Tips & Tricks of Winter Camping

Winter Camping in the Adirondacks.

Submitted by Catherine

Old Forge Camping Resort Manager & Outdoor Enthusiast

OK, so I realize - camping is not for everyone.  And for those people who are already on the fence about camping, the thought of camping in the winter would certainly push them over the edge.

But speaking from personal experience (I hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2005 – check out the pics), when you’re outside in what would seem to be the worst conditions, those times are what make the most memorable experiences.

And it’s then that you can see the most beautiful sights – sights that you otherwise would never have experienced.  The snow sparkling in the sun, hoar frost and rime ice on alpine trees, a barred owl calling through the night air, far-off coyotes howling to each other, the whistle of wind through the leafless trees – these are the things that you don’t see or hear when in the comfort of your own home.

If you’re ready to take the leap into the world of winter camping, here are some tips and tricks to keep you warm and happy:

Keep your feet dry!  Wet feet = cold feet!

o   But don’t wear too many pairs of socks.  Too many pairs of socks can decrease circulation, leaving your feet even colder.

o   Leave your boot laces loose at night!  During the cold winter nights, your boots will have a tendency to freeze solid.  This makes for a very unpleasant morning ritual in order to get your feet into your boots.   Jam foot in boot – slam heel on the ground about 5 times until foot moves an inch further into your boot – take a few deep breaths – repeat until your heel is finally where it should be…  Leaving the laces loose at night will get you closer to being able to successfully jam your foot into your boots on the first try!   
                                              

Wear LAYERS!

o   NO cotton – cotton stays wet and will not keep you warm while it’s wet.  This can quickly lead to hypothermia – not a good situation! 

o   Go with layers of either polyester material or wool, which will keep you warm while wet, plus you’ll be able to shed layers if need be to keep from overheating.

  If nature calls in the middle of the night, answer it! 

o   Even if you’re cold.  It’s painful to get out of that sleeping bag, but you’ll be so much warmer when you get back in!  Your body wastes precious energy trying to keep everything in it warm, if you know what I mean…  :)

Get a serious thermal sleeping pad.

o    Think of how cold the ground is, and how much heat it sucks out of you.  It’s definitely worth it to invest in a sleeping pad that will insulate against heat loss to the ground, and radiate your own body heat back to you.  Even during the summer, this is a huge key to being able to sleep comfortably on the ground.  I recommend an inflatable sleeping pad, like Thermarest.

Mummy sleeping bag – a must!

o   Cover that head!  Mummy sleeping bags allow you to have an insulated hood over your head, keeping you extra toasty warm.  You can even cinch them down tight, just leaving a small opening for your nose to get some fresh air. 

o   Sleep in a hat – if it’s extra cold, just go ahead and wear your hat at night, too.  We all know how hair can start to look a little ratty while camping.  Don’t fight it – embrace it!  Just don’t take the hat off…

Don’t forget to stay hydrated. 

o   You won’t want to drink cold water, but you need to!  Your body needs water in order to stay warm, so even if you’re slightly dehydrated, you will be cold.  If you have a tent-mate, sleep with your water bottles in between you so they don’t freeze solid.  Or try putting a small amount of powdered Gatorade in your water so it won’t freeze as quickly.

Sleep with your clothes in the sleeping bag with you. 

o   Believe me – there’s nothing more miserable than putting on frozen clothes in the morning.  If your clothes got even the least bit damp, just stuff them into your sleeping bag with you at night.  You’d be amazed at how dry you can get your socks just by sleeping with them in your bag.  (Granted, the rest of your wardrobe might start taking on a certain odor, shall we call it “eau de dirty socks?”)  But hey - putting on a mildly warm & damp pair of socks is MUCH nicer than cramming your foot into an icy, crusty pair.  Yuck.

If you’re ready to take the leap into winter camping, keep these tips in mind.  For the hardier camper out there, it’s well worth it!  Give it a shot sometime.  Tent sites at the Old Forge Camping Resort certainly don’t book up in the winter.  But for those of you who prefer a mattress (however thin!) and a thermostat you can crank up, the cabins & cottages here are just the thing to get you out in the winter, and they’re guaranteed to be warm at night.  Give winter camping a shot – it’s well worth it.

Cottage Expansions Expected for 2012!

The Old Forge Camping Resort is expanding!  We are pleased to announce the addition of 10 new Adirondack Cottages to our campground resort located in Old Forge NY.

The new cottages, located at the end of Otter Avenue, are wooded and privately spaced.  They boast fewer stairs for easier access as well as convenient parking. Strategic placing of the fire pits make for a larger picnic area. The unique landscaping has a truly Adirondack flair. 

Each will have the same great amenities as our existing cottages, which sleep 6 comfortably.  They will include a high efficiency hot water heater and forced air furnace.  New appliances in a more spacious-looking kitchen will provide the finishing touch.

The location of the new sites will provide more options for friends and families traveling together that require both cabins and cottages.  They will pair well with cabins 113-131 and will offer more alternatives for the RV sites behind the Main Lodge.

This has been an “all hands on deck” venture.  The walls have been constructed at Enchanted Forest/Water Safari warehouse and brought over here.  Several of the park employees have been working on the project as well.

Be sure to visit our Facebook page for updates and pictures of the progress!

The Transformation to an Adirondack Winter Wonderland

 Winters in OldForge
are long, and cold…
and beautiful!!

There is so much to do in Old Forge NY in the wintertime – from snowmobiling, to skiing or snowshoeing, or even ice fishing.    We’re proud to be one of the only campgrounds to be open for the whole year.  Some of our guests probably don’t even realize that we’re open year-round!  There’s a lot to be done to transform the Old Forge CampingResort into a working winter resort.  We all have lots of work to be done around our homes to prepare for winter, so you can imagine there’s quite a bit of work to be done to get an entire Campground set for the winter season.

We have 7 restroom & shower facilities up and running during the summer.  After our last Autumn Adventure Weekend, our grounds workers start shutting down the Pine Forest Circle Restroom.  They have to shut off the water that goes to that bathroom so it won’t freeze up in the winter.  All of the other 6 restroom & shower facilities have heat in them, so they’re toasty all winter long!  Seeing as there’s no restroom open in that area, we shut down Cabins 47-85 for the winter.  This turns out to be a great way to conserve propane, since we’re able to turn off the pilots to the heaters in them.  The water & sewer lines to all the RV sites are shut off in the winter, and the dump stations are shut down.

During the spring, summer, and fall, we have Canoe, Rowboat & Paddleboat Rentals, but before winter, it’s time to pull all the boats and the docks out of the water.  Speaking of the beach, the lake is off-limits in the winter since it doesn’t completely freeze over.  We have to put up all the winter signage around the Campground so everyone knows not to venture out on the ice, what the snowmobile speed limit is, etc.  Tall markers are placed by spigots, sign posts, etc, so they won’t be plowed over when they disappear in the deep snow.

A picnic table “pyramid” at the Old Forge Camping Resort

Once snow flies, we have to be able to plow efficiently – there are lots of roads & sites in the campground that need to be cleared.  In order to make that happen, our grounds crew disassembles all of the fire pits, and stacks up all of the picnic tables from the sites.  A few sites are reserved for these picnic table pyramids – an ancient form of architecture found only in the Adirondacks.  J

 Quite a few of our sites are able to be rented out as Winter Seasonal Sites, where the winter renters are free to come and go as they please between November 1^st and April 15^th.  The RV’s and snowmobile trailers all have to be moved from their summer storage spots to their home for the winter.  Rental Cabins & Cottages are given a thorough cleaning before their winter renters move in.  Furnaces are serviced and checked to be sure they’ll be in good working order.

We’re pretty much all set for winter in Old Forge.  Attaching the plows to the trucks is the only thing left to do.  You never know exactly when the snow will start to come here, but once it comes, it’s usually here to stay.  If you’ve never seen the winter here, come up and give it a try!

Cold Weather Paddling in the Adirondacks

Frost on a Rental Canoe on the beach of Lake Serene at the Old Forge Camping Resort

Fall Canoeing and Kayaking in Old Forge

Even though winter feels like it’s fast-approaching, there is still time left for great paddling opportunities in the AdirondackMountains.  It’s a great time to take out the canoe or kayak, and go out on the larger lakes when they’re not as crowded with warm weather water skiers or power boats.

The Fulton Chain of Lakes
The Fulton Chain of Lakes would be the perfect spot to paddle right now!  Plus, when the air temp is colder than the water, it makes for some gorgeous misty mornings.  However, if you were to tip over in a canoe or kayak this time of year, you’d get a rather rude awakening!  There’s a rule of thumb about the likelihood of getting hypothermia in these situations – the “100-degree rule.”  If you add the water temperature and the air temperature together and the sum is less than 100 degrees, there’s a good chance you’d get hypothermia if you fell in.  Like if the air temperature is a brisk 25 degrees, and the water is only 50 degrees (highly likely this time of year…), that’s only 75 degrees total.  Even when you get out of the water, your body would be so chilled from the shock of falling in that the cold air temperature isn’t going to help at all… 

Life Jacket Law Has Taken Effect  in New York State
In August of 2009, New York State issued a new lifejacket law for small non-motorized watercraft less than 21 feet long.  Usually, only children under 12 are required to wear their life jackets at all times while in the boat.  But as of 2009, paddlers and passengers of all ages must wear their life jackets between November 1^st – May 1^st.  It’s a good policy since having a life jacket on would definitely increase your chances of survival, especially if you swamped in a huge lake where help could be far away.

Old Forge Camping Resort
The Old Forge Camping Resort rents canoes and paddleboats during the appropriate seasons; however we require life jackets to be worn by anyone under 18 years of age.  In addition, if a guest is 18 or older we require a life jacket to be with them in the boat at all times.  Next time you’re out on the water in the Adirondacks, keep that in mind!  Although it is smart to wear a life jacket any time of year, be sure to wear it between November 1^st and May 1^st – Not only for safety’s sake, but violation of this law is pricey, with fines of between $25-$100!

Camping in the Winter!?

Many people who travel to the Adirondacks, or who travel in general don’t usually put the word camping and winter in the same sentence. Who would anyway, it gets cold, it snows, who would want to pitch a tent on the snow in a place like Old Forge, NY anyway!?  Well, truth be told, it goes beyond that for camping in general, but also camping in the winter!
At the Old Forge Camping Resort, we provide 4 types of accommodations – RV Sites, Tent Sites and Cabins and Cottages. For the most part, camping in the winter for us focuses more towards cabins and cottages – of course we do get the occasional tent-er and more often an RV-er , but think of it more as luxury camping, heated luxury camping. (We don’t call ourselves a Camping Resort for nothing!) Our cabins and cottages provide propane heat, electricity, a roof you don’t have to pitch over your head and beds with mattresses!  Cottages take it to the next level with more space, more beds, plus a bathroom with a toilet, sink and shower and a kitchenette with a stovetop, microwave, small fridge, table and chairs and even a kitchen sink!  All sites have a picnic table and a fire circle, more for summer camping, but there are the winter enthusiasts!

What’s even more neat about a campground in a cold climate that’s open year round is that not only can you actually camp in the winter by the night, but you can rent cabins, cottages and sites by the entire season. The Old Forge area has tons and tons of activities to take advantage of – snowmobiling the 500 miles of groomed trails, downhill skiing at McCauley Mountain, ice fishing, snow shoeing, cross country skiing. Who wouldn’t want to rent a warm and cozy place in the Adirondacks where you can go to anytime from November through mid April?  Plus the price includes many perks like having someone turn the heat up for you, or plow your driveway or turn on a light, so when you do arrive, it’s like your home away from home. 

For information about camping in the winter….click here.

5 ways to Prepare for a Camping Trip

Who doesn't love camping? Being in the outdoors, living alongside nature, waking up to the sounds of a distant loon...it is the perfect opportunity to get away from your nine-to-five and relax while being adventurous at the same time.


But for anybody who has ever camped before, they know that the more prepared you are, the better the experience will be. That doesn't necessarily mean having more things or bringing the latest camping gadget. It's about having everything you will need to get through the weekend stress free.

Here are a few ideas we have come up with about how to prepare before you ever leave your driveway. Hopefully they will be helpful as you get ready for an exciting and relaxing few days with your friends and family:

1. Make a Check-list: You will forget something. It happens to everybody. But making a checklist will help you forget a few less things. We suggest start by using a premade list, then adjusting it to your specific needs. 6 things that you will need regardless - a lighter, duct tape, pocket knife, first-aid kit, hammer, and a spatula.
2. Set your tent up once before you leave: For a few reasons. First, you want to air it out a bit. If it is the first camping trip of the season, or you just went last weekend, it may still be a bit wet. Give it some time to breath. Second, it may have suffered some damage while you were packing it up that you did not notice, and the last thing you need is a big rip in your tent when you are hours away from home. It will also give you an opportunity to clean it better than you may be able to at the camp site.
3. Freeze a Bunch of Water Bottles and Juice Boxes: You're bringing them anyway, so why not use them? They can be used in place of bagged ice, and your cooler wont fill up with melted water on the drive. Stick them in your cooler with the hotdogs, hamburgers, and any other food you need to keep cold, and you will be all set!
4. Wash All of the Supplies that You Can Before You Leave: Yes there are places to wash pots and pans at the campground, but can you get them as clean as you would be able to in your own sink? Especially if they have been sitting in storage for a while...give them a nice scrub to get anything left on off, so they will be fresh for your first meal and easier to clean from then on.
5. Look to See if the Campsite has Any Special Events Going On: What's worse than showing up to a luau without your favorite grass skirt? It as easy as visiting their website and checking out their calendar. They might not do special events, but then again, they might. Many places have camping cookout contests or challenges that you can prepare for and have a lot of fun at.

So that is just a few (hopefully) helpful tips for getting ready for your trip. 

Snowmobiling in the Adirondack’s

Snowmobiling in the Adirondack’s means being able to venture through millions of acres of groomed snowmobile trails like no other place in the world. Experience the always reliable snowmobiling conditions that the Adirondacks has to offer. The seasonal Adirondack snowfall allows for an amazing snowmobiling experience throughout hundreds of miles of groomed trails that are just waiting to be explored. NO other area in the North East compares to a day on the sled in the Adirondacks.  Stay in Old Forge and ride your sled from the Water’s Edge Inn or your camping cabin at Old Forge Camping Resort to the various shopping or dining attractions that this Adirondack  town has to offer. Our snowmobile friendly community welcomes you to experience why New York State’s Adirondack State Park is a destination for anyone’s snowmobile vacation list. You’ll quickly realize that nothing compares to snowmobiling in the Adirondacks!

This region makes planning your snowmobiling vacation easy. Pick up a snowmobiling trail map from Old Forge Visitor Information Center and register your snowmobile before head out in one convenient stop. Stay at one of the Adirondack’s many lodging accommodations throughout the area such as the Old Forge Camping Resort which features log cabins and camping cottages right in the Adirondack State Park. Stay all season in the comforts of a cozy Adirondack cottage or log cabin with direct access to the hundreds of miles of NY State Adirondacks to explore in the NY snowmobiling trail system. Overall, the Adirondack s  warmly invites you and your family to experience what they have to offer for your next snowmobiling trip.