How to make a campsite/fire while snowshoeing in deep snow.

[savagesicslayer]

After snapping a couple of pics around my yard I decided to go for a snowshoe and see the woods.
Here's the snows depth on my front lawn.

(ESEE content my ESEE-4)
The woods look beautiful after the storm.However travel SUCKS.This snow has no support whatsoever.

(I've sunk almost all the way to my ...... here)
Now step 1 is pick a site and stamp the snow as flat as you can.I picked this spot because there was a deadfall available to sit on.
step 2.take off 1 snowshoe and use it as a shovel.it's easier than carrying a shovel and works almost as good.

Soon you should have something that looks like this.

Now for the important thing ALWAYS build a base to start your fire on.If you don't the melting snow will put your fire out before it has time to establish itself.

A little PJCB action........

....and I was good to go.

Here's an established shot.

On the way home I spotted this.It's funny how snow will react sometimes.

 

[ratamahatta]

great pics buddy!!!!!

 

[stjones]

Great pics.
Looks like fun in the snow!!
I need to get me some snow shoes for winter walks.

 

[sarge1967]

Great shots, thanks for sharing.

 

[SocalSurvivalistX]

That's pretty fricken sweet!!

We're doing a snow backpack at the end of the month and i'll have to try it out! haven't really spent much time in the snow ever, looking forward to get out there and get more experience!

ps, where are you?

 

[Decklin]

Nice post, thanks for sharing. You guys up north sure have gotten blasted with snow...

 

[savagesicslayer]

That's pretty fricken sweet!!

We're doing a snow backpack at the end of the month and i'll have to try it out! haven't really spent much time in the snow ever, looking forward to get out there and get more experience!

ps, where are you?

I'm in New Brunswick Canada.Directly north of the state of Maine.

 

[gregncat]

Nice post, thanks for sharing. You guys up north sure have gotten blasted with snow...

Dude....We always get blasted with snow.
Probably another 2 months before I see the grass on my lawn again

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Nice pics! As a Mainer I can commiserate. We've gotten hammered with snow this winter.

 

[jamesmtl]

looks like fun.
Good job getting that fire going.

That wood looks real dry, what are your tips for finding it?

 

[savagesicslayer]

looks like fun.
Good job getting that fire going.

That wood looks real dry, what are your tips for finding it?

Always keep your eyes peeled for standing deadfalls cause they're usually my source for really dry wood.Especially deep snow like this the tops of deadfalls are great.getting them to the campsite without dragging them through the snow is the problem.Once your established though it's not a problem as the fire will take care of drying the wood itself.

 

[adaman04]

Great pics! Much respect for dealing with all that snow. I'm all snowed out for the year myself.

 

[Hodaka]

Is that all from one storm? Doesn't look like much of a base under it. I'd have a hard time finding dirt under the snow here right now, with the frozen solid base layer that's under the snow.

 

[savagesicslayer]

There's a "crust" about 2 feet down and it's about 2 inches thick.It really is terrible snowshoeing snow.

 

[hiwa]

Those are great shots man. I'm amazed you sank that deep with SS on. Must be real deep powder. Standing deadwood is great firewood. Same firestarting stuff I use all the time too , FS and pjcbs. Thanks SSS

 

[Flexxx]

Nice pics, best way I have found it to try and keep the fire up off the cold ground, but you can only do that for so long....

 

[wildmanh]

Nice pics, best way I have found it to try and keep the fire up off the cold ground, but you can only do that for so long....

Aluminum foil or a fire pan (trash can lid) works great. Hmm, maybe I should invest in those?:foot:

 

[R.A.T.]

Good post and pics. Thanks!

 

[mr dylan]

I too live in new brunswick canada and can attest to the amount of snow we have gotten recently. This week we just got around 50cm or around 1 2/3 feet of snow, and tonight and into tomorrow we are supposed to get another foot. I for one love the snow but pretty much everyone else has had it already and are begging for summer to come around again.

also it was nearly all powder that we got, light and fluffy

 

[Mistwalker]

Nice shots! Better you than me with all that white stuff though...