Hey all-

I've winter (cold) camped before...around my area...State Parks...

I'm interested in getting a little more remote and wild. So this year I've convinced at least one friend to go into the BWCA with me for 2 nights to winter camp. We'll definitely rent a canvas tent with wood stove, a couple sleds and winter bags (we have winter bags, but they only go down to 0).

Anyway, any advice people can offer would be much appreciated...Like good routes, or expected travel amount in one day by snowshoeing/X-skiing, or maybe "don't go!" :); any advice would be great!

Thanks!

C

You can start by checking out this thread.



.....and this one

So I'm far from an old hand at winter camping - but I first did it up there in 1974 so here are thoughts;

Canvas tent w stove = excellent idea.
Nights are VERY long so bring lanterns and headlamps.
You'll be pulling a lot of gear - do yourself a favor and select a large open lake to camp on - avoid sled dumping portages - moving the heavy load that you'll have on ice or packed snow is very easy - moving that same load over a steep portage or snowy trail is far more difficult.
I like having a reason to go - ice fishing is as good as any.

Winter camping/ice fishing trip report
You'll be spending a LOT of time gathering and cutting firewood.
Go out at night and be amazed by the stars.
Dress in layers, shed or load on as needed to maintain a comfortable temp.
Avoid rivers and streams if possible - ice is suspect and getting wet is a deal killer.
Drink lots of water.

quote Beemer01: "So I'm far from an old hand at winter camping - but I first did it up there in 1974 so here are thoughts;

Canvas tent w stove = excellent idea.
Nights are VERY long so bring lanterns and headlamps.
You'll be pulling a lot of gear - do yourself a favor and select a large open lake to camp on - avoid sled dumping portages - moving the heavy load that you'll have on ice or packed snow is very easy - moving that same load over a steep portage or snowy trail is far more difficult.
I like having a reason to go - ice fishing is as good as any.

Winter camping/ice fishing trip report
You'll be spending a LOT of time gathering and cutting firewood.
Go out at night and be amazed by the stars.
Dress in layers, shed or load on as needed to maintain a comfortable temp.
Avoid rivers and streams if possible - ice is suspect and getting wet is a deal killer.
Drink lots of water."

+1 couldn't have said it better.

and if you don't have a "hot tent"--- stay away from the booze. It's amazing how dehydrated a person can get without booze in the cold.

We've done a trip into Alton off of Sawbill. It was an easy trip with one easy, flat portage. However, we didn't find any fish (may have been the chilly -39 temps).

Last year we did a trip off of Wood Lake entry point and were quickly schooled in portaging our toboggans. Make sure if you plan to portage that the toboggans have an arrest rope on the back end of the sled. We made it into Good Lake. It was about 8 miles. No snowshoes needed due to lack of snow, but quite a hike. The fishing was great on Basswood, which was one portage in from our basecamp.

Key gear:
1. headlamp
2. ski googles
3. hand auger (in 4 or 5 inch diameter)
4. piece of heavy gauge tin foil under stove (or some sort of reflector)
5. multiple layers (we have our "walking" clothes and our "sitting" clothes)
6. two pairs of boots
7. small camp chairs for the tent (we also have a small aluminum table that collapses)

Other information: You can cook on the wood burning stove so really don't need a camp stove (unless you want to use it for day trips). Plan for lots of firewood gathering. Try to find hardwood for burning. Important lesson we learned on our first trip is to NOT freeze the flaps of the tent in wet snow/slush. Cook good food also! :)

We have one winter trip report posted on this site....Check it out for other tips/info! Happy planning! You'll love it!

Sawbill lake would be one to consider. Plowed roads and parking lot make for easy access. Stay on Sawbill or take the flat portage into Alton.

Using an established campsite and its tent pad would be easiest. For wood, take your sled a long way from camp, head inland, find a dead black spruce, cut it into sled sized lengths and haul it back.

Travel time depends so much on snow conditions. If snow is packed you can travel at walking speed. If snow is deep and soft it is SLOW going hauling a loaded toboggan. Sawbill sees some traffic so you might luck out and be able to follow a packed trail for some of your trip. You don't have to travel far to feel totally isolated.

Above all...GO.

quote WhiteWolf: "and if you don't have a "hot tent"--- stay away from the booze. It's amazing how dehydrated a person can get without booze in the cold. "

Alcohol also increases your risk of hypothermia by causing the blood to leave your core and flow into the dilated capillaries of your body's surface instead. This lowers your core body temp and is a recipe for disaster.

Thanks everyone! I'll keep you all updated as to our plans and how it all goes...

quote luft: "

quote WhiteWolf: "and if you don't have a "hot tent"--- stay away from the booze. It's amazing how dehydrated a person can get without booze in the cold. "

Alcohol also increases your risk of hypothermia by causing the blood to leave your core and flow into the dilated capillaries of your body's surface instead. This lowers your core body temp and is a recipe for disaster."

Yes but it is oh so good by the fire. :)

Some tips are to bring spare boot liners. Face masks are a must for me because my nose gets cold and my face freezes easily. And down is a great insulator for when your not as active around camp.

Wool is a great thing for pants. Look at Codet or Filson or if money is tight try buying wool pants at Army surplus or Mills Fleet Farm stores. I like bibs because there's always that location on the back side between your top and bottom insulation layers that gets cold.

I'd still up your bags to -20 or bring extra in case you have stove/tent issues. Might as well toss a bivy sack in there too, which becomes your best friend in many cases.

And on the booze comments, I suggest do as you normally do with am extra little bit of caution. Its not the place to get out of hand, but can certainly add pleasure and memorable stories to the mix.

You likely already did these suggestions when you cold camped, but here goes:

Fill up a Nalgene or bottle (or two) with boiling water, place it in a wool sock and toss it in the bottom of your sleeping bag. It will be very warm all night and will raise the temp of your bag for sure. I like to put one at my feet and then another I keep up near my chest. In the morning you have already warm water so it's easy to boil up for coffee :)

If you have to pee in the night, don't fight it. Get up and get it out of you so your body doesn't waste valuable energy keeping your bladder warm. Even better idea is to use a pee bottle so you dont even need to get out of your tent. Just don't confuse it with your apple juice bottle :)

quote SevenofNine: "

quote luft: "

quote WhiteWolf: "and if you don't have a "hot tent"--- stay away from the booze. It's amazing how dehydrated a person can get without booze in the cold. "

Alcohol also increases your risk of hypothermia by causing the blood to leave your core and flow into the dilated capillaries of your body's surface instead. This lowers your core body temp and is a recipe for disaster."

Yes but it is oh so good by the fire. :) "

True dat! :-)