This last year after one of my normal winter trips I was telling a friend the story of the trip. At the end of my story she just looked at me and said " why would you do that to your self?" It caught me by surprise. I had no answer for that Question, my usual answers to why I go winter camping did not fit. I just said " Geez I don't Know, I guess I just feel like I have to." Days went by and I started to think about her odd question. It had never occurred to me that someone would see winter camping in such a strange light. it interested me the way she asked me, and her odd take on my story. I decided that I had find a real answer to her question. I had to look beyond my regular answers. Like, I love ice fishing, I love the beauty, I love the nature, I love the solitude,and those sort of things. After weeks of thinking it dawned on me why I do that to my self. It seems as though for me there is a few reasons, and they are oddly paradoxical. I started thinking about how I felt on all those winter trips and realized that during the complete Physical and mental exhaustion of those trips I felt remarkably relaxed and content. During the times I felt a real fear for my life I felt remarkably alive. During the times of gear failure I felt a remarkably clean headed and figured out how to fix the situation. I thought of all of these thing together and realized the paradox of it all. To sum it up. The more I take my self out of my element (my comfortable life and home) the more I am actually putting my self in my element. I believe my true element is to feel the way I feel out there, relaxed and content, and truly clean headed and alive. So that in a nut shell is why I do that to my self. now I am interested in why you all would do that to your self?

The utter serenity and seclusion... plus winter is one of the most beautiful seasons! Also, I LOVE the sound of wind through the trees, and the sound of snow fall.... nothing beats it.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR WINTER!!!!!!!!!

^^^

and the silence at night

quote ZaraSp00k: "^^^


and the silence at night"

This is why...

Yah baby. Nice shot of heaven there! I dig the white outfit. This may fall into one of those topics that if you need to explain, they just will never undestand.

similar thread

Catfish, I think you summed it up for me. However I will just say that I like being out there in the woods and snow enjoying the scenery. People act as if humans can't survive in the cold. Yet we have done it for thousands of years.

Yep, we've both been told we are: insane, weird, psychotic, and strange, all by those who find our winter camping odd. We love going for the serenity, quiet, beauty, the challenge, and the chance to step away from cell phones, computers, and life. We spend 40 hrs+ a week (as Chris says, "flying a desk") and it is a wonderful way to escape life's stressors and refresh your mind! Just had our first snow of the year in ND and plan to go camping this weekend. :) Here we are last year enjoying our final day in the BWCA. Can't wait for this year!

We try to up the anti every time we go winter camping. We go further, in worse weather without superfluous gear. I have a feeling that as long as we bring a stove tent, we will never be anything but extremely comfortable. So why not?

I go to get away from those who ask that question!
Thanks for the well written post Catfish72.

quote Soledad: "Thanks for the well written post Catfish72."

+1

Catfish72 this is the perfect statement!

"I believe my true element is to feel the way I feel out there, relaxed and content, and truly clean headed and alive."

...and it true spring, summer, winter, or fall for me!

Very well said Catfish 72! On a side note I ended up going with the 8x8 spike tent with 4 foot sidewalls. Also got the Alaskan junior stove by kni-co. Pictures to follow with the complete setup!

quote karola: "Very well said Catfish 72! On a side note I ended up going with the 8x8 spike tent with 4 foot sidewalls. Also got the Alaskan junior stove by kni-co. Pictures to follow with the complete setup!"

Can't wait to see!! :)

Thank's everybody for all the great responses and pics. It is always nice to know that there are people out there that can find a bit of heaven in what most would consider hell. also comgrats karola on that new winter tent! Sounds like a great set up. Enjoy!

I like Sigurd Olson's response when someone pointed out that he had already made his reputation as an outdoor expert and asked why he still went tripping frequently in his older years: "I go because it irons out the wrinkles in my soul."