Winter Camping
Did you ever think about camping out in snow and cold? You should. Winter camping is not only fun, it can be – if done the right way – a real adventure and an experience that you won't miss anymore. And there are no bugs ;-)
My first winter camping trip dates back when I was approximately 15 years old. I made every mistake in the book. However, that didn’t keep me from trying again and I learned through trial and error what it takes to make winter camping a great experience. I can’t remember any winter since where I didn’t pitch my tent in the snow, sometimes on a lonely summit often deep in the woods, sometimes sleeping in snow caves or just in a bivvy bag.
First, I had the idea to write up a list of tips on how to prepare you for a night out in the woods or on a mountain when I received an email from fellow winter camper Jim Muller, who runs WinterCampers.com. As the name suggests, Jim dedicated his site to winter camping. If you’re playing with the thought of trying it out I highly recommend checking out his Web site.
You’ll find a wealth of information, such as:
- Winter camping gear lists
- The 10 essentials
- Tons of related articles
- Tips on how to prepare your trip
- And much more…
Here’s the link: http://www.WinterCampers.com.
Let me know what you think!
Comments
Jim Muller entered a poem entitled “I Am Not Going To Lie to You” with a motivation of bringing attention to their WinterCampers.com website. The poem describes a winter camping trip in the Adirondack High Peaks.
Jim’s poem was selected as 1 of 5 semi-finalists winning a new Timex Expedition watch with the entry receiving the most votes by 04/25/08 becoming a finalist and receiving an Outdoor Adventure pack featuring outdoor gear and eligibility to win a grand prize adventure trip for two to the San Juan Islands, Moab, or Aspen.
Finalists are being selected via voting online at http://www.active.com/page/timex/vote .
Unfortunately, the contest has not formatted the entry as a poem, but instead it is presented as one continuous paragraph. I have written to the sponsors requesting proper formatting as I feel it puts the poem at a great disadvantage. Hopefully this will be corrected soon so that if you reference the site you will see the poem as intended. To see the poem as submitted I have included it below or you can read it here on our website. You can read the story that led to the poem here and see pictures from the trip here.
I AM NOT GOING TO LIE TO YOU
(About Our December Winter Camping Trip)
I am not going to lie to you, said Matt with a smile.
It’s a pretty long hike, a little over 4 mile.
To get to the lean-to at the clearing named Scott’s
It will be a hard haul and take what you got.
The temperature may chill us to well below zero,
But I have a solution; to this problem you know.
We can load extra gear on these handy snow sleds
They slide by themselves, they just have to be led.
So we loaded our gear - on our winter trek did embark.
Jim with his pack, pulling sleds were Matt, Len and Mark.
Matt set the pace as he led the group off on the trail
But soon we heard a whine, a yell, then a loud wail.
I am not going to lie to you! through clenched lips he hissed
This sled keeps tipping and I am getting quite pissed.
I have to carry it over logs and it bumps into rocks
Each person that passes by stares, giggles and gawks.
The only thing worse than pulling the sled
Is breaking the thing and having to carry the bread.
We made it to the lean-to with time in excess
It was around three PM or so I would guess
We had angel hair pasta and it tasted de-lish
But what didn’t get eaten became frozen to the dish
For the temperature was sinking, passing zero and dropping
As we climbed in our sleeping bags the trees were popping.
Matt gave Mark his good -30 winter sleeping bag
And rolled up in his summer sack, plus just one rag.
I am not going to lie to you, said Matt through teeth a chattering
I’m cold and not having any fun, not that it’s mattering.
Cause I’ve never been colder and these feet are a keeping
My mind is wide awake and the rest of me from sleeping.
I a m not going to lie to you, just for courtesy sake
Instead of lying here shivering, I rather be awake.
We arose at eight and searched for the trail for Summit Rock
But a long trail and cold feet stopped us at 11 o’clock
I am not going to lie to you, Matt said with despair
Though we come quite a ways, we’re not close to being there.
So we all turned back, loaded our gear and headed out
Using the same trail in for our outward bound route.
I am not going to lie to you, it was a trip to remember
That one we took on The Twenty-Seventh of December.
Happy Camping... :)
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