Chill Camping by Sylvia Alarid

This article was about winter camping and how to prepare. Many people find winter camping very appealing because there are fewer campers and there’s a beautiful snow-covered landscape. In the winter, you may see a different side of the wildlife and you many different travel options such as cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing. Some people might think that camping in the winter would be unbearable but as long as you’re well prepared, it can be an extremely enjoyable vacation.

Before heading out camping during the winter months, make sure you know the area. If you’re used to camping during the winter and relying on trails to guide you through the forest, when you wake up and there’s 6-inches of snow on the trail then you’ll have wished you’d had a map on hand. Look at the weather before the trip to be able to pack the right clothing and equipment.

When camping during the winter, the only way to have a good time is when you’re warm and dry. You must layer your clothing properly with a wicking layer, insulating layer and a hard shell layer. The one materiel to avoid at all costs is cotton. Cotton traps moisture and it takes longer to dry. In the winter, “Cotton kills.” During this time of the year, campers should bring extra clothing, such as socks and hats, because if one of these items gets wet, it can be a very uncomfortable duration of the trip.

During this cold season, it is very important to stay hydrated. People may not realize their thirst when it’s colder outside until they are on the verge of dehydration. On average, people are thirstier while camping during the winter than during the other seasons. This means that a camper should bring as much water as possible. One good thing about winter time is that if you didn’t bring as much water as you needed, you can always melt snow and boil it to make sure it’s safe to drink. To keep your energy levels up, you should take in as many calories as possible because your body needs the energy to be able to heat itself properly.

In your tent (which should be four-season), you should have an insulating pad which acts as a barrier between your body and the cold forest floor. Your sleeping bag should be a winter sleeping bag, either down or synthetic. Down keeps you warmer but is more difficult to dry. Synthetic sleeping bags keep their heating properties even when they are wet.

I have never tried camping during the winter but would love to try it one day. This was a great article to read. It really helped me to understand how to prepare for camping during this time of the year. As long as you’re prepared, winter camping can be a very enjoyable and magical vacation.

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Alarid, Sylvia. "Chill Camping." Www.campinglife.com. Dec. 2009. Web. .