This was my first season winter camping and I was able to get out on four trips to the Hiawatha National Forest. My campsites were only about 50 miles from home, and I am hoping to get to BWCA next winter. Here are some things that I learned.

Stove operation:
When starting a fire in the stove, let the tent get hot before closing the door fully. Give the stove time to get burning well and don't risk dampering the fire too soon. This is a stove, not a fireplace so load it with wood and control temperature with the air intake and damper. Do not block either with wood or you can choke the fire. Too many large pieces in the stove at one time may not burn well... use various sizes. Yooper fire starters worked great. Leather gloves are good for handling wood and loading the stove. Small lengths of decking boards worked good to level the stove.

Sleep system:
Tarp on tent floor, Exped Downmat, down mummy bag inside rectangular synthetic and balaclava worked great.

Other notes:
125 Lumen LED flashlight can replace double mantel lantern and gas can.
Whisk broom is very handy.
Added hooks inside of tent and could use more for hanging clothes.
Indoor/outdoor thermometer with min/max record is fun.
Paris sleds are durable. Can pull two of these loaded tied one trailing the other.
Need a "mailing tube" to transport ice fishing rods.
GFS frozen entrees reheat well on the stove.
Tin cup on the stove keeps hot drinks hot.
I got a great deal on the tent! It was for sale on this website.
Winter camping is a great way to beat the winter blues.

I can't wait for next year and a Lake Trout/BWCA trip!

Excellent tidbits of info! I've been winter camping for 15+ years but every time I go I still learn something new. The best tidbit of advise I ever learned was the boiling water in a Nalgene trick. Man does that ever help keep you warm in your bag!

Thanks for sharing!

quote SteveElms73: "Excellent tidbits of info! I've been winter camping for 15+ years but every time I go I still learn something new. The best tidbit of advise I ever learned was the boiling water in a Nalgene trick. Man does that ever help keep you warm in your bag!


Thanks for sharing!"

...and if you put it in a bottle parka it won't burn your feet plus last longer.

Yup I put mine in an old wool sock and it's still toasty in the morning....I move it around in my bag all night. Sometimes at my feet, then up to my back and then I usually end up hugging it in the morning lol..keeps my belly warm

quote SteveElms73: "Excellent tidbits of info! I've been winter camping for 15+ years but every time I go I still learn something new. The best tidbit of advise I ever learned was the boiling water in a Nalgene trick. Man does that ever help keep you warm in your bag!


Thanks for sharing!"

Tidbit I had picked off this website before my first trip:

"Needing a hot water bottle means your sleeping system is not warm enough."

I use an empty Nalgene in my sleeping bag for, well, you know....

quote bobbernumber3: Tidbit I had picked off this website before my first trip:


"Needing a hot water bottle means your sleeping system is not warm enough."


I use an empty Nalgene in my sleeping bag for, well, you know....
"

Rule No.1: "Never pee in your sleeping bag." Never. No excuses.

Forget bottles in your sleeping bags in general. Buy insulated water bottles-problem solved. :)

quote bobbernumber3: "

quote SteveElms73: "Excellent tidbits of info! I've been winter camping for 15+ years but every time I go I still learn something new. The best tidbit of advise I ever learned was the boiling water in a Nalgene trick. Man does that ever help keep you warm in your bag!



Thanks for sharing!"

Tidbit I had picked off this website before my first trip:


"Needing a hot water bottle means your sleeping system is not warm enough."


I use an empty Nalgene in my sleeping bag for, well, you know...."



Let's do all we can to avoid mix-ups with our "beverage" receptacles the following morning! Why not an adult diaper for use when nature calls on the extra cold nights? I'm quite sure its presence would go un-noticed by the camp mates given the bulky nature of standard winter camping attire.

Why not an adult diaper for use when nature calls on the extra cold nights? I'm quite sure its presence would go un-noticed by the camp mates given the bulky nature of standard winter camping attire."

This is a reminder to me... not all website advice is "good advice". :)

quote bobbernumber3: "

Why not an adult diaper for use when nature calls on the extra cold nights? I'm quite sure its presence would go un-noticed by the camp mates given the bulky nature of standard winter camping attire."

This is a reminder to me. Not all website advice is "good advice"."
On a more serious note, what you shared above regarding what you learned on your first trip out is of great benefit to all of us who have become winter camping addicts but lack experience. What a great opportunity we have here to learn from the experiences of others. Sorry to get carried away on the topic of natures urges (which seem to come to us and force us out of our sleeping bags on the most Arctic of nights). I didn't mean to detract from the beneficial nature of your post with my facetious remarks. Most of the advice here is sound; the bit about the adult diapers---obviously not.

quote bobbernumber3:
Winter camping is a great way to beat the winter blues.

"

Couldn't agree more.

I have learned a lot over the past 5 years I've been winter camping. Here is a picture from one of my first trips:
Note that I am using a single person fish house to haul all that gear through deep snow! It was a brutal 4 mile hike in on unbroken trail, it ultimately took about 9 hours to get to the lake.
I unfortunately didn't make it up this year but here are pics from last year:
My new setup has made travel much easier but I know there is much to learn.
My winter trips all focus on fishing and what I do now is drill a couple holes in the ice next to each other and sink a collapsible bait holder in the water with all my minnows to prevent them from freezing. In the early days I would haul in a 5 gallon bucket and pack snow around it to prevent minnows from freezing overnight.
I've discovered Wiggy's sleeping bags and their pads and have no trouble cold-camping in -25 degree weather.
Sometimes I'll precook meals and then heat them up in a pot of boiling water, nothing like a pork roast in the winter bwca!
I've also learned to fillet my fish right away rather then letting them freeze overnight and having to thaw them by the fire the next day.

Just a few (of many) things I've learned.