Just got back from the BWCAW. The return took longer than expected. Had to be towed into town and put in a garage to warm up before it would start. 40° below at seagull station this am. In on the 26th out on the 1st. a few pics before sleep

Hey Dan, nice pics. Looks cozy inside the "Octagon". Hope you get a chance to write a report...would love to hear about the trip. Gaskin or Horseshoe have been on my short list.

Great pictures. Can I ask, what was your route to get there? And where did you park the vehicle? Thanks.

Looks like a great time in woods. Thanks for posting your pictures. Sorry to hear about your vehicle.

Thanks for sharing!! That totally sucks about your vehicle not starting. If other vehicles were present-- did those start?? I can't imagine so after being in the cold since the 26th. Other then that-- looks like a blast!!!!

Looks like Bear's New Year's Party-FUN!

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing the pictures Dan.

It probably was a Dodge thing

quote WhiteWolf: "Thanks for sharing!! That totally sucks about your vehicle not starting. If other vehicles were present-- did those start?? I can't imagine so after being in the cold since the 26th. Other then that-- looks like a blast!!!!"

Gets cold and sits a few days,things stiffen up. It has helped me greatly by using all synthetic oil in the winter.

Gets cold and sits a few days,things stiffen up. It has helped me greatly by using all synthetic oil in the winter."

sounds like a little TMI about your sex life;)

Looks like a fun trip. Thanks for the pics.

Thanks for the pictures Dan. Hope to hear more about your trip!

did you run into much slush on those smaller lakes?

Your pictures and writeup is always great.

We just got back from our own winter trip in Woodland Caribou Provincial Park. Had the same experience with the cold car!

Wow, that looks like fun! I have never really been interested in winter camping, but I am warming up to the idea after being on this great website.

quote icecoldmilk: "Wow, that looks like fun! I have never really been interested in winter camping, but I am warming up to the idea after being on this great website."

Winter camping can be a very rewarding experience. I'm glad you took the time to check this out.

For further info, check out the WinterTrekking.com site. Tons of great winter camping info there.

Did you stay at the "Stairway" campsite on Gaskin? --Goose

We camped at three locations on this trip. The Gaskin site was the 3rd from the east along the south shore. It took 3 days to haul / break trail to that site from Back Country Trekking / Youngs. Hope to get a full report done over the weekend maybe?

Looking forward to it.
CB

4 people were using vapor barrier socks, and they had the warmest feet. Vapor barrier socks

I made a Thinsulate "cuff" for under my OR Gaiters. I put a velcro tab on the inside of the gaiter at the heel to keep it in position. It definitely added to the warmth, and were easy to put on and also did not wick up moisture. Even so I have ordered the vapor barrier socks to be sure that my feet will not be an issue in the future. I hate cold feet. That is the hardest thing to deal with when on the move.

Hi Dan,
What would be the difference between those socks and ones like SealSkinz? Same concept?

The Seal Skins are meant to let moisture out. Vapor Barrior socks are meant to not let moisture pass through them at all. Vapor barrior socks keep moisture close to your skin and keep it from collecting in your insulating layers of socks.

I have had a pair of Neosocks since about 1991 and love them.
Pick them up almost anywhere...I got mine at Fleet Farm.
I have since bought a second pair which in their infinite wisdom they decided to "micro" perforate the bottom. Don't know why and I am not sure it effects much. I do recommend a thin poly sock first.
One source.

Edit: The write up says they breath, mine don't. I wouldn't leave them on for more than 8-10 hours. you need to dry out once a day...IMHO

quote Dan Cooke: "The Seal Skins are meant to let moisture out. Vapor Barrior socks are meant to not let moisture pass through them at all. Vapor barrior socks keep moisture close to your skin and keep it from collecting in your insulating layers of socks."

Is there a point your feet get too wet from the vapor socks holding moisture in?

quote PINETREE: "

quote Dan Cooke: "The Seal Skins are meant to let moisture out. Vapor Barrior socks are meant to not let moisture pass through them at all. Vapor barrior socks keep moisture close to your skin and keep it from collecting in your insulating layers of socks."

Is there a point your feet get too wet from the vapor socks holding moisture in?
"

YES!!!

The VB socks I linked to are not neoprene but like a brushed velore, from my observation they did not seem to collect moisture like neoprene. I will find out from personal experience soon I hope.

I tried various VBL socks out west mountaineering, and some actually work quite well.

For just trekking like here in MN, which in the winter I do in Sorels, (either the Caribou if warmer or a pair of -100's (forget the name) if colder), the absolute warmest socks I have found are 100% grey wool socks that I bought out west 20 years ago, and which are still in perfect shape.

The downside is that they are itchy when they get humid, and must therefore be used with some sort of liner. I have poly liners, but I don't like them...but the socks are so warm that I use them anyway.

There is unfortunately no brand name on the socks. I have been through a great many different types, but these are just...perfect. And after 15 years of very occasional use, both pairs are in perfect condition.

Trip report text up in the trip reports. Pictures to follow. some pictures on Facebook Cooke Custom Sewing

quote Doughboy12: "

quote PINETREE:


Is there a point your feet get too wet from the vapor socks holding moisture in?
"

YES!!! "

Some folks seem to have great success with vapor barrier socks; I do not. I tried them winter camping and after three days my feet were so soft and chewed up that I went back to letting my boot liners get wet and drying them out every evening. A bunch of skin peeled off my feet and I lost a toenail - fortunately that didn't happen until I got home from the trip. This was with a greater than normal amount of time devoted to skin care in camp, dry socks when possible, etc. Blister pads and moleskin would not stick to my saturated skin.

By all means try the vapor barrier socks. But I suggest that you prepare for the possibility that you will have skin problems and are ready/able to go back to boots that are damp rather than feet that are drenched. At least for the first time you try them.

Question brossa,

Did you leave them off and inside out in your sleeping bag at night? (So they both could dry out.)
Did you where a polypropylene layer INSIDE the VB sox?

Another trick I use (sometimes) is to use some underarm antiperspirant spray. It seems to help cut down on the sweaty feet deal as you and I clearly have.

Like I said in my earlier post...8 hours max per day.

I was using plastic bags as my vapor barrier, over a high, thin synthetic liner sock, and under a thin wool sock. Outer sock and boot liners stayed dry each day, while foot and inner sock were soaking wet - to the point that sweat could be poured out of the bag. I dried my feet each night as well as the liner and socks. I wore the vb's maybe eight hours a day and changed out into wool socks and breatheable canvas mukluks to make camp.

Antiperspirant might have helped. But if it stopped all the sweating I would skip the vapor barrier and just rely on that to keep my boots dry!

I don't think it will stop it but it does slow it to a "drip"... ;-)

I was one of the 4 using VBL socks. I own 3 pairs. My current favorites are the ones Dan linked to, from RBH. They stay up the best. I've had great success using VBL socks. I've worn them for two separate 3 week trips, one in the Yukon, the other solo across the BWCA. I worn them 24/7 without trouble on both of the those trips. Each morning I took them off to adjust the liner socks. Changed the liners one time in the middle of the each trip.

The past 2 Thanksgiving weekends I've done solo backpacking trips. In 2012 it was the Snowbank Trail. I used NRS Titanium socks - neoprene - those chewed my feet up by the 4th (last) day. In 2013 I did the Sioux Hustler with the RBH socks and loved them.

I highly recommend trying VBLs. They don't work for everyone, but for many they do. I won't even day ski away from the hot tent without them. They just give such a big margin for error. I went in to my belly button at -9 over New Years, skied a mile and arrived at the tent with cold legs and happy feet. If you want a cheap way to try them - warmlite.com. $8 socks + shipping. Downside is they don't fit as well.