How do some of you do it? I mean waist deep snow, freezing rain, ice, windchills. I can take it on a day hike but how can you section hike 3-4 days? Aren’t your hands and feet frozen/wet, completly uncomfortable. In the morning isn’t it so cold? Do you stake your tent in the two feet of snow? Is it just a survival challenge or do you call this fun?
greatspirit
If you have to ask, you may never understand. The woods are very beautiful under waist deep snow. The challange is to become skilled at winter travel and become accustomed to the cold conditions. Then its just another way of travelling in the wilderness.
Celt
We all enjoy different things. For some it is waist-deep snow, for others is 90* summer-hiking with clear rivers to swim in. Personally, anything below 10* is my limitation on winter camping. On top of the short days the bitter cold, I would rather be in my own bed at the end of a winter hike. Although, making a snowman is fun in the backcountry.
guru
I used to HATE getting out in the cold, but now after I’ve learned how to dress properly it’s no big deal. It’s a bit difficult to get started in the mornings but the sooner you do the faster you warm up. By using waterproof boots, Gaiters, and waterproof pants(rain pants or ski pants) I’ve never had wet feet while hiking in knee deep snow. The key to staying warm during the day is to eat plenty and keep moving. At camp, get out of your damp cloths ASAP and get in your sleeping bag. You also become acclimized to the cold in a day or two and it really doesn’t seem as bad. Keeping a positive attitude is also crucial for you to enjoy the experience. If you dwell on the fact that you are uncomfortable, then you will be miserable.
Nooga
Its okay to ask–by doing so, and trying it–you will understand.
Prepare to keep warm and dry–if you do this, it will be fun.
Yes, its fun. Its a test also; but mostly its fun.
The test is to gauge everything correctly.
Conan
I remember when I was a kid playing in the snow that at times was 18" deep and drifting to as high as 14’. I would spend 10 hrs outside and come in and couldn’t wait to go out again in the morning.
Come on guys, get honest, you never got over the joys of writing yer name in the snow.
burn
Other than sex there is nothing more fun than waking up on a cold sunny morning, eating breakfast in your sleeping bag, quickly packing up, taking off your camp clothes and putting on frozen rock hard hiking clothes. You throw your pack and snow shoes on and run for your life down the trail. Never are you so glad to be alive and so completely responsible for that life. You screw up you die. You breath blows out three feet, the crunch of the snow, absolute quiet except for soft wind an a single bird song here and there. There is not a single human for 20 miles in every direction (my favorite part). Your perception of the world explodes.
Blue Jay
I do agree you get climatized in a day or so. I remember one time on a three day camp trip, no real hiking after setting up a base camp, we hiked in set up camp and spent three days by a lake. It snowed maybe 3 inches first night. It was cold no one wanted to get out of the tent to start a morning fire. But after the second day we were in short sleeves and having a ball. We were young, 17-18 there was no fear, didn’t even worry about the conditions. But hiking long distance in a foot or two of snow worries me, gets my fear factor up.
greatspirit
Snowshoes make the experience much more enjoyable. I actually think that hiking in snowshoes is almost more comfortable than hiking over ground.
Bankrobber
The quiet and solitude. Fresh snow. Hot chocolate and cider. The rush of life knowing you are challenging your limits. Laughing that it’s below freezing and you chose to be there, to sleep out under the dark winter sky.
It’s cold but you’re not cold if you have the right gear.
Alligator
Winter days are not always so bad. I just hiked from Harpers Ferry north to Pennsylvania over the Christmas holidays. My first complete winter traverse of a state. I saw a few remnant patches of snow on the northern slopes, but had a good trail all the way. However, New Hampshire, would be a different story. When I worked for the AMC many years ago I hiked from Franconia Notch to Crawford Notch in January. I was checking out Greenleaf and Galehead Huts for vandalism. I snow was great. About a foot a powder snow to go through. Mt. Lafayete was the best. Spent the coldest night of my life inside Galehead Hut on that trip. Was real glad to get going the next day.
I came to love winter hiking during my time in NH. Some of my best outdoor memories are climbing Mount Washington on New Years Eve and walking down the auto road in the moonlight with my friends. Winter may be cold but its cool:)
David Tosten
winter hiking and camping to me is one of the best things i guess because its really one of the last real ways you can be truly tested. true; with all the gear out there now its usually not a hard test; but still. you learn about yourself; about nature; about survival. and your learn what is important. (sometimes the important thing u learn is that its nice to have a bed to come home to; there are lots of people that “camp” everyday in our cities and we hardly ever give them a thought)
a little snow; ice and cold never fails to help u get the big picture.
Big Boy
I understand your concerns and they are very valid. I would share those concerns too if the weather was EXTREMELY bad. I can handle 0f for lows and 15-20f highs, but any colder than that I feel that I don’t have enough experience and equipment for those type conditions for more than a day hike. Everyone has their comfort zone and it takes some experience to figure out what that zone is. It wouldn’t be a good idea to head out somewhere remote, in extremely cold weather, with untested equipment. Learn what works before risking your life on it.
Nooga
I HATE winter camping. I love X-country skiing and activities in the snow… but let me sleep in a cabin. The whole process of setting up camp in the snow and cold is just awfl for my anemic body. I thought that I would get to dodge a lot of winter on my March-August hike… but I had snow on April 16. You learn to live with it and just deal… but I still don’t like it. I won’t be climbing Everest anytime soon. :girl
windex