Winter camping

[Malamute]

Cold weather gear will increase your weight a bit but not much. About 5-10 lbs. Most people getting heavy increases in weight are because they aren't willing to spend the money on premium gear (it IS expensive so I can understand why). The bigger problem is the increased bulk.

The old time way of handling bulkier and heavier winter gear was to use a sled instead of carrying it on ones back. Most people dont want to deal with training and using dogs to pull them, but a man-pulled sled can carry quite a bit. I came across a surplus military chest harness intended for pulling sleds, but I havent done any of that sort of camping since I bought it. Has a nice quick release similar to the Alice pack shoulder strap releases.


https://www.google.com/search?q=wint...IVxZWICh3ODA3J

If one can afford the weight and bulk, a canvas wall tent with Sims folding wood stove makes a pretty comfortable camp. Not quite as nice as a 16' tipi with an open fire inside, but very nice.

[Eurodriver]

-40*?

Lmao. My mom used to let me stay home from school when it was +40*

Can't imagine "camping" in those conditions. Sounds more like "surviving".

[Flankenstein]

Euro, your Winter is our summer in the mountains. 60's at night doesn't need more than a good blanket, no tent or any of that crap to lug around.

Lol, right?

[Mr blasty]

-40*?

Lmao. My mom used to let me stay home from school when it was +40*

Can't imagine "camping" in those conditions. Sounds more like "surviving".

LOL! +40* I "might" put on a sweatshirt over my t shirt if I'll be outside more than 20 minutes. The heater doesn't really start to get used in the house until about 37*. As long as I don't have exposed skin, I'm happy at 10* with normal pants, t-shirt, light sweatshirt and an uninsulates wind barrier of some kind .

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[Malamute]

-40*?

Lmao. My mom used to let me stay home from school when it was +40*

Can't imagine "camping" in those conditions. Sounds more like "surviving".

LOL! +40* I "might" put on a sweatshirt over my t shirt if I'll be outside more than 20 minutes. The heater doesn't really start to get used in the house until about 37*. As long as I don't have exposed skin, I'm happy at 10* with normal pants, t-shirt, light sweatshirt and an uninsulates wind barrier of some kind .

I think the body adjusts and hardens to the cold to a large degree. When in colder temps regularly, being in a t-shirt when most are wearing jackets is common. I still get over-warm in temps most think are on the cool side. I have to say though, that closing in on geezerhood, the cold isnt quite as much fun as it used to be. Neither is sleeping on the ground.

[Mr blasty]

I think the body adjusts and hardens to the cold to a large degree. When in colder temps regularly, being in a t-shirt when most are wearing jackets is common. I still get over-warm in temps most think are on the cool side.

100% this. As my wife and I were just talking about, it's more about keeping the cold off the skin so it doesn't feel cold. The body generates sufficient core temp to keep you truly warm under a pretty wide array of circumstances.



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[Mr blasty]

I have to say though, that closing in on geezerhood, the cold isnt quite as much fun as it used to be. Neither is sleeping on the ground.

The YouTube link I posted is for someone in his 50's who uses hammocks. He says it's a lot easier on his body. I'm a recent hammock convert and I freaking love it! So comfortable! Sleeping in a hammock is a learned skill though. Definitely some trial and error to go through. My first couple of times were miserable. As I started to figure things out and read up on it, overnight I switched to sleeping in a hammock under any circumstances I can make it practical.


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[Malamute]

The YouTube link I posted is for someone in his 50's who uses hammocks. He says it's a lot easier on his body. I'm a recent hammock convert and I freaking love it! So comfortable! Sleeping in a hammock is a learned skill though. Definitely some trial and error to go through. My first couple of times were miserable. As I started to figure things out and read up on it, overnight I switched to sleeping in a hammock under any circumstances I can make it practical.

The guys on the bushcraft forum like them, I dont know if it would work for me. I cant sleep on my back, only on my side, and with the right thickness of pillow or Im in agony. Not handy for the dog to sleep next to you and keep you warm either, nor a handy way to lay your rifle next to you when sleeping. I use massive amounts of pads to sleep on the ground now, it takes several trips from the truck to make a bed I can sleep well on. A teardrop is sounding pretty good at this point.

[Mr blasty]

The guys on the bushcraft forum like them, I dont know if it would work for me. I cant sleep on my back, only on my side, and with the right thickness of pillow or Im in agony. Not handy for the dog to sleep next to you and keep you warm either, nor a handy way to lay your rifle next to you when sleeping. I use massive amounts of pads to sleep on the ground now, it takes several trips from the truck to make a bed I can sleep well on. A teardrop is sounding pretty good at this point.

I'm actually the same way. Side Sleeper or bust! Also need a good pillow. Funny thing is that in a hammock, total opposite. It seems to conform and support you in such a way as to eliminate the issue for me completely. (YMMV) My last backpacking trip a couple weeks ago, I brought my brother's shepherd and went with my tent and pad. He cuddled up a couple nights for warmth. I brought a woobie for him as a pad and wrapped him up in it when it got cold for him. My pad is stupid comfortable and warm. It's an exped. My wife loves hers. I sleep hot and she'll freeze in July. Neither of us feel like the ground sucking heat is an issue at all with our pads. there a couple inches thick when inflated. We both consider them close in comfort to an actual mattress. She's stupid stuck on creature comforts so if she says it's comfortable it has to be.

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[Malamute]

I may have to try a hammock then. I think I may be OK with one of the super thick therma-rest pads though, mine is the normal one and I need an extra 3" foam pad, extra blankets and anything else I can find.

I want to try snow caves. The high country near me gets up to 25 feet or so of snow by spring. Shouldnt be too hard to find good snow banks early (may-june) before they melt off much.

I used to chase the snow to sleep on in the spring when I was in Az, but I dont seem to do that much anymore. I may have hit saturation point after the 5 or 6 years nomadding around.

Womens internal temp sensors seems a bit different than mens most of the time. A couple women on youtube seem to like winter though. Survival Lilly (?) and Suzanne Williams do winter adventure vids, both are fun to watch. Suzanne was doing a winter river trip on a stand-up kayak with a friend in Germany. River wasnt frozen over obviously. Lilly has some vids of building a brush shelter and sleeping with minimal gear in the winter with her dog. She cooked on her shovel in one. I've met a couple dog musher women online also. Im just not that tough any more.

Talking to a buddy I used to camp with years ago I said "I dont think Im as tough as I used to be, all that sleeping on the ground and all". Buddy said "Im as tough as I was, I just want to be tough at home now". Maybe he has a point.