Most individuals affiliate tenting with summertime.
Which is smart – the climate is good, you don’t need to pack a variety of layers, and you may get pleasure from spending time in nature carrying nothing however a T-shirt and shorts.
However as quickly as you point out winter tenting, issues begin to change. Tenting in extreme winter circumstances is just for the bravest and essentially the most daring… or is it?
By no means.
The truth is, nearly everybody can benefit from the pure sense of accomplishment that comes from pitching your tent within the snow. You simply need to be sensible about it.
Advantages Of Winter Tenting
Whereas it does include its personal set of (generally harsh) challenges, tenting throughout the winter will be a variety of enjoyable… and it even comes with its personal set of benefits.
A few of the advantages of winter tenting embrace issues like:
- Fewer crowds to spoil your time in nature
- Getting to make use of your tenting gear greater than only a few instances a yr
- Having fun with the snow-covered surroundings with views such as you’ve by no means seen earlier than
- Ingesting scorching espresso/cocoa and bonding over a campfire with your loved ones and associates
- Bonding together with your youngsters whereas making a snowman
Now it’s not all sunshine and rainbows (figuratively talking, after all). I gained’t draw back from the reality – winter tenting will be brutal when you’re not ready. You would find yourself depressing at finest, or within the hospital at worst.
Fortunately, all winter tenting issues will be solved with a bit preparation. If you already know what to anticipate and also you put together accordingly, you gained’t have to fret in any respect.
12 Suggestions For Winter Tenting Success
Whereas there are a variety of issues you want to find out about tenting throughout winter circumstances, just a few will make or break your journey.
The truth is, when you observe the next suggestions you’ll be able to relaxation assured that you just’ll be protected and heat throughout your winter tenting journey.
With out additional ado, let’s dive in.
Examine The Climate Forecast
Sure, one thing so easy could possibly be the important thing distinction between freezing your butt off and having fun with a pleasant winter tenting journey in consolation. Maintain a watch out for any forecast mentioning attainable storms or blizzards.
Examine the climate forecasts ceaselessly and don’t be afraid to reschedule your journey if the climate turns into an excessive amount of so that you can deal with. That is very true if that is your first winter tenting journey – you wish to ease into it, not leap headfirst into an avalanche.
Talking of these… Make it possible for the world you’re planning on tenting in shouldn’t be identified for sudden avalanches. Double-check the park’s web site typically and seek the advice of with park rangers when you want extra data. This text by Backcountry is an efficient introduction to avalanche security for learners.
All the time Be Ready
Step one to winter tenting is preparation. Whereas correct preparation is necessary for tenting in any climate, it’s doubly necessary throughout winter since your margin for error is that a lot smaller.
Now, what does correct preparation even appear to be?
First, begin with watching the climate forecast – we already coated that.
Subsequent, select your tenting website rigorously. If you happen to’re a newbie, select an simply accessible tenting spot that’s close to the street. That means, if one thing occurs, you’ll be able to simply bail. The spot must also be close to water so that you don’t need to soften snow to get a drink of water.
Lastly, you want to take into consideration your clothes and your gear. We’ll cowl these two in additional element later on this article, however principally you want to know layer clothes and the way to decide on correct winter tenting gear.
Additionally see: Full Information to Sleeping Bag Temperature Rankings: Season Ranking, EN, & ISO
Setting Up Camp
Establishing camp within the snow is barely completely different than doing so on the grass throughout summer season.
For starters, it’s vital you select an excellent, protected location. It’s best to select a location the place nothing can fall onto you (timber, snow, rocks, and so forth.) and the place you’ll be protected from attainable avalanches. The spot must be properly shielded from the wind, however nonetheless get loads of sunshine throughout the day.
Professional tip: constructing a wall of snow round your tent will be a great way to guard your self from the wind.
Subsequent, compress the snow. You must stroll round in your snowshoes or skis and flatten the snow within the space you’ll pitch your tent. This ensures there’ll be no free snow that’ll get melted away by your physique warmth, thus making it uncomfortable so that you can sleep.
Lastly, pitch your tent. I’ll get to it in a minute, however it’s best to select a fit-for-purpose winter tent that can insulate you correctly from the chilly. That means, you’ll be good and toasty heat inside your tent.
You possibly can bury the tent stakes within the snow after which compress the snow round them in order that they’ll help the tent with none issues.
Gown For Success
In terms of your garments, there’s just one phrase you want to know:
Layering.
Understanding correctly layer your clothes is a useful talent to be taught. Fortunately, we wrote a complete article about it right here, however I’ll provide the brief model now.
In a nutshell, you’ve gotten three completely different layers of clothes:
- The outer layer
- The center layer
- The internal layer
The outer layer is chargeable for defending you from the outer components – chilly, clearly, but in addition rain, wind, and the like.
The aim of the center layer is to maintain your physique warmth in. That’s why it’s typically known as the insulating layer.
And at last, the internal layer is tasked with absorbing sweat out of your pores and skin.
All three layers work collectively to maintain you protected and heat even within the harshest of climates. When packing, you wish to pack all three layers of clothes. That’s as a result of you’ll be able to simply take away one in every of them if it’s too scorching or if you end up not needing it.
For that purpose, I normally suggest over-layering. That’s as a result of whereas layers will be eliminated in a jiffy, it’s inconceivable so as to add a layer when you haven’t packed it. You don’t wish to be caught within the snow in only a T-shirt – that’s the place the issues begin.
Convey Correct Winter Gear
If you wish to go winter tenting, you’re going to wish winter tenting gear – there’s no means round that.
Your tent isn’t any exception. Most tents made as we speak are three-season tents. Meaning they can be utilized throughout spring, summer season, and fall, however will not be sturdy sufficient for use in winter circumstances.
To totally get pleasure from winter tenting (and keep away from freezing your butt off) you’re going to wish a correct winter tent. FYI, they can be known as four-season tents. Because it so occurs, we’ve made a listing of finest winter tents for tenting which are out there as we speak.
However typically, the tent shouldn’t be sufficient. Because the temperature drops (generally drastically) throughout the night time, you’re additionally going to wish an excellent winter sleeping bag. sleeping bag will preserve your physique warmth insulated throughout your sleep and it’s in all probability crucial piece of your winter tenting gear.
In fact, you additionally want stuff similar to the ten necessities, sturdy winter backpacks, sleeping pads (not an air mattress), kitchen gear, and so forth, however the tent and the sleeping bag are crucial items for retaining you heat (and glad).
You possibly can throw in an excellent tent heater in there when you don’t thoughts the additional weight.
Additionally See: Winter Tenting Guidelines (w/ Printable PDF)
Get That Campfire Going
Ever for the reason that cavemen first found fireplace, it has been an emblem of heat and security all through historical past. Not solely is it nice for cooking meals and warming up, however it additionally has an ideal psychological influence on our well-being.
Being huddled up round a campfire, consuming scorching tea (or one thing stronger), and sharing tales is a good way to bond with your folks and neglect in regards to the chilly climate.
The very first thing you want to do is, clearly, begin a campfire. Whereas we do have a complete information devoted to explaining just do that, I’ll share the fundamentals with you beneath.
The method will be damaged down like this:
- First, analysis if campfires are even allowed at your campsite
- Subsequent, collect the wooden. Select the wooden rigorously
- After that, lay your fireplace utilizing one of many 4 common strategies we described in our article
- Then, gentle the hearth. I recommend matches over a lighter
- Subsequent, preserve the hearth going
- And at last, extinguish your fireplace
Sounds easy, proper? Properly, it’s, however don’t confuse easy with straightforward. If you happen to’re involved in extra element, make sure you try the article I’ve linked to above.
Use Meals And Drinks Strategically (Sure, Actually)
You is likely to be considering I’m joking with that headline.
I’m not.
You see, there are a lot of methods to make use of each meals and drinks in such a means that they’ll not solely nourish you; it’ll additionally preserve you heat throughout these chilly winter days (and nights).
For instance, simply by digesting meals your physique generates warmth.
Subsequently, it’s a good suggestion to eat one thing, even only a snack, earlier than going to mattress.
Likewise, when you get up in the course of the night time and you are feeling chilly, have a fast chew and it’s best to quickly really feel hotter.
One other cool trick you should use entails a bottle of scorching water. It’s finest to do that simply earlier than going to mattress…it really works like this: boil some water and pour it into your water bottle (be sure that it’s hard-plastic, and never steel).
Then, deliver that bottle with you inside your sleeping bag.
Maintain it near your physique, or between your legs and voila – you’ve gotten your personal private physique heater.
On Stopping & Treating Accidents
Now, no person likes to consider accidents. In spite of everything, no person plans on getting harm, proper?
Nevertheless, it’s a reality of life that accidents do occur and so it’s necessary to discover ways to forestall them, and finally, cope with them.
A first assist equipment must be a compulsory merchandise for any severe winter journey.
It ought to embrace issues like band-aids, gauze pads, and ibuprofen – we’ve even made a rapid guidelines you should use. Clearly, you want to know use it, so I recommend you are taking a free first assist class that’ll train you cope with fundamental accidents.
In terms of widespread winter tenting issues, the commonest ones are frostbite and hypothermia. With these two, prevention is the very best treatment. Be sure to keep heat by layering your clothes and utilizing the right gear – that’ll get rid of a variety of issues most campers face.
Extra Suggestions
On this part, I’d prefer to share a set of fast suggestions that don’t match wherever else. For instance:
- You should definitely have a fast exercise earlier than going to sleep. That can heat you up and it’ll present extra physique warmth that’ll stay inside your sleeping bag. You don’t need to get loopy, although – simply leaping round or chasing your youngsters round ought to do the trick.
- Maintain your boots within the tent. This can make them a bit hotter than when you’ve left them outdoors, and thus extra nice to placed on within the morning. Belief me – your toes will thanks for that!
- Gotta go? Then go. Your physique makes use of up extra warmth when you maintain your pee, so anytime you are feeling the decision of nature I recommend you are taking it. Now, since no person likes getting up in the course of the night time, I recommend you’ve gotten a chosen pee bottle you should use. Simply ensure you don’t mistake it for a water bottle!
- When you have a variety of digital gadgets (and who doesn’t nowadays?) attempt to use lithium batteries. They carry out so much higher than alkaline batteries in chilly circumstances, weigh so much much less, and final so much longer.
- If you happen to plan on mountaineering within the snow, we’ve ready a complete article for you, however make sure you just remember to have the correct footware and tools. Most of all, hike throughout daylight, and ensure to deliver snacks and loads of water to remain hydrated.
Conclusion
Whew, that was so much to jot down. And I wager it’s so much to absorb, too.
Whereas winter tenting would possibly require extra thought and preparation than common tenting, it’s definitely price it. That feeling you get if you get up and step outdoors on freshly fallen snow is one in every of life’s best experiences (for me, a minimum of).
Sure, you do need to pack a bit extra. And sure, it would require some extra clothes and specialised gear. However that’s a small value to pay for the sheer journey and pleasure solely tenting within the winter can deliver.
Extra on Winter Survival: