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pastorjsackett
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if I want to try this, is there a way to do it without a ton of upfront cost? Do outfitters offer some service? I like the idea a lot and I think I would enjoy it.....
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OldFingers57
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I know the one outfitter up in Grand Marais, MN has hot tents you can rent. It's the one over by the Co-op grocery store can't think of the name of it.
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walllee
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quote OldFingers57: "I know the one outfitter up in Grand Marais, MN has hot tents you can rent. It's the one over by the Co-op grocery store can't think of the name of it. " Stone Harbor
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wvevans
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Stone Harbor is one of my favorite stores for sure. That said, holy smokes is it expensive to rent a snowtrekker through them.
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tonyyarusso
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It's a lot cheaper if you cold tent. Just sayin'. :)
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pastorjsackett
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I like that store a lot, but I've never found any cheap stuff there.....
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pastorjsackett
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That is a great idea, Lindylair. Thanks for saying that--I would not have considered it, but it makes a lot of sense.
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CrookedPaddler1
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For many years, I winter camped with the same basic equipment I used in the summer. A hot tent is sure nice, but if you have limited resources, spend your money on the highest quality clothing you can find. I believe that the key to enjoying winter camping is staying dry, and although it is nice to warm up in the "hot tents" it is a luxury not a necessity.
I have used my 4 person eureka timberline on many, many trips. I would take an axe and a larger saw to cut firewood. Double up your sleeping bag (summer weight inside a 3 season bag), put your clothes that you wore during the day between the sleeping bags to dry overnight. Make sure that you open up your boots so that your feet can slide back into them in the morning (they will be froze in what ever position you left them in at night).
Take an empty Nalgene bottle to bed with you (use as a pee bottle so you don't have to get out of the sleeping bag / tent in the middle of the night. And more importantly, if you need to pee at 3 in the morning, get up and pee! Your body is trying to get rid of the liquid so that it can put its energy to use keeping the rest of your body warm. Took me a long time to learn that one!
Most importantly, have fun. I love being in the BWCA in the winter!
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SevenofNine
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If you are in the Twin Cities you could rent from this place. The guy is very nice and easy to work with. My advice is to go with a hot tent and go with people. Soloing is a pretty tough adventure in winter for a first time trip.
hardwatersports
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Jaywalker
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Piragis in Ely also rents winter gear including both Snowtrekker and CCS tents. Have a look...
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pastorjsackett
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Have not made plans yet, but really want to try it.
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Doughboy12
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quote pastorjsackett: "Have not made plans yet, but really want to try it."
If you want to learn a lot about winter camping from a very knowledgeable source try this. LINK
He can be a little ruff around the edges but knows a lot about the sport.
(Cold camping only.)
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lindylair
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With the gear these days cold tenting is not all that difficult as long as you don't hit any extreme conditions. Plan it for a moderate stretch and save a bunch of money. Maybe even start by trying a North Shore State Park trip with easy options to bail if needed. We have camped in Tettegouche in January and are frequently the only ones there but it is beautiful. Lots of hiking and good access to the spectacular winter beauty of Lake Superior. Good way to try it out and see if you like it and how the body reacts.
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