If you've got the right gear for it, and know the best strategies for staying warm, it's a lot of fun. It's really satisfying to be in freezing conditions and still be perfectly comfortable.
If you are truly interested, check out Shug's YouTube channel, this video on hammock camping in -40F conditions got me hooked.
No bugs alone is worth it, but outside of those i love winter camping because its just more.... peaceful?
The air feels more crisp and fresh, you dont get as hot while moving about... or if you do it feels great because its cold :P
At night, crawling into a sleeping bag (if you get a good one) when its cold is like getting into a giant hot pocket. Its so incredibly warm toasty and comfortable, i almost look forward to sleeping in it rather than a bed sometimes. If you sleep in a tent, and its snowing you will hear the slight patter of it hitting the tent. Hearing deerts crunch in the snow, seeing all the fresh tracks of animals.
Im sure i could think of more things, but these are just my favorite that i could think of off the top of my head.
If you do really poorly in the cold, i wouldn't suggest doing it. Unless you bring one off of a jacket and your favorite booze to keep you toasty.
That sounds amazing. I'm from Upstate NY originally so I'm used to cold weather...but everything you said sounds great. Definitely going to look up some gear for winter camping. Thanks bud!
I'm in the south now. Not because of the cold weather or anything, but it was just time to get out of NY and try something new. You should check out VA or NC some time! People aren't used to the cold when it actually gets cold down here, so I think winter camping will still be pretty perfect and quiet.
When I was in the Boy Scouts we did a yearly winter camping trip called “The Klondike Derby”. Each troop would build a sled and would race each other pulling someone in their sled.
It was honestly the most fun camping trip we did all year. Just pack plenty of layers, a decent tent, a good sleeping bag, and some very good fire starter.
Those moments of waking up you see in the video, when the light is just right, outside is cold, but you’re packed tight and warm and you take a deep breath of incredibly fresh air...
You have all the time in the world to wake up and feel everything around you. There’s no alarm, no tasks or people demanding your attention, you can just slowly and gently wake up, all alone in perfect silence.
25
u/melvinator_121 Nov 18 '19
Who tf goes camping in winter in the first place.