing heat to the ground you will get cold. Also, having a closed foam pad will give you a seat at camp or a place to stand out of the snow.
3)
Shelter - Some people will use a winter tent, but it depends on the conditions. In areas that are just a bit colder, a 3-season tent cold work. Winter tents are built to shed snow a bit better and to vent from the top rather than the bottom. If a tent vents from the bottom, it could get block up with snow. They will usually have less mesh, and more fabric.
Do not seal up your tent completely. You need to make sure the tent can vent and let your moisture out, as much as possible. Find places out of the wind, but realize that the main goal of the tent is to provide shelter, not retain heat. It should retain some heat (~ 5 degrees or so), but mostly you want to block the wind and snow.
4)
Heat Making Devices - You need a way to heat things up and keep them warm. I like to have one water bottle in a neoprene cozy and one thermos. You need a pot you can use to boil ice or snow (ice is better because it's more dense) to water water. Warm food and drinks will warm you up at night. I like to carry a few emergency hand and foot warmers for safety too.
There are plenty of other odds and ends you might need. If you ever decide to give it a try, talk to someone who knows what they're doing and read up on it a bunch.
Right now I have three little winter camping trips planned for this upcoming snow season. I hope it's a cold and snowy one!!!