Winter Camping

[marquejohn]

Snowshoeing and fishing is my favorite activities on winter. I never miss the Camping chance specially on winter time.

[ppine]

Briansnat,

Finding firewood is no big deal in winter. In the western mountains, there is often 6 or 10, or 12 feet of snow on the ground which just makes it easier to get to the standing deadwood. For cold temperature, say below 10 degrees F one needs a reflector fire and a lean-to. The standard routine for hundreds of years of winter camping was the fire situaition described above. Even at temperatures below zero, people camped with only a few wool blankets.

The modern backcountry ethos of using little stoves, and no campfires is problematic in winter. People have forgotten the old ways to a large extent. That is why I love to read the early oudoor authors that had some great ideas.

[briansnat]

Originally Posted by ppine

Briansnat,

Finding firewood is no big deal in winter. In the western mountains, there is often 6 or 10, or 12 feet of snow on the ground which just makes it easier to get to the standing deadwood. For cold temperature, say below 10 degrees F one needs a reflector fire and a lean-to. The standard routine for hundreds of years of winter camping was the fire situaition described above. Even at temperatures below zero, people camped with only a few wool blankets.

The modern backcountry ethos of using little stoves, and no campfires is problematic in winter. People have forgotten the old ways to a large extent. That is why I love to read the early oudoor authors that had some great ideas.

Maybe if I camped in the west with 12 feet of snow finding firewood would be easy. It's not so easy in the northeast. The only standing deadwood available is usually hemlock/spruce/pine and you need to gather a tons of that stuff because it burns so fast.

[Johnnytarr]

I live in the mid west, and I hate the cold. Every year I say "I'm starting in doors this winter", but I always end up going out. When I do, I never take a tent. A lean to, or tarp shelter and a long fire will keep me toasty warm. For really cold nights I use a reflective blanket on the back portion of my shelter to help up the temp. I've never had a problem finding fire wood, dead wood is almost always plentiful, and if not, a little looking will usually turn up some dead branches that can easily be pulled down. And of course, winter camping helps keep those beers cold.

[Pathfinder1]

Originally Posted by ppine

Briansnat,

Finding firewood is no big deal in winter. In the western mountains, there is often 6 or 10, or 12 feet of snow on the ground which just makes it easier to get to the standing deadwood. For cold temperature, say below 10 degrees F one needs a reflector fire and a lean-to. The standard routine for hundreds of years of winter camping was the fire situaition described above. Even at temperatures below zero, people camped with only a few wool blankets.

The modern backcountry ethos of using little stoves, and no campfires is problematic in winter. People have forgotten the old ways to a large extent. That is why I love to read the early oudoor authors that had some great ideas.

Hi...


Well put, ppine.

[Pathfinder1]

Originally Posted by briansnat

Maybe if I camped in the west with 12 feet of snow finding firewood would be easy. It's not so easy in the northeast. The only standing deadwood available is usually hemlock/spruce/pine and you need to gather a tons of that stuff because it burns so fast.

Hi...



Yes, you do have a good point about a deep snow-covered northeast.

[marquejohn]

I do my winter camping in USA. Hikes and fishing is my favorite activities and I never miss the Camping chance specially on winter time.

[ppine]

Briansnat,

I have built some very hot fires with nothing but sagebrush. Building a fire in any forest is not that hard if you mean it. The one exception might be in formal campgrounds where the available wood is picked clean.

The Northeast has some remarkable wood for fires, like yellow birch that burns when wet, and plenty of hardwoods that burn for a long time.

[Grandpa]

Originally Posted by ppine

Briansnat,

I have built some very hot fires with nothing but sagebrush. Building a fire in any forest is not that hard if you mean it. The one exception might be in formal campgrounds where the available wood is picked clean.

The Northeast has some remarkable wood for fires, like yellow birch that burns when wet, and plenty of hardwoods that burn for a long time.

Yep, sage brush and juniper are the woods of choice for building a good hot branding fire. Every spring, Dad had us boys chopping sage out of the fencelines to be hauled in for the branding fire.

[erinc500]

I rarely do winter camping (living in Seattle). It's not really the cold that bothers me but the rain. Does anyone have any suggestions other than using a camper/vehicle?