| My buddy Mike Langlois joined me on a frozen | | | | I always lose weight. |
| Wisconsin River island above Tomahawk for our | | | | |
| first winter camping trip. Starting out it | | | | Plan easy-to-fix foods in disposable |
| was 35°F, so for gear we had summer | | | | lightweight containers. Aluminum foil makes |
| sleeping bags and a canvas pup tent. What did | | | | cooking easy. At home, I'll wrap |
| we know? We were just 12. That night a | | | | ham-and-cheese bagels or bacon in foil to |
| norther' blew in from the Arctic dropping | | | | cook on the coals or over the grill. And for |
| temps into the minus digits. Had Mike and I | | | | dinner, my favorite meal is bacon, meat, |
| geared for -30°, we could have slept all | | | | onions, green pepper and spices wrapped in |
| night rather than jogging inside flimsy | | | | foil. |
| sleeping bags trying to keep our blood solid. | | | | |
| Luckily, this experience did not turn me off | | | | Ziploc bags also make preparing ahead easy. |
| winter camping. But it did teach me a | | | | For breakfast, just add hot water to a bag of |
| valuable lesson. | | | | cereal and dry milk. Or for dinner, drop a |
| | | | zipped bag of frozen spaghetti into boiling |
| First rule of winter camping: Plan for the | | | | water until thawed. |
| coldest possible temperatures in your area. | | | | |
| | | | Make sure to take along plenty of snacks such |
| Whether it starts in October or ends in | | | | as candy bars and trail mix to munch on for |
| April, winter can be brutal. The most | | | | quick energy throughout the day. |
| important thing about winter camping is | | | | |
| planning. In the summer, make a mistake like | | | | Eighth rule: Keeping warm during the day |
| getting wet and you can survive. But get | | | | depends on your clothing. |
| soaked at 20°, and you're in trouble. | | | | |
| | | | Technology has provided today's winter camper |
| Through trial, error and study, I've found | | | | with more and better choices than cotton and |
| camping at -10°F can be comfortable with | | | | wool. Polypropylene, a synthetic fabric, |
| the right gear. And what's not to like about | | | | holds little moisture and actually moves body |
| winter? No bugs and no need for food | | | | dampness away from the skin into outer |
| refrigeration - just the challenge of | | | | clothes. I start with polypropylene underwear |
| surviving the elements. | | | | tops and bottoms. |
| | | | |
| Second rule: Winter camping begins with a | | | | Next comes a wool or polyfleece shirt and |
| good night's rest. | | | | pants. Synthetic fleece has many of the same |
| | | | qualities as wool but must be carefully used |
| Camping, as opposed to day-tripping,means | | | | around a fire since it melts. |
| sleeping outdoors. Proper gear and proper | | | | |
| preparation dictates the difference between | | | | Wool and fleece are great insulators but fail |
| jogging in the bag or snoozing until sun-up. | | | | to stop wind from reaching the skin, so the |
| | | | next layer needed is a lightweight wind |
| I've now got a sleeping bag rated for | | | | jacket and pants. I recommend nylon or a |
| -30°. The fill is synthetic - if it gets | | | | Gore-Tex type material which allows body |
| wet it will still provide some warmth, unlike | | | | moisture to escape while preventing snow and |
| goosedown. If there's snow on the ground or | | | | rain from reaching the skin. |
| in the forecast, that bag goes with me. No | | | | |
| snow, and I can get along fine with my 20° | | | | The last layer may be the most important. |
| bag. | | | | That's the parka or heavy coat. I recommend a |
| | | | synthetically filled winter coat that goes to |
| Underneath me, I leave the snow. If there's | | | | the waist or slightly below since a longer |
| no snow, I gather up dry leaves or grass. | | | | coat keeps warmth in the body core where it |
| Atop this goes a vapor barrier. I use two, | | | | is needed most. |
| one a large 8'x10' plastic sheet and the | | | | |
| other a 5'x7' plastic/aluminized blanket. | | | | All these layers trap body heat and moisture. |
| | | | They function best when dry. Allow body |
| These foil blankets, which can be purchased | | | | moisture to escape by shedding layers when |
| at most sporting goods stores or through | | | | physical activity demands. |
| outdoor catalogs, reflect warmth toward you | | | | |
| and cold away from you. I generally take two | | | | One final note about clothing: Raingear goes |
| and sometimes three of these foil blankets | | | | on every trip with me regardless of the |
| with me on every cold weather trip. Folding | | | | forecast. Moisture robs heat, a loss one |
| the foil blanket in half with one aluminum | | | | cannot afford in the winter. |
| side down and the other up, I tuck my | | | | |
| self-inflating camp mat (commonly known as a | | | | Ninth rule: Take care of your extremities |
| "Thermarest") between the fold. | | | | with the proper hats, gloves and boots. |
| | | | |
| Third rule: To tent or not to tent? Your | | | | Seventy percent of heat loss can come from |
| decision. | | | | your head, so a good hat must provide warmth |
| | | | and wick moisture. I believe in being |
| Most any kind of tent will generally keep the | | | | prepared and take a musher's hat, wool watch |
| winter camper 10 to 20 degrees warmer than | | | | cap, fleece headband and fleece balaclava. |
| going without one. They hold some body heat, | | | | |
| prevent wind from stealing precious warmth | | | | By taking three pair of wool-fingered gloves, |
| and keep snow off bags and gear. | | | | I ensure there's always a dry pair. Chopper |
| | | | mitts with fleece mitten inserts are used for |
| A number of manufacturers make four-season | | | | extreme conditions and collecting firewood. |
| tents. They are pricier than summer tents | | | | |
| because they are made out of stronger | | | | Footwear is as important as headgear. If your |
| materials and have special air ventilation | | | | feet freeze you'll have a rough time getting |
| systems to prevent frost build-up. | | | | home. Purchase the warmest and lightest boots |
| | | | available. Buy them big enough for at least |
| If you plan to buy a winter tent, get the | | | | two pair of heavy socks with room enough to |
| next size larger. So for two people, get the | | | | wiggle your toes. |
| four-person model. You'll need the extra | | | | |
| space. Winter sleeping bags are bigger and | | | | I take two pair of boots on every winter |
| you're wearing more clothes. | | | | trip. One is a lightweight mukluk good for |
| | | | -30°. Should these get wet, I can switch |
| With a sleeping bag to match conditions, | | | | to a pair of more waterproof pac boots with |
| however, tents are not necessary in the | | | | felt liners. I carry an extra set of liners |
| winter. My coldest trip of -40° was on a | | | | that can either go into the mukluk or the pac |
| plastic mat with nothing but the stars above. | | | | boot. On several trips I've submersed one |
| Had it snowed we would have pulled a piece of | | | | pair of boots in water and had to switch. |
| nylon over the top of us. | | | | |
| | | | Buy the best quality wool socks on the |
| Fourth rule: Liquid intake is critical in | | | | market. In fact buy four pair and bring them |
| winter camping. | | | | with you. Wear two pair and keep two in |
| | | | reserve. Wear them to bed, as they'll dry out |
| It's a white desert out there! Dry winter air | | | | on your feet while sleeping. |
| saps internal water reserves - especially | | | | |
| while cross-country skiing, fishing, or | | | | Tenth rule: Have fun! |
| hiking. Drinking liquids will help keep you | | | | |
| warm. | | | | Lest you think winter camping is all work and |
| | | | no play... What's there to do for fun on a |
| If your urine turns dark or if your body | | | | winter camping trip? Plenty! Cross-country |
| feels cold, you may not be drinking enough. | | | | skiing, snowshoeing, hiking the backcountry |
| Unless I am away from base camp, I keep hot | | | | and ice-fishing to name just a few. |
| water on the fire. Hot tea with a dried | | | | |
| orange drink is my favorite refresher. | | | | Ever play tennis ball golf? Get a few old |
| | | | golf clubs and some new red tennis balls. On |
| On expeditions away from camp, I carry water | | | | a wind-swept lake, plot out holes with sticks |
| in either a wineskin-type bota or a plastic | | | | or rocks. Hit the balls toward the holes. |
| bottle. I place these under my jacket in a | | | | Make your own rules. |
| pocket or on a shoulder strap where body | | | | |
| warmth will keep it from freezing. | | | | My son and his gang of Boy Scouts shoveled |
| | | | off a hockey rink every winter outing we ever |
| Fifth rule: A good night's rest depends on | | | | went on. Kids without sticks used snow |
| more than just a sleeping bag. | | | | shovels. They played from sun-up to sundown. |
| | | | We scoutmasters put our ice fishing tip-ups a |
| In the sleeping bag before shut-eye, I eat a | | | | distance from the field of play and refereed |
| candy bar. The fat energy released keeps the | | | | from the sidelines until a flag popped. |
| body warmer and allows me to sleep better. | | | | |
| | | | One final word. |
| Take off all clothes except long johns and | | | | |
| socks and put them in the bottom of your | | | | Getting all this gear to a backwoods camp may |
| sleeping bag or stuff them in a sack and use | | | | seem like a daunting task fit for only the |
| for a pillow. Shove your leather boots and | | | | most rugged expeditionists. You do have to be |
| water bottle under your sleeping pad to keep | | | | in good physical shape to face the rigors of |
| them from freezing. I wear my mukluk or | | | | winter camping. Unless you're going to a |
| pac-boot liners to bed. Body warmth inside | | | | drive-in site, you may be hauling this gear |
| the bag will dry the felt. | | | | several miles. I use a plastic children's |
| | | | toboggan that's about four feet long and a |
| Two twelve-hour chemical hand warmers placed | | | | foot wide. I pile the heaviest gear on the |
| in the sleeping bag before going to bed warm | | | | bottom, cover it all with a tarp and fasten |
| it up, and once I get in the bag, I move one | | | | it with bungee cords. |
| to underneath my back and the other to my | | | | |
| feet. I don a wool cap and wool gloves and | | | | And of course, always let a friend know where |
| zip myself in. Winter's elements are now | | | | you are going and your expected time of |
| outside. | | | | return. |
| | | | |
| Sixth rule: The hardest thing about winter | | | | Properly planned for, winter camping can be |
| camping is getting out of bed. | | | | one of the finest ways to enjoy the beautiful |
| | | | landscape here in Wisconsin. |
| Mornings will generally be the coldest time | | | | |
| of the day. Be it 10° or -20°, it's | | | | Comfort camping in the cold |
| hard to face the reality of leaving a warm | | | | |
| nest. While still in the bag, I drink from my | | | | Writer and outdoorsman James Bishop prefers |
| water bottle, eat another candy bar, stretch | | | | the rugged approach to winter camping, |
| in place and start putting on all my clothes. | | | | sometimes even sleeping under the stars |
| When my hands get cold, I grab the hand | | | | without a tent. He takes two or three foil |
| warmers. | | | | blankets along on every trip. |
| | | | |
| With a warm coat on, I swing from the bag and | | | | For those a little more fond of their |
| put on my boots. The night before, I readied | | | | creature comforts, Carl and John's Paddlin' |
| a pile of wood for the first fire of the | | | | in Madison rents tents and wood stoves |
| morning. I light it and enjoy my first cup of | | | | suitable for winter camping. |
| hot coffee or cocoa while preparing | | | | |
| breakfast. | | | | Space All Weather Blanket |
| | | | |
| Seventh rule: Prepare nearly all your food at | | | | 5'x7' blanket; 12 oz.radiates 80% of body |
| home and make twice as much as you normally | | | | heat back to you |
| eat. | | | | |
| | | | $11. |
| Regardless of how much I eat on winter trips | | | | |