Winter Camping in the Adirondacks.
Submitted by Catherine
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.
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