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Meghan Ham

Planning for Winter Camping or Hiking Trip

Planning for Winter Camping or Hiking Trip

Most people believe that winter camping is extreme, uncomfortable, or nearly impossible. In truth, as long as you have proper planning and the right gear, you can enjoy a perfect winter camping or hiking trip.

The most important thing that makes winter camping successful is planning. Whether you are a beginner or a seasonal camper, there are some things that you must plan.

Tips for planning a perfect camping or hiking trip

Do you want to learn comprehensive tips to plan an enjoyable winter camping or hiking trip? Here we have brought a quick guide for you.

So, here we go:

Check the weather forecast

Like any other outdoor activity, determining the weather condition is a must before planning your camping trip. Doing your homework here will let you identify the possible weather conditions you may encounter during your camping or hiking trip.

Always remember that weather conditions can change quickly, especially in winter. Therefore, you must prepare all the supplies and clothing appropriately.

Moreover, severe winter weather can also affect road conditions. So, you should also plan how to return home safely beforehand.

Decide your campsite wisely.

Secondly, you need to decide on a suitable camping location for winter weather. Whether tent camping or backpacking, your chosen campsite can make the difference here. Always choose a campsite with trees that will potentially block the chilly winds.

Additionally, ensure that all the trees at your chosen campsite are sturdy and not rotting, dying, or dead. Avoid pitching your camp under any dodgy-looking limbs that can come crashing down.

Don’t go alone for winter camping or hiking.

Although solo camping is a lucrative activity in the summer, it is never recommended for camping during the winter time. As weather conditions keep changing quickly during winters. Therefore, having someone along to help is always better.

For beginners, it is recommended to camp with at least two people. However, for seasoned campers taking even one person along would also work.

Being together will make it easier to take care of each other. Also, you can have a more enjoyable time together.

Invest in the right winter camp

Standing still for long to pitch your camp in winter is hellish. So, you must invest in a camp right for winter that can be pitched within minutes. No one would enjoy hanging around pitching the camp in a freezing temperature.

BattleBox Tent is a must-have for winter camping. This is thicker and can accommodate 2 persons easily. Moreover, it will also let you have better options to insulate your tent.

Your chosen tent must have enough space to store your camping gear inside. Invest in at least 3 or preferably 4-season camping tents. A four-season camping tent can work amazing for any weather conditions.

Food and drink storage for winter camping

People usually think they should limit their water and food consumption during winter camping trips. So, they can limit their toilet needs as much as possible. However, this isn't true at all. Pack enough water and food as per your winter camping trip duration.

It would be better to pack high-calorie food items. Energy drinks also come in handy when planning to go hiking during winter.

However, if you want to enjoy self-cooking during winter camping, you can use the Bushcraft Spice wallet to pack your spices. This spice wallet will not take plenty of space and can help you carry essential spices required to cook delicious foods.

Choose the right backpack.

Winter camping usually requires more gear than summer camping trips. As you generally need to pack bulky clothing items along with other stuff. Therefore, you must have a larger backpack than you usually have for your summer camping trips.

Despite packing lightly, you must be appropriately geared for winter weather conditions. So, always invest in a backpack that can carry all your essentials without hassle.

The sleeping bag is vital to ensure night comfort.

Do you want to enjoy comfortable sleep during winter nights? Investing in a high-quality sleeping bag is a must. You must choose a bed roll rated 10°F lower than the expected temperature during your winter camping.

Choose the things mentioned below to invest in the right sleeping bag for a winter camping trip:

  • Your choice must contain a generous amount of synthetic insulation and goose down.
  • A bag with a superior warmth-to-weight ratio is always more effective.
  • Are you sure about the warmth of your sleeping bag? Simply add a liner inside.

This lining can increase its warmth. Additionally, it will keep your bag from any wear and tear.

Use a sleeping pad or down blanket for additional warm and cushioning

A sleeping pad or Blanket is essential. The packable down blanket can offer you added cushioning and essential insulation. Adding an extra sleeping pad inside your sleeping bag will keep you from losing body heat on a cold surface.

If you use a pad, you prefer adding an inflatable or a closed-cell foam for this purpose. Otherwise, you can also invest in this Packable Down Blanket. This will certainly help you to have a comfortable and cozy sleeping experience during your winter camping trip.

Plan to pack safety equipment

Safety equipment is rarely needed during a camping or hiking trip. Therefore, more often, people overlook these completely. Here are some of the most important safety equipment that you must plan to keep with you.

So, here we go:

  • Always pack a first aid box with you. Painkillers, wound cleaning products, bandages, etc., are vital.
  • A whistle can come in handy to alert people around. As visibility can drop during winter. So, you can use a whistle to call people for help.
  • The probe can also help you find victims in case of snow.
  • A portable snow shovel is also important to carry.

Conclusion

A simple rule for a successful and enjoyable winter camping trip is to stay warm and dry. Having the right gear in hand and proper planning can save you here. So, whenever you plan to enjoy a winter camping or hiking trip, consider the above-mentioned things during planning. These will certainly help you to make the best decisions.

Image by Kati from Pixabay 

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