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