Whether you prefer winter backpacking or cross-country skiing, you want to be well prepared. Have the right gear to keep you warm and help you withstand sub-zero temperatures in winter. Are you planning your winter camping trip? Here are some of the tips to help you have a great experience. 

Select a Winter Backpacking Trail

Selecting the proper trail is crucial for skiers looking to have an excellent winter backpacking trip. If you are going winter camping for the first time, a short winter hiking trail will be ideal. Aim at having the best experience while avoiding any risks.

The campsite you choose should at least feature a sunny location or allow you to watch the sun as it rises. Make sure your preferred trail has a camp location close to open water for cooking and drinking. In such a case, you will not have to use melting snow or even ice. Finding a campsite with many downed wood would be ideal because campfires are critical during chilly winter nights.

If you plan to go winter hiking, try to avoid areas with swamps, stream crossings, or regions that are prone to flooding. Further, you want to avoid walking on frozen lakes because falling can spoil your trip.  

Have an Emergency Exit Plan

Emergencies often occur in the wilderness, and you need to be prepared to facilitate effective and fast evacuations. As you analyze your trail maps and outline your itinerary, identify the fastest routes to the highway or even road near your path. Have an emergency response number list for the region where you will be winter backpacking. It is worth mentioning that 911 will not always work, especially in the wilderness regions.

Collect a list of reliable emergency contact numbers from the forest ranger center in your area and keep it safely inside your first aid kit. When an emergency strikes, you will only need to pick your list fast and call for help. 

Plan Your Trip Itinerary and Obtain Permits

Obtain the right map of the area within your preferred trail before you can start planning your route. Include your preferred campsites and daily mileage. You will need to present this information when obtaining permits. You can also use it to establish the number of calories you will need when you start your food planning process. 

Obtain a permit from the forest ranger station of the region you will be visiting if need be. You will need the following details to process your permit: 

• The start and end date of your winter backpacking trip
• Your emergency exit arrangement
• Your campsite location for each night

Learn and Practice how to How to Assemble a Camp during Winter

To build a camp during winter, you should be conversant with some campsite preparation steps. Prepare to arrive at your preferred campsite before sunset. You will have an easy time setting camp in broad daylight. Here are the steps you need to follow.

• Pick the Suitable Winter Campsite
• Select a location away from the wind
• Be on the lookout for frozen and dead branches that may fall on your tent from above.
• Where possible, choose a location where there is non-frozen running water.
• Mark some landmarks to help you identify your campsite in the snow
• Build your camp where the sun will shine through and offer that necessary morning warmth

Building Your Tent

To keep yourself warm, try layering up in dry camp clothing. Do not forget dry mittens and socks, and a warm hat. Always pack an extra pair of warm clothing to be on the safe side. 

• Make sure your campsite area is broader than your tent.
• Use specially designed tent stakes for snow when building your tent.
• Where there is no natural wind wall, be sure to build an artificial one
• Keep sharp-edged tools such as ice axes and crampons out of the tent. 
• Fasten your camp to avoid losing your belongings beneath the snow
• Put everything away after use. You want to know where all your belongings are. 
• Keep your snowshoes, skis, hiking boots, and trekking poles in an upright position in the snow. 

Set Up Your Winter Kitchen

Building a dream kitchen during a winter camping trip can be exciting. Use a shovel to remove the snow and shape it to create a cooking area, tables, seats, and a storage area. Incorporate your creativity to make it as detailed as possible.

Adhere to the Leave No Trace Camping Requirements

Backpackers should observe Leave No Trace camping policies. Let us look at some of these considerations regarding winter camping.

• Try to remain on deep snow cover as much as possible.
• Wrap toilet paper and human waste in a plastic bag. Dig an 8-inch deep hole in the ground at low elevations. Bury the waste, and place a rock on top. The rock prevents animals from digging it up.
• Build your camp approximately 200 feet away from a water source, trail, and other campers. 
• Respect the wildlife and view them from a far off distance. Remember, many wild animals are vulnerable during winter.
• Avoid breaking or cutting off the limbs of the dead, live, or even downed trees. 

Food and Drink Tips to Help You during a Winter Camping Trip

Your body utilizes lots of energy when you are hiking in snowy-cold landscapes. To keep your body warm and energetic during and after your winter activities, you should hydrate and eat well. These water and food tips will come in handy. 

·       Consume Simple but Hot Meals during Your Winter Backpacking Trip

A hot meal can be quite satisfying during your winter camping trip. However, ensure your meals are simple to avoid cleaning many utensils during snowy conditions. Your meals should be easy to cook but rich in calories. All in one pot meals are ideal for backpackers during their winter backpacking trip. Consider freeze-dried breakfast meals and entrees and familiarize yourself with simple meal planning practices. 

·       Set aside Time for Lunch Breaks

During lunch, opt for quick grab energy-rich sandwiches or snacks. Ensure they are rich in fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Avoid prolonged breaks during lunch and instead, chew on your snacks on the go. 

·       Adopt Proper Food Storage Practices

Remember, wild animals such as bears are usually in a state of deep sleep during the winter season. However, some creatures will attempt to attack your food if you do not keep it in a safe place. Store your food securely inside your backpack or food storage container and use a rope to suspend it from a tree. Remember, some regions might have food storage regulations. You want to figure these out before embarking on your winter backpacking trip.  

·       Hydrate Often

Many people avoid drinking water during winter, which leaves them feeling thirsty and toasty, as is the case during hot summer days. To be well hydrated, campers and backpackers should sip on the water often across the day. Consider preparing hot drinks at the campsite such as hot chocolate, herbal tea, or hot soup to hydrate and warm up your body. 

·       Utilize Bottles

Instead of carrying their hydration containers during winter, many campers opt for Nalgene water bottles. Reservoirs come with tubes that can be affected by frostbite, denying them something to drink. To maintain your water supply during your camping trip in winter, ensure your water bottle cover is insulated. 

Winter Camping Gear you need to Enhance Your Camping Experience

While winter gear forms a crucial part of your winter backpacking trip, it is heavier than what you need for a summer camping trip. Expect to carry up to 40 pounds of gear for your winter day hikes. Here are some of the things you should consider when buying the additional winter gear you need for your backcountry winter experience.

·       Backpack

A large backpack is ideal for placing all the extra gear you require for a winter trailhead excursion. If you are going out for a snowshoeing weekend adventure, a 65-liter ultralight backpack will be ideal. Ensure it features lash points for ice axes and snowshoes. Line up your pack with a non-perfumed garbage disposal bag or even a dry bag that will maintain dryness inside the bag. 

·       Tent

A good quality tent should keep you warm during the winter season. Consider a freestanding dome-shaped 4-season tent. Setting up this design will be simple in the snow, and it will allow snow to shed off with ease. 4 season tents feature additional setup guylines for added stability during strong winds. They also come with a large vestibule that facilitates the storage of items and cooking processes. 

·       Sleeping Bag

A good night’s sleep is critical for your happiness and health, whether you are camping during the winter or summer seasons. You do not want to be freezing in your tent throughout the night in the wilderness.

To avoid sleep challenges during your winter backpacking trip choose the right sleeping bag for your anticipated conditions. Ensure your base layer clothing is dry before jumping inside your sleeping bag.

If your feet tend to get unusually cold, consider wearing warm socks as well. The suitable sleeping bag should be approximately 10 degrees colder than the expected low temperatures. If you are afraid of suffering frostbite, then carry a sleeping bag liner and extra warm clothing.

Many of the winter-appropriate bags available today are hooded. You can also purchase down hoods if your sleeping bag comes without a hood. You can also choose a quilt instead. 

·       Sleeping Pad

A sleeping pad provides hikers with sufficient cushioning and insulation. Here are some tips to help you choose the right sleeping pad for your winter camping trip. 

Have Two Sleeping Pads

If you are camping at sub-zero degrees, consider using two sleeping pads. Ensure they are full-length to ensure you do not lose body heat on snow-cold surfaces. A closed-cell foam pad is ideal for use next to the ground, while a self-inflating sleeping pad comes in handy on the top. The foam pad will keep you warm if the self-inflating pad is punctured. 

Consider the R-Value

Sleeping pads come with an R-value rating, the insulation measurement that ranges between 1.0 and 8.0. A sleeping bag that comes with a higher R-value offers better insulation. All-season and winter designed sleeping pads come with an R-value of approximately 4.0 or even higher. 

·       Navigation

While you may want to carry a digital GPS navigation device, it is worth mentioning that cold temperatures drain batteries fast. Lithium batteries, however, are ideal in cold weather. Instead of relying on your phone for navigation during your winter hikes, opt for a paper map. Carry a compass and familiarize yourself with how it operates. Pack a personal location gadget that facilitates fast location identification and rescue in the event of an emergency. 

·       Cooking System

Having the right cooking stove is crucial during winter conditions. Remember, some fuels and stoves perform better at high elevations in cold temperatures than others. White gas stoves would be ideal for your winter backpacking trip.

Apart from burning clean and hot, they perform better in sub-zero temperatures. They are heavier and feature slower boil times. Priming is ideal when using these stoves. Heat times during winter are often longer, and to be on the safe side, you need to carry extra fuel. Canister stoves and butane systems are poor performers during winter. Avoid them where possible. 

Little but Crucial Items

Forgetting small things when packing for a trip is easy. Here is a list to help you include everything you need for your winter backpacking trip in your package. 

• Headlamp
• Additional headlamp batteries
• Lip balm to help relieve chapped lips
• Sunscreen is necessary even when you are hiking in winter
• Ice traction gadgets such as spikes and crampons
• sunglasses
• Tall gaiters to prevent snow from settling on the top part of your winter boots
• A fire starting kit as well as a backup kit
• Credit card
• Some cash
• Cross-country skis and snowshoes
• An emergency blanket
• Disposable shower caps

Sufficient Calories

Eating is crucial during a winter backpacking trip as it helps keep you warm during your winter hikes. When you eat food, your body will generate heat during the digestion process. Remember, your metabolism levels will be high during winter as your body attempts to keep you warm.

Increased metabolism translates to calorie burning, which is why you should eat more. However, consuming calories only will not keep you sufficiently warm. You should also drink enough water to keep you hydrated because hydration facilitates proper food digestion. Prepare your high-calorie meals in advance and eat regularly.

Butter is a critical component that you should integrate into all your meals, including your coffee and hot chocolate. Many hikers prefer to eat their lunch on the go, and they also snack often. Carry foods that you can consume easily without removing your gloves, such as nuts, nutrition bars, and trail mixes. Do not carry meals that solidify or freeze like peanut butter and fresh fruit. 

How to Prevent Injuries during a Winter Backpacking Trip

Hypothermia and frostbite are some of the main concerns when it comes to winter camping. You can prevent these winter conditions by taking care of yourself and your hiking team in the following ways. 

·       Remain Warm 

You can maintain a favorable temperature by dressing appropriately. Doing so is much easier than attempting to get warm after a bout of cold. 

·       Be Alert

If you notice that your toes or fingers are getting cold, stop what you are doing, examine them, and look for ways to warm them up. Sandwiching your cold fingers between your armpits is an excellent method of warming them up. Apart from wearing warm and dry socks, consider placing your cold toes against your partner’s belly. Where possible, use toe or hand warmer packets. 

·       Monitor Your Fellow Winter Hikers

Talk to your colleagues and find out how they feel. If you notice unusual symptoms such as pale spots or a feeling of clumsiness along the trail, take immediate action. Cover any exposed skin and make them wear an additional layer of warm and dry clothing.

Finally

While the winter season can be dull, camping trips are adventurous and fun. However, you need to take the necessary precautions and dress appropriately to keep warm and avoid injuries. These winter backpacking tips should help you get started with ease. Visit our blog now for more details on winter camping. 

Going on a winter camping trip is a great alternative to getting cooped up indoors. It offers great opportunities for fun and adventure — even for entire families. And if you prefer the peace and quiet of solitude, it provides the perfect getaway from the chaos of modern life.

However, since you will be in the backcountry in extremely cold weather, and possibly treacherous terrain, you will need the right winter camping gear in order to ensure that you are both safe and comfortable. Here is a camping checklist that will come in handy in helping to keep you safe and warm. 

Cold Weather Clothing and Other Accessories for Warmth

The main aim of your clothing, or any other accessories that you put on, should be to keep your body from losing heat. They should also be good enough to keep you from getting wet. Any clothing or accessory that has insulation and that wicks your sweat away will also go a long way towards ensuring that you are both warm and comfortable. With this in mind, here is what you should have with you when going on a backcountry camping trip.

For Your Face

Extreme winters typically feature strong winds and cold. These elements can not only be irritating to your eyes, but also bad for your skin. Exposing your face will also accelerate the rate at which you lose body heat.

Therefore, as a winter camper, you will find a balaclava to be essential to staying warm. When you combine it with a beanie, a ski mask, and a pair of goggles, keeping your face safe from harsh winter conditions won’t be a challenge for you.

When choosing a balaclava, neck gaiter, beanie, or any other covering, you should always make sure that it is comfortable and that it is made of breathable material. Since it will be directly in contact with your skin, moisture-wicking ability is also something that you should consider.

As far as the glasses or goggles are concerned, what you should be looking for is the visible light transmission rating. For winter camping, glasses and goggles that have a visible light transmission that is below 19% are ideal. However, if it is cloudy, you may have to use ones that have visible light transmissions of up to 40%.

For Your Hands

As far as your hands are concerned, gloves and mittens will offer the main protection against frostbite and other negative effects of cold weather. Having an extra pair of waterproof and heavily insulated gloves or mittens will help to shield your hands and fingers. And if you get cold, having a packet of toe hand warmers will come in handy in restoring your heat.

For Your Feet

Pairing your winter boots with thick wool socks or synthetic socks is a great way to guarantee comfort and warmth. If you have to move around in the snow, using good gaiters will come in handy in protecting your boots from snow invasion. It will also contribute to keeping your feet warm.

For the Rest of Your Body

Generally, you will need clothing that traps heat, keeps you from losing that heat, and also protects you from rain, snow, and other elements. You will achieve this by layering your clothing.

The base layer

This is the layer that comes in contact with your skin. It is supposed to be comfortable and hugging. It should also have a wicking ability that allows it to drain sweat away from your skin in order to keep you dry and comfortable. As a result, when layering, you should stay away from cotton clothing since cotton is very poor at wicking sweat away. It will keep you wet, and this can cause you to lose heat faster. Clothing made of propylene is a common choice that is affordable.

The middle layer

The middle layer is what insulates your body from the outside world. A merino wool sweater, fleece, or down jacket are all great insulating layer options.

The outer layer

An important factor to consider when choosing the outer layer is whether it is water-resistant. This layer should be able to effectively protect you from rain, snow, and wind. For this layer, opting for a hardshell jacket that has adequate weatherproofing won’t disappoint.

Winter Camping Checklist for Shelter

A 4-Season Winter Tent

A good winter tent should be able to withstand high winter winds, protect you from the cold, and bear the weight of falling snow. 4-season tents are well-equipped to handle typical harsh winter conditions and are thus the best choice as far as winter tents go.

When choosing the size of your tent, it is always advisable that you choose one that is spacious enough to fit all your gear. A tent with a spacious vestibule is also ideal as it will offer extra storage space. However, do not go for a tent that is too large as it may lead to a lot of cold spots in your tent, and this can make getting warm difficult. A larger-than-needed tent will also make transportation more challenging than it needs to be.

Snow Stakes

Unlike camping during summer, winter camping requires the use of special stakes during the tent setup process. This is mainly because of the strong winds that are common during winter. Snow stakes are stakes that are specially designed for use in snow and are generally strong enough to provide tents the support they need to withstand high winds and heavy snow.

Camping Checklist for Tools

Packing down the snow at your camping site is the first step in creating a good foundation. Doing so helps to keep the ground from melting easily. The good news is that you don’t need much in order to get stable ground that is less likely to melt. For this step, all you need is to stomp the snow at the site with your snowshoes. Hiking boots and skis can also get the job done.

Carrying a snow shovel will make the packing work easier. Also, if you need to create more storage space in your vestibule, you can use the shovel to dig into the snow in order to create sufficient storage for your gear.

Winter Camping Checklist for Comfortable Sleeping

Sleeping Pad

One of the fastest ways to lose body heat is to come in contact with the frozen ground. A sleeping pad has enough insulation to act as a buffer between your body and the ground and hence it limits the odds of extreme body heat loss. Furthermore, it also creates a more-comfortable platform for you to sleep on. Therefore, a sleeping pad is a must-have accessory if you want to not only feel warm but also comfortable.

However, it is important to keep in mind that not every sleeping pad can handle harsh winter conditions. To be on the safe side, you should always go for pads that have an R-Value that is more than 4. The higher the R-value of the pad, the better the protection that it will offer against the freezing ground. Also, while a single sleeping pad is usually enough to provide the necessary insulation, you can get even more protection when you combine a self-inflating pad with a closed-cell foam pad.

Sleeping Bag

With a sleeping pad setting out a comfortable and weather-proof foundation against the cold ground, you will then need something to trap your body heat and keep you comfortable and insulated against the environment. Cold weather sleeping bags typically come with plenty of synthetic insulation or goose down, and this gives them an enhanced ability to keep you warm when sleeping. They also have draft collars and zippers that allow them to provide superior heat-trapping capabilities.

Therefore, if you want to sleep comfortably, make sure that you carry a good sleeping bag. Also, make sure that it has the ideal rating to deal with harsh winter conditions.

Sleeping Bag Liner

Some winter campers use sleeping bag liners to protect their sleeping bags from getting dirty or from getting worn out. However, these camping accessories can come in handy in helping to boost the sleeping bag’s ability to keep a camper warm. As a result, having them on hand can help in situations where your sleeping bag isn’t providing as much warmth as expected.

Winter Camping Gear for Backcountry Snow Travel

Moving on Snow

Good waterproof hiking boots are usually enough to allow you to get around in cases where there are shallow levels of snow. However, if the snow levels start to build up, you will need snowshoes. Other gear that may make it easier for you to move around include a snowboard and skis. An ice axe, crampons, and trekking poles will also make your work easier. The only thing that you should keep in mind is that if you choose to ski or snowboard, you will have to wear the appropriate gear in order to move safely and comfortably.

In most cases, if you are going on a hike, a water-proof backpack with adequate insulation will be enough to carry all that you need. However, if you are going trekking on a long journey and you need to carry more things, a sled will be useful as you won’t have to carry it on your back.

Navigation

If you are going to go snowshoeing or mountaineering in the backcountry, you need to have the tools that can help you to find your way back to your winter camping site. Since there are chances you may find yourself away from your camp after the sun sets, having a lightweight headlamp will come in handy helping you to find your way. And to avoid getting stranded in the dark, carrying a few extra batteries for the lamp is always a good idea.

 A map, a reliable compass, a watch, and a good GPS system will also come in handy in helping you find your way around. Another thing that can help is a guidebook that describes landmarks and the general area that you are exploring. As for the maps, guidebooks, and any other items that can get wet, you can protect them with a waterproof sleeve or an airtight plastic bag.

Sun protection

Just because it is winter does not mean that you don’t need protection from the sun. This is so especially when you consider the fact that snow reflects the sun. Therefore, when going on a cold-weather camping trip, it is always a good idea to arm yourself with enough sun protection.

As a result, you should carry a sun hat, a healthy supply of sunscreen, and sunglasses. If you can get your hands on SFP-rated lip balm, your lips will thank you.

Food and Water

Winter campers typically need to cook their meals to ensure that their bodies get the right amount of nutrients needed to keep warm. For most of them, heating up snow is an easy and reliable way to get access to drinking water. And having a stove that can reliably heat up their meals and which is compact and lightweight enough for backpacking, is something that they prioritize.

Camping Gear for Cooking and Boiling Water

Stove

What you need in a stove is something that is effective, compact, and can work in cold weather conditions. You will basically have two options to choose from. You can choose canister stoves or liquid-fuel stoves.

While liquid fuel stoves offer better performance in freezing winter conditions, they are a generally slower and heavier alternative. Therefore, a canister stove is usually recommended because of its compactness, faster boiling speed, and weight.

Furthermore, even though it tends to be problematic due to cold weather depressurization, this is a shortcoming that you can overcome by placing it in your sleeping bag when you are sleeping, or even keeping it in your jacket pocket. Wrapping the canister during use will also reduce the depressurization problem. And since there are canister stoves with built-in pressure regulators, you can still get great cold weather performance from these stoves.

Make sure that you carry an extra stove, just in case the main one fails to work. Packing extra fuel — more than you think you will need — whether it is white gas, kerosene, canisters, or gasoline, is always a great idea.

Cooking platform

When you use your stove on the snow, the snow will start to melt off. This will create an uneven cooking platform. In such a case, a cooking platform will come in handy. You can get one from a camping store, or you can create one by simply using a foam square that is insulated with aluminum foil. A piece of plywood will also do.

Additional items

Other additional items that you will need in order to prepare your food include fire starters or waterproof matchsticks, water filters, a mug, a cup, a spork, and a pot. You shouldn’t also forget to carry a dishcloth for washing your dishes, soap, and a plate.

Food

During winter, your body works extra hard to keep you warm. As a result, packing a generous amount of nutrition-dense healthy foods is necessary for staying warm and energized. Having a few snacks with you will also come in handy in giving your body a quick boost of energy when you don’t have an appetite or when you are simply not in the mood to prepare food. Hot beverages like cocoa and soups are also come in handy. Generally, you should always go for food that is easy and convenient to prepare.

Packing an Extra Water Bottle and Other Camping Tips

You should always pack an extra water bottle because there are different ways that you can use one. For example, instead of waking up in the middle of the night to do jumping jacks, you can simply use a water bottle to keep you warm. All you need to do is to fill up a plastic bottle with hot water, and then throw it inside the sleeping bag at night. If it gets too hot, you can wrap it. Having an insulated sleeve specifically for your water bottle will also help to reduce the rate at which it loses heat.

Also, if it is too cold outside and you don’t have a pee bottle with you, the water bottle can be a great alternative. In such a case, you are a woman, having a pee funnel could come in handy.

Another tip that you will find useful during your campout is to keep any clothing that you intend to use the next day in your sleeping bag, or at least next to you. When you do so, you will keep them from getting too cold because of your body heat. You can also make your boots more comfortable to wear the next day by throwing their liners inside your sleeping bag for extra warmth.

Since accidents can happen when backpacking, you should always carry a well-stocked first aid kit. This, in addition to wearing safety gear like helmets when engaging in winter outdoor activities, could save your life in case something goes wrong.

Just because you are going away into the wild doesn’t mean that you should forget to pack personal hygiene essentials. Toothpaste, a toothbrush, a trash bag, hand sanitizers, towels, toilet paper, and sealable plastic bags are just but a few of the personal hygiene items that you should never forget to carry.