How cold is too cold?

M

Mastalerz

Joined
Aug 7, 2013
Messages
189
Hey everyone!

Alright, so this weekend I plan on going up to New Hampshire for the weekend for some tent camping/hiking. Forecast says 25F-30F during the day and 10-20F at night. Heavily wooded, car nearby, proper gear, clothing, fire etc. I don't know if its my Polish genetics, but cold weather doesn't bother me much. All week its been really cold outside and I go out in a tshirt and I'm fine, my mother wears bike shorts year round so it must run in the family. Anyway, when I've told people I am going up camping/hiking later this week I get the "are you crazy?" or "aren't you worried about hypothermia?"

So it got me to wondering, am I crazy? How cold is too cold for you? And is that because you're seriously worried about hypothermia? Or is a comfort/enjoyability thing? I often go camping up in New Hampshire October/November/April when it get's really cold at night and I have never been bothered by it. Granted this will be the coldest I have ever gone in, but I'm not very worried about the cold, and I'm thinking more of a comfort thing than being in any sort of danger.

So I guess I'm wondering what your thoughts on winter camping are, whats the coldest you've ever been in, how do you like it as opposed to being out in warmer weather? Personally I love the colder weather better, no bugs or people makes the solitude of nature much more enjoyable, especially when I go to a campground. I don't have to worry about the drunk kids in the site over making noise all night.
 
"No such thing as 'too cold' in the South" is what I'd normally say, but there have been subzero temps this year in my favorite places in TN, and maybe even northern AL. I'm ok with that gear-wise, but am not used to thinking in terms of protecting my water and filter(and froze both last week).
So far I'm cool with it into single digits, other than that. This is my favorite time of year for hiking. The waterfalls are flowing, and almost noone is out, so I have every place I go to myself. Been hiking 4 times this year, and have yet to see another person.
 
OwenM said:
"No such thing as 'too cold' in the South" is what I'd normally say, but there have been subzero temps this year in my favorite places in TN, and maybe even northern AL. I'm ok with that gear-wise, but am not used to thinking in terms of protecting my water and filter(and froze both last week).
So far I'm cool with it into single digits, other than that. This is my favorite time of year for hiking. The waterfalls are flowing, and almost noone is out, so I have every place I go to myself. Been hiking 4 times this year, and have yet to see another person.
Click to expand...
I know from your pictures (which are amazing by the way, I'm constantly pulling my girlfriend over to check them out) you do a lot of hiking and such, but a little tip if you've got a cooler with you is to put the water in a non chilled cooler; in your car if its available. I've never tried it but one of those insulated lunchbags might have a similar effect if you were to throw it in your pack. The cooler trick usually keeps my water from freezing.

I agree though about the people, that is why I'm dragging my girlfriend with me. She won't backpack, but she likes the campground camping and some day hikes. It's really nice going to my favorite campground (which is filled up during the warmer seasons) and being the only person there, and seeing more animals on the trails than people. I was looking at those waterfalls you were talking about, absolutely beautiful. Glad to hear I'm not crazy though and someone else enjoys below freezing outdoor excursions!
 
Hey, thanks, glad you enjoy the pics. I'm fortunate to be able to have so much time to spend outdoors, and so many great places to go within a fairly reasonable distance.
I love the cold, at least hiking in it. Sweat my butt off enough around here spring through fall that this cold weather seems wonderful by comparison!

And there's no bugs, Ha-le-lu-jah!!! :D
 
Wind is the determining factor, we commonly get temps falling into the -30s and sometimes down to the -40's and it comes as dry cold. Cold by itself is not the problem and dressing in layers will keep one comfortable. However, once the wind picks up exposed skin, eyes can freeze quickly, and the cold will go through clothing and suck the life out of one. I don't look at windchill factors as a numerical value cannot describe the feeling of a biting wind in cold weather. When windchills feel burning cold its time to head indoors, these happen when temperatures are in the -20s or better with a moderate wind that can blow snow around.
 
Apparently there is no such thing as too cold. :) I do know my dad has camped (with his guard unit) in -60. Of course they had the gear for it. :)

This is not me, lol
[video=youtube;CTuGJgka1qc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTuGJgka1qc[/video]
 
It really depends on what you are used to. I can handle 0 degrees during the day and at night down to -20 below, colder than that I am not used to and do not have the gear but since I am able to handle that I am ok for most hikes/camping I do.
 
Another factor is humidity. Lately here when it's been cold is has also been very humid. 5 degrees with 85% humidity really sucks. I remember once when I was living in Seattle it was about 7 degrees or so and I was fine working in jeans and a sweater, clear and dry you can see forever and there's no humidity.
I guess it's not cold so much that I dislike as it is high humidity.
 
I have been snowshoeing backpacking and camping in -40
But I did a lot of cold weather snowshoeing backpacking
So -40 was just a little bit colder than 'normal'
And I had the right gear that I had constantly tested and used

What are you used to?
What temp have you camped at
do you have the gear and experiance
What temperature do you feel you safe at?
 
As was mentioned before its the wind that can make you cry uncle. I'm told all the time during winter that I must be crazy going out with a T-shirt and shorts when its low 30s outside. As long as I don't just sit in one place its fine. I were out camping when the wind picked up every night and you just couldn't stay warm no matter what you did. Even the dog went to sit inside the car. I would feel a huge diffrence in warmth just getting out of the wind behind the car.
In the wooded area with no wind I think that would be a great time to go camping. So no you are not crazy. The reason you can stand the low temp is cause you are out in there all the time and you don't try and cover your self to stay warm. The body gets used to it, Same if you are out in the heat if you do it always your body would get used to it as well. During winter time my place is nicknamed the morgue. I don't use the heater so some people won't come over.
 
Once it hits minus50 or lower then i will start to complain today it is minus20 and im walking around in a jean jacket and tee-shirt.

But im a little crazy i like the cold over the heat.
 
-40 in November up in the Tombstone Valley in the Yukon, caribou hunting; wind chill probably -50 or colder. Our eggs had frozen in the cooler next to the airtight wood stove in the wall tent when we woke up. Slept warm though, two nested down bags, on a Thermarest and a foam mattress. Worst part was having to get up to 'visit Nature' at night. Otherwise we were fine. Burned a lot of wood on that trip... we had brought half a truckload with us.
 
With the right skills and support people can live year round anywhere on the planet. The more extreme the temperature gets the more difficult the logistics get. So to answer your question there is no such thing as too cold, only the wrong gear.

That being said I prefer to spend my nights indoors when things get much below freezing. I've done extreme cold outdoor camping and it is not much fun. Day trips are the name of the game during the winter months.
 
Another good point, proper gear. "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing"


An interesting point that Sasha made about the heat, you get used to it? Maybe YOU get used to it. I don't :p For a few years I lived in a house without an air conditioner and without any trees or other cover around it and I worked outside in the heat too. Come home from working all day in 100+ temps to a house that's hotter on the inside than outside and life sucks. I know the heat and I don't like it :D
Now I live in a house surrounded by big oak trees on a shady north slope next to a big river. And it's got central air :)
 
I don't think that the conditions the OP describes are too cold. Though Chris brings up a good point about humidity. Where I live it's extremely dry, and -20 here can feel very different than -20 in upstate NY.

As others have already said, it's a matter of having the right gear, and good winter camping skills. But in many ways, it can be quite enjoyable, and you certainly don't have bugs to worry about. Building snow shelters can also be fun, and comfortable.

My advice is - don't plunge yourself into a hardcore winter camping scenario. Ease yourself into it over a series of trips in colder and colder conditions, while figuring out what works for you and what doesn't.
 
You got all the tips you need right here. f you really enjoy it, invest in the gear. I prefer the cold; You can always dress for the cold. But when it's too hot, it's just too hot!

How cold is too cold? It's -35 outside right now and I am going camping this weekend so I'm probably not the best one to answer that for ya!
 
For me, the main problem with winter camping is not really keeping warm but breathing super cold air. I can sleep in a winter rated sleeping bag and be warm but I still have to inhale freezing air. It just bugs me. People tell me to breath through my nose, but in those temperatures my nose is usually stopped up. The other suggestion I get is to breath through a wool scarf and I just don't like that feeling. I have yet to find a good solution (other than stay home).

10-20 F is not super cold though, I think that would be OK if I was acclimatized.
 
I don't believe it ever gets "too cold" here in South Carolina. However, I usually say no once it hits the 30s overnight because I'm a wuss.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top