Winter Camping 101: How to Stay Warm, Safe, and Prepared

How to Thrive During a Winter Camping Excursion

With Alpine meadows, rolling hills, sheer mountain walls and glacier carved valleys, you pretty much have your pick of terrain when heading deep into the Big Horn National Forest in central Wyoming. With over 1,500 trails and 32 campgrounds, there is ample opportunity to explore the backcountry. The summer season at elevation is a delight all by itself, but traveled in winter—with the landscapes blanketed in a layer of snow and ice—can be a breathtaking experience. However, Old Man Winter is an unforgiving jerk if you roll even one wheel into his domain unprepared.

Proper winter camping can be a very rewarding experience, as long as you always err on the side of caution. The key to a successful winter camping trip is having the right gear and becoming an informed winter camper.

Plan Ahead

Whether you’re an old hand at winter camping or if this is your first time trekking off of the snow-covered roads and into the back-country, there is a host of things you need to accomplish long before you put the truck in gear. For starters, never go alone; in addition to adventure loving company, sharing your experiences is greatly enhanced by a small group of like-minded people. Plus, the body heat they provide will be appreciated later.

Study maps of the area you plan to go into, and even talk to people who have been their before. Are there services nearby? Established campgrounds? Any amenities? Check the road conditions and the weather for the time you plan to be there. Be mindful of avalanche conditions (any slope greater than 20 degrees), and make sure everyone in your group is prepared for them.

Have a formal plan ready for each member of your group: where you are going, how long you’ll be there, when you’ll be home, and a list of goals for the trip (climb Mt. Whatever and visit frozen Schweitzer Falls), vehicle information and names of all in your party. Leave this trip plan with friends not going, and it wouldn’t hurt to check in with a local forest ranger to let them know you’ll be in the area (and you may need permits anyways).

Most importantly, plan for the unplanned: have extra food and clothing just in case the weather changes, you get lost, or your trip makes any unexpected detours or delays.

Maintain Your Rig

Since your truck or Jeep is your only safe way of egress from the snow-laden back-country, make sure it is in top-notch condition for such a run. You won’t get anywhere if your rig isn’t ready for the adventure.

Recovery Gear: Much of the same recovery gear you would take with you during a trail run during in any other time of the year is the same for wintery terrain. The usual tow hooks, snatch straps and winches will all find employment in a snowbound situation. However, consider adding a snow shovel, ice scraper and a stiff brush to your gear to clear away snow buildup from radiators, windshields and tire treads.

Tires: Tires are one of the most important elements to traversing the snow, and time and again, Dick Cepek Fun Country tires are recommended for their wide section widths, mild tread patterns and high flexibility.

Having the means to air down and air up your tires will be helpful too. Lower pressure tires put more tire in contact with the snow, which means a larger footprint. Of course, you’ll need to return them to their recommended air pressure for the drive home.

Don’t Overheat: Watch your radiator as snow may accumulate on it and decrease its  ability to cool the engine. Surprisingly as well (especially in the single-digits), engines can overheat easily because of the strain put on them when trying to push through deep snow.

Drive Appropriately

Since getting there is half the fun, make sure you get there by taking precaution when wheeling through the wintery wonderland. Driving through dry or wet snow in different consistencies and conditions is a learned skill that takes some experience and practice.

Travel Light: You’ll want to stay on top of the snow, so your very choice of vehicle to get you there may be dependent on its weight. A ’01 Ford F150 weighs around 5,000 pounds, whereas a ’01 Jeep Wrangler tips the scales at just over 3,200 pounds. Discard gear you won’t need (not every rig in your party needs a jack or a full tool kit, right?), and keep the weight down by leaving home any unnecessary equipment (are you using the roof rack on this trip?).

Tire Size: If you are driving on snow-covered paved roads, you’ll want narrower tires to cut through the snow to the pavement below, but when trying to climb over and above the snow, wide tires with a large footprint will better offset the weight of the vehicle so it won’t sink down as much.

Locking Differentials: To help keep tires from spinning in slippery snow and ice, a locking differential is a must. Off-camber slopes are a challenge in the snow, but by allowing power to only one wheel per axle, the other two will act as anchors to keep the truck from sliding. However, when engaged in deep snow, you’ll want all four wheels turning at the same speed.

Slipping is especially bad in the snow because the snow can melt under the friction and then refreeze in your tire lugs, rendering them somewhat useless.

The Right Personal Gear

If your weekend getaway will include any hiking, consider taking along a couple of extra things that will make your trek that much more enjoyable. A pair of snowshoes will keep you on top of the snow, giving you the ability to travel farther quicker. A small sled (a simple plastic one can be had cheaply) can be pulled behind you; this not only holds more hiking gear and reduces the weight on your back, but it means that you will take lighter steps and will be less likely to sink into the snow.

To be comfortable while winter camping, the right camping equipment is important. Make sure to select a sleeping bag that is rated for the temperature of your destination or warmer. An extra foam pad or down air mattress can help with the cold air coming up from the ground and a four-season tent is imperative in extreme winter weather conditions. If you are snow camping, consider bringing an extra stove for melting snow into drinking water and be sure to pack extra fuel for your camp stove.

Dress for the Occasion

The simple rule of winter camping is to stay dry and warm. Wet clothes (or not enough of them) is a killer in sub-freezing temperatures.

Choose clothing layers that wick moisture, dry quickly, insulate well, and are waterproof and breathable. By adjusting these layers—adding more when needed and removing them as the day warms—you can quickly and easily regulate your temperature.

Base: The base layer is your underwear, or whatever the layer is next to your skin. Synthetic and wool fabrics work best, but above all, avoid cotton. They wick perspiration away from your skin to outer layers so it can evaporate and not condense on your body. Synthetics dry quickly so you spend minimal time in wet clothing (or if you have to lay it out to dry but need to wear it again later). When snow camping, it’s a good idea to wear two base layers, a lightweight layer and then then a thicker heavyweight layer on top of that.

Mid: The middle layer is designed to insulate you from the cold and retain your body heat. For snow camping, consider heavy-weight fleece or microfleece shirts, pants, and jacket and/or a goose-down jacket.

Outer: The outer shell needs a waterproof/ windproof/breathable layer. Shells made from such materials as Gore-Tex or eVent offer premium protection from wetness while allowing moisture inside to escape. Less expensive alternatives use polyurethane-coated fabrics that are equally waterproof but somewhat less breathable. Look for core vents and underarm vents that expel excess heat and moisture.

Socks and boots should be approved for winter hiking, but traditional hiking boots on the market these days provide ample warmth for your needs. Always wear synthetic or wool socks (a thin layer next to your skin and a thick sock over that), however. Take extras.

Additional Clothing: Though it is a myth that you lose a significant percentage of heat through your head, you do lose some, so a warm hat that can cover your ears is a must. As well, gloves or mittens will keep your hands warm, while a pair of gaiters will keep snow out of your boots.

To protect your eyes from the glare of the sun, glasses or goggles should be with you at all times.

Warm Sleeping Bag: A cold sleeping bag can take some time to warm up with just your body heat, so pre-warming your bag is a nice way to quickly get warm at night. Boil water and put it in a watertight container. Let the water cool down a little and then place in in your sleeping bag 20 minutes before going to bed. The heat will make getting into bed at night more enjoyable and help maintain your body temperature while sleeping. The same thing can be done with warm rocks if they’re not too hot (to damage your bag or tent).

Firewood: It can be difficult to find firewood on the ground in the winter. By the time winter rolls around, summer campers have scavenged the forest for wood or the winter storms have made most of the wood too wet to burn. An evening campfire will keep you warm at night and make cooking outside more enjoyable in cold weather.

Choosing an Apt Campsite

The most important thing to consider when looking for an appropriate campsite in the winter months is that you have enough daylight left to find one and set up camp. Once you reach what you consider a perfect campsite, sit down for a while, recharge with a snack, cool down from your hike (if you walked there), and then add a layer of clothing.

Winter storms can crop up at any time, so foremost, pick a campground spot that is not along a ridgetop or apex of a hill, instead, find a dell or depression with protection from the wind. Regard camping under any types of trees as dangerous, for two reasons: 1) Shedding snow can immediately bury your tent; and 2) The weight of the snow can easily break thick branches which might kill you.

The dangers of avalanches after a snowfall is especially high, so avoid camping at the base of a hill, while south-facing areas with clear line of sight (not blocked by mountains or trees) will provide you with the most exposure to the sun.

Setting Up Camp

When you first get into camp, leave on your snowshoes (if you wore them) and begin to tramp down areas for tents and your kitchen. If possible, let the snow set up for 30 minutes or so to re-harden. Organize your tents with the doors at 90 degrees to the prevailing winds, but for an especially cold night (or if a blustery storm is approaching), you can build snow walls on the windward side of the tent. Mound the sides of the tent with snow (have someone inside pushing out on the tent to keep it from collapsing). When the snow sets up you will have a hybrid tent-snow shelter which will have better insulation than the tent alone.

The Kitchen: If the snow is deep, you may want to dig out a pit for your kitchen. Dig a pit at least six feet in diameter (for 4-6 people), and two to three feet deep (if you don’t hit ground before that) and pile the excavated snow around the perimeter. Pack the snow at the perimeter of the hole with your shovel, as this will give you a 4-5 foot deep area well protected from the wind.

Camping during the winter can be a rewarding experience, provided you plan ahead, make rational decisions about your trip, maintain a proper rig, pack the essentials for the environment you’ll be in, and prepare for the worst case scenario.

Of course, if you get too cold, you could always sleep in your truck. It has a heater, remember?

THE 10 ESSENTIALS

With you at all times (even when not wheeling during the winter) should be the 10 Essentials, a concise grouping of gear that will see you through even the most trying of times. The fluidity of this list means that you can augment it with additional items depending on where you are going. For example, an emergency shelter in the summer could mean a simple tarpaulin, but an emergency shelter in the winter should equate to a four-season tent.

1. Navigation/communication (map and compass and GPS/phone)
2. Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunblock)
3. Insulation (extra clothing)
4. Illumination (flashlights, headlamps, and extra batteries)
5. First-aid supplies (an ample first aid kit)
6. Fire (redundant ways to make and maintain a fire)
7. Repair kit and tools (that are appropriate for your rig)
8. Nutrition (extra food)
9. Hydration (extra water and the ability to procure and clean more)
10. Emergency shelter (tarps, tents, sleeping bags)