Winter Wilderness Excursions

Winter wilderness excursions have there own set of challenges and rewards.  There is nothing that can take the place of a winter evening in front of a camfire with a warm beverage.  Adversely so, nothing can be more miserable then freezing your butt off during a cold winter night.

So, like most things, preparation is key when camping in colder climates.  The problem that presents itself is packing the appropriate amount of items and choosing a quality level of gear to meet your minimum needs.

I'm a big fan of packing light.  Over the years I have slowly whittled away the amount of items I require based on my skill and required comfort level. I am by no means a true ultra-lighter; those guys are amazing in what they accomplish with so little.  I am the guy who likes to pack redundancies for those "what if" scenarios.

The problem with winter camping is I am forced to bring "more" due to the climate.  "More" encompasses every facet of gear; from more material because of heavier clothing, more dense sleep/shelter system, to more calorie-heavy foods.

This problem usually translates to spending more money for the most high-speed, low-drag winter gear on the market.  It's not like we are preparing to climb Mt. Everest, but sometimes we have that attitude with our perceived needs.  So what's the balanced approach?

I believe that defining your actual needs along with your required minimum comfort level is the first place to start.  The next step is having a realistic understanding of your true skill level; not your skills on a good day, but on a bad day.  This is a crucial step; don't over estimate your skill set - that will only get you in trouble.  Next, establish a budget and stick with it.  Be prepared to have to carry more stuff, so planning and packing are going to be more labor intensive.

Don't let all the work turn you off, some great times are to be had in the winter months.  Although they incorporate more challenges they have great rewards.

-Adam