Winter camping means having to deal with harsh elements and cold weather. The latter is perhaps the most outstanding feature of the winter camping experience. Cold weather can be a source of great discomfort for many, but for some survivalists, camping in the snow poses an exciting challenge and is a way to put your skills to the test. If you’re well prepared and know what you’re doing, winter camping can help you better understand your capabilities as well as your limits.
Tips For Winter Camping Every Survivalist Should Remember
While winter camping is not everyone’s idea of fun, it can still be made enjoyable and comfortable. The important thing is to be prepared as you will be needing more gear than you would while camping in the summer. There are lots of benefits to be gained from winter camping. There are fewer campers, more space, and cheaper fees. You won’t be bothered by bugs. If you are properly equipped, you will enjoy a restful sleep. The campfire also becomes more enjoyable in the snow. To make the most of your winter camping experience, you need the right gear, the right attitude and these tips that we have collected.
1. Prepare for winter camping
image via duluthpack
Winter camping requires a lot of preparation for everyone who is planning to embark on this “cool” adventure. Having the right or appropriate gear and clothing alongside with mental and physical preparedness can lessen if not avoid any hassle that winter camping may bring. In an event of a survival situation or when SHTF, how prepared and equipped we are will be one of the deciding factors of out fate.
2. Go to bed warm
image via Reuters
Even if we can get some good insulation from a sleeping bag or winter clothing it is useless bedding down if you’re already freezing. You need to do a little bit of jumpin’ jacks before hitting the sack or perform sit-ups or press-ups while you’re in your sleeping bag.
3. Eat for warmth and energy
image via pitchup
If you want to have warmer nights, then your food should adopt to it. Physiologically, our body burns sugar to produce heat for itself and eating warm food can increase its sensation. As we devour hot porridge or a steaming bowl of chicken soup we become warm thus making us more comfortable.
4. Pack the snow
image via csdailyblog
Pack down your campsite before you set up your tent. Your body heat can melt the loose snow thus leaving you with uneven flooring to lay or sleep upon. You should also position your tent away from the danger of an avalanche or falling trees.
5. Stay dry
image via quatrenatures
Whenever you’re winter camping, you need to stay dry at all cost. You will feel the biting cold especially when your layers get wet. Bringing extra clothing will always be advantageous and will shield you from the harshness of the cold. Staying dry also extends to your gears. Protect your equipment with a waterproof layer or place it inside your tent or shelter.
6. Start fall and winter trips early in the morning
image via natureflip
You must always remember that the sun goes down early during the winter season. So starting your trip early in the morning is always better that starting it in later in the day. It will be best to set up your tent or find the perfect camping site before it gets dark.
7. Snow is a variable matter and only rarely is one situation is like the next
image via hellobc
Before you set your tent, you need to pick a flat spot with a lot of trees around it. This will act as a natural windbreaker. Since snow is a variable matter, you need to be aware where you are setting up your tent. Anchor your tent safely and securely.
8. Keep your matches in a metal, not plastic, container
image via trend hunter
We all know the importance of fire in our daily lives. It helps us cook food and stay warm. So whenever you’re camping in the winter season, it is advisable to keep your matches in a metal container instead of a plastic one because it easily breaks when it gets frozen.
9. Put boiling water in your water bottle and sleep with it at your feet
image via offbeathome
If you want to have a non-frozen water that you can easily drink in the morning then you have to fill your water container with boiling water. Put it inside a sock and keep it inside your sleeping bag to provide extra warmth.
10. Don’t go alone
image via JoeRobinetBushcraft
I know that there are times that you want to go camping alone and away from any distractions. But it is always best and safe if you have someone to accompany you. So in the event of an emergency situation, help is just around. And always leave a message or a detailed trip plan at home so that your loved ones will be informed of your whereabouts.
11. Improve zipper pulls
image via chicagorockandiceguides
Zippers are important to winter clothes. They let you put on clothing quickly which is essential especially to those people who are exposed to extreme conditions. Most zippers that are included in jackets are not made for thick mittens or gloves. So you have to use a little ingenuity and improvise it by adding a 3-inch lanyard.
12. Regulate your temperature on your hike
image via polarbearsinternational
Regulating your temperature is necessary for a winter hike. You don’t have to get sweaty or chilled. You need to be aware or anticipate the weather that is coming your way. You have to act upon it before you even experience it. For example, it is better to put on additional layers before reaching the summit or a spot where the temperature is much lower.
13. Don’t cook in the tent
image via cse
Cooking inside the tent is a recipe for destruction. Not only it can burn your tent but also it can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. You can always choose a spot outside your tent where you can set up a waterproof tarp. If the weather is intolerable, at the very least you can cook inside the vestibule but with sufficient ventilation.
The unprepared will have to deal with the cold realities that winter camping might bring. To greatly enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of winter camping you have to be prepared and the preparation for this kind of trip needs undivided consciousness. Having the proper gear and arming yourselves with knowledge about camping in extreme weather conditions will make your wilderness exploration an adventure to remember. Penny for your thoughts? Tell us what you think about this winter camping tips by dropping your two cents in the comments below.
Mud = yuck! At this time of the year mud becomes a common occurrence in many horse paddocks until summer when things dry out. If mud is an issue on your horse property you may be under the impression that it is an unavoidable part of having horses. But it doesn’t have to be! There are simple changes you can make to reduce or even eliminate mud on your property.
Before footing addition
In a previous post, Mud Management 101, I talked about gutters and downspouts as your first line of attack in reducing mud – keeping clean rainwater clean and not allowing it to mix with manure and dirt in the confinement areas. The next step for getting a handle on mud issues is to use some sort of footing in paddocks and other high traffic areas such as watering points and gates. The purpose for the footing is to build up the area to keep horses up out of dirt and allow rainwater to drain through. Less mud equals less chance of nutrients and sediments running off and polluting surface waters, too. Footings, such as hogfuel (chipped or shredded wood products), gravel (crushed rock) or coarse sand can go a long way in reducing mud. Gravel and coarse washed sand are probably the most useful and most available.
Gravel (crushed rock, no larger than ¾”—anything larger will be uncomfortable for horses to stand on) is a good footing to consider. It won’t break down like wood products do so you don’t have to replace in yearly, plus it drains well. You can get it with the fines (often called the “minus”) which will help it bind together and lock in place. Coarse washed sand also works well. It drains better and is less dusty than finer varieties. Be careful to avoid feeding horses on any type of sand as ingesting sand or dirt particles with hay can result in sand colic, a serious digestive disorder.
Use at least three inches of footing but more is better when it comes to footing. If you already have a lot of mud you may want to either remove some of the existing mud or plan to put footing in at least a 1:1 ratio (for example, if you have about six inches of mud each year you’ll need at least six inches of footing.)
After gravel footing
If your soil is especially mucky or clay-like, you may want to consider first laying down some type of geotextile filter fabric and then placing the footing on top. Geotextile fabric, purchased through garden supply and hardware stores, helps keep the soil layer from working its way up into the footing. More on geotextiles in a future blog – stay tuned!
At our ranch the past couple of weeks we’ve been working on bringing in footing for several paddocks. We would have preferred 3/8 to 5/8” crushed rock but in our new location the smallest crushed rock size available seems to be ¾”. We put this in our paddocks at about three inches deep. In our large, group paddock we only put it around the gate, feeders and stock watering tank, the high traffic areas. The biggest downside I see to this slightly larger size is it doesn’t fit through the tines of a manure fork, therefore we may end up pitching some our expensive gravel into the compost every time we clean.
At least paddocks will be easier to clean and the horses will be out of the mud. One more step at Sweet Pepper Ranch towards being eco-friendly (less muddy runoff!), chore efficiency and improved horse health.
