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How to Enjoy Winter Camping | West Shore, Lake Tahoe, CA United States | 01/14/09, by HappyGoTahoes

Snowcamping.� Doesn't the thought just make you cold?� Walking, eating, even sleeping on snow, carrying in all your food and warm gear and fuel...it just sounds hard.


It is, actually, but not as hard as I thought.� Snowcamping is best done with someone who has done it before.� In my case, my boyfriend has made a tradition of going out on New Year's Eve with friends and sleeping on a mountain.� He even took a snow� camping class in college, and has all kinds of tricks to make the whole experience fun.

We've done a variety of camps.� My first time, we camped 500 feet from the car so I could get used to the idea.� That was when I realized that snowcamping is much harder than just backpacking.� It's not just that it's cold.� It also takes so much more effort- to walk, to zip up your pants and tie your shoes, even to make dinner.� And that's part of the fun, usually. �

Finally, we worked up to a full-blown camping experience, where we skied in with frame packs and set up a tent in the woods.� It was awesome, mostly because I felt prepared. �

Here are some tips and tricks for snowcamping!� Best of luck, and be safe!

1) Go with someone who knows what they are doing.� This will make you feel much safer, plus you can learn all kinds of things about gear and food and tent placement. �

2) Snowcamping is not the time to develop Golite sensiblilities.� Bring extras of everything: hats, gloves, and socks are the most important.� Socks just to sleep in are vital.� And bring so many layers that when they are all on, you can't actually move.� Hopefully you will have one layer still in your bag when you get ready to sleep.��� Plus, not everyone you are with will know all this stuff, and they will be really grateful for your second extra hat when theirs is soaked in a snow-ball fight. �

Here's what I was wearing by the time we got ready to go to bed:

• 2 pairs of long underwear- medium weight and expedition weight
• wool pants (I skiied in these too)
• synthetic down pants on the outside
• wool undershirt
• wool longsleeve shirt
• wool sweater
• dri-climb (mid-weight layer)
• down jacket
• outer wind and rain layer- my ski jacket
• wool gloves
• thin wool hat
• thick wool hat

And I still had a down jacket to put on if I was cold.� Do you see a wool trend here?� Remember, cotton does kill.

3) The tent is sacred no-snow space.� Your 0 degree down bag and sleeping pad goes here, and your wet boots don't go anywhere near them.� Except that you want to keep your boots in the tent so they don't freeze...what do you do?� One idea is to bring a plastic bag to put at the foot of your bag, and put your boots there.� Be sure and break off as much snow as possible. �
4) Before you go to bed, bring a pot of snow or water to boil and fill a Nalgene-type bottle with it.� Dry it off if you've spilled.� Immediately put the bottle in your sleeping bag.� It will stay warm for hours and provide a wonderful reassuring heatsource for cold fingers and toes. �

5) Don't let yourself get cold.� Some good ways to stay warm:� build a kitchen/ living space with snow, make more hot drinks, heat more food, and do jumping jacks.� Just don't get cold.� If you start feeling chilly, put another layer on and move around. �

6) Eat.� Fatty, hot foods are ideal.� Also, instant soups for late-night snacks help you stay hydrated.� And snacks. �

7) Even though relieving yourself while wearing tons of clothing in the snow is a bummer, stay hydrated.� Warm water, hot drinks like tea and cocoa, and broth are all good.� It's really easy to forget to drink when it's cold out, but your body functions much better if you do. �

8) Avoid sitting and standing directly on snow as much as possible, especially when you are just hanging out.� Everyone should have an extra lightweight sleeping pad with them to sit on and put their feet on. �

9) If you, or someone with you, starts freaking out, here are some ideas to help you deal:� remember, if you have a good sleeping bag, once you are in it with a warm Nalgene, you will be warm.� Do more Jumping Jacks.� Take deep breaths and focus on what's cold- then put more/better/drier clothing on. �

10) Bring a piece of wood to put the cookstove on, or it will melt downwards.� Also, bring lots of extra fuel because you will probably be melting snow for hot drinks. �

11) You will need a shovel to dig out a "kitchen" and living area.� The most simple construction is just to make a bench to sit on and a space to put your feet.� But remember- building a snow structure is a great way to keep warm and play in the snow!� Just don't get too sweaty and wet.� And change into your extra dry gloves when you are done. �

12) Finally, a really nice touch, especially if you dig out a little shelter, is to bring candles.� You can make little candle shelters in the snow, and their light is truly magical.�

If you liked this article, you will also be interested in:

Never have cold hands again... How to Make Homemade Handwarmers

Don't want to bring a tent?� Find out How to Make a Snow Shelter Digloo