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| A nice bright winter day at Apple Creek Campground. |
Advantageous campers know that one of the best time to camp in the winter. Why? Well, during the
winter there's no bugs, it will most likely be blissfully empty, quiet, and dirt cheap! Also, most of
us forget about the area surrounding the campground is a teeming, wooded haven most of us don't explore
during the more rambunctious summer months. Have you ever taken a walk in the woods on a quiet winter morning? That’s
good stuff, people.
If
you have the right equipment and warm clothes, Winter is a great time for camping. There's plenty to do--cross-country skiing,
snowshoeing, snowmobiling, animal tracking, bird watching, and ice fishing.
The campground is in it's off-season, which means limited amenities. Water may be unavailable at your site but
there's still electricity throughout. There's also a heated bathroom with showers and water available for
filling bottles to take to your site for cleaning and cooking. Someone is also available to fill LP tanks, should you
run low. So, really, this still isn't "roughing it."
However, whether you RV or tent camp, there's a few things you should think about before you set out.
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| Early morning frost on the window. |
RV'ers....
Yes, most people travel by RV in order to excape cold climates, but I'm asking you to give winter camping a chance.
The fact is, many RVers were true campers once. At the very least,
most of us enjoyed the outdoors enough to want to build most of our vacations around it. A recreation vehicle seemed
like a nice fit, particularly when it came time for going where the going was good. But in our hearts, most still embrace
that pioneering spirit, the satisfying struggle of keeping our campfires lit, the elements at bay and our proverbial powder
dry. For those who retain these primal urges to test one’s recreational mettle, winter camping in an RV is the
ultimate treat. Not only that, but it yields some of the most elusively beautiful snow- covered environments most of us never
get to see.
Readying the Rig
However, the family RV may
not be as ready for your snowy escapade as you are. We wouldn’t recommend attempting low-temperature camping in rigs
void of quality insulation, functional furnaces or those lacking sizable enough tanks to last through a couple of cold days.
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| A winter sunrise looking over Apple Creek. |
While there’s not much you can do much about the inherent insulation (or lack thereof) your manufacturer
opted for, there are further ways to keep the warm in and the cold out. Weather-stripping the doors and windows is a
good idea. It makes sense to seal the windows in plastic or use one of the popular protective films
to help trap the heat. Cover or block the insides of roof vents with plastic as well. Be sure to drop a few floor rugs over
uncarpeted flooring as yet another thermal layer.
Obviously, it’s a good idea to bring lots of layers: boots and hats, blankets, skis, snowshoes, snow shovel
(for a possible dig out), De-Icer (in case of frozen locks) and a little road salt or kitty litter, too, in case you start
spinning your wheels.
A slow steady snowfall is part of the season’s charm, so long as it doesn’t block any exhaust pipes
or vents. Failure to prevent this blockage could result in a dangerous situation onboard. Also, ventilation is needed
to make sure you have enough oxygen inside your RV. Blocked vents won’t let the bad air out, and you need fresh air
to breathe.
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| A deer in the distance on Apple Creek. |
Tenters....
Arctic
conditions exist when the wind is blowing and the temperature drops below 20 degrees F. There are only seven states in the
U.S. that do not experience arctic weather. Wisconsin is not one of them.. It is very important to prepare and even over
prepare. I've never heard anyone complain about being too warm or having too many dry clothes on a winter campout.
Your
number one priority is to conserve body heat. There are a couple
of ways to lose body heat, through radiation and conduction. Radiation is the emission of body heat, especially from the skin areas exposed to the elements. A good set of gloves, hat,
and scarf can help best in keeping bare skin to a minimum. Conduction is the absorption of cold by the body when sitting or laying on cold ground, or handling cold objects such as metal
cooking utensils and metal canteens. A camp stool or chair is a must on a winter camping trip. Wet clothing will accelerate this process, making staying dry even more important.
DO NOT sleep with your mouth and nose in
your sleeping bag. The moisture of your breath will condense in the bag, and cause it to become wet and ineffective as an
insulator.
Never if it is at all possible should you sleep in the same clothes
that you have worn all day. They are damp and will cause you to chill. This could cause frostbite and hypothermia. It is advised
that you bring a thick pair of sweats and thermal underwear to sleep in. Keep the thermals and sweats for sleeping in only.
Do not wear them during the day, this will keep them the driest. Also be sure to have a couple of layers of wool or heavy
thick cotton socks on as well. Always sleep with a stocking hat on your head. Your sleeping bag needs to be a winter rated
bag. Typically rated down to 15 degrees and stuffed with 5 pounds of Holofil, Fiberfil, or other polyester ticking. It is
also a very good idea to have some kind of sleeping mat to use in the winter. The mat can be a $90 Thermal Rest from Galyans
or a $5 piece of high density rubber foam at least one inch thick. In cold weather camping you never want to sleep on an air
mattress or off the ground in a cot. The air under you will cool you off in no time and this would create a threatening situation.
Another thing to keep in mind is water consumption. Dehydration can seriously
impair the body's ability to produce heat. Drink fluids as often as possible during the day and keep a water bottle or canteen
with you at night.
Cooking in cold weather will take about twice as long as normal. Always use a lid on
any pots that you are cooking in. This will help to hold in the heat and decrease the overall heating time. Try to keep
your menu to good one-pot meals. Things like stews, chili, and hot beans stick to your ribs, lessen the cleaning time, and
provide good sources of energy and fuel for your internal furnace. A good high-calorie snack before bedtime will also keep
you warm all night. Stay away from an overabundance of sugar, cheese is a good high-calorie bedtime snack.
Keeping warm is the most important
part of cold weather camping. Use the C-O-L-D method to assure staying warm.
-C - Clean
Since insulation is only effective when heat is trapped by dead air spaces, keep
your insulating layers clean and fluffy. Dirt, grime, and perspiration can mat down those air spaces and reduce the warmth
of a garment.
- O -Overheating .
A steady flow of warm blood is essential to keep all parts of your body heated. Wear several loosely fitting
layers of clothing and footgear that will allow maximum insulation without impeding your circulation.
- L - Loose Layers.Avoid
overheating by adjusting the layers of your clothing to meet the outside temperature and the exertions of your activities.
Excessive sweating can dampen your garments and cause chilling later on .
- D - Dry
Damp clothing and skin can cause your body to cool quickly, possibly leading to frostbite and hypothermia. Keep dry by
avoiding cotton clothes that absorb moisture. Always brush away snow that is on your clothes before you enter a heated area.
Keep the clothing around your neck loosened so that body heat and moisture can escape instead of soaking several layers of
clothing.
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