Solo winter camping trek

[Revolverrodger]

Hello Guys,
I have been winter camping for a while and really enjoy it. Last week I finaly did my first solos winter camping trip. I have to say it was a lot of work pulling that sled (around 30 pounds of gear) and the backpack (45 pounds+). The temperature was -20oC and with the wind it felt like -30oC. Regardless it was an awesome adventure and I highly recommend it to everybody who loves camping. But you do need a lot of gear and you need to be prepared.
I used a canvas tent and a kni-co wood stove and man did I have to prepare a lot of wood LOL

Here is a video of that adventure for those that are interested !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuvEKpjteww

Feel free to ask questions if you want
Thanks

 

[fmajor007]

Looks like you had a good time - the whole place to yourself!

I like your choice of camp - it looks like a nice place to visit (in the winter!).

Did you have difficulty driving the tent stakes in? What did you use to accomplish this?

What was the stove manufacturer and model?

Your tent looks absolutely amazing! If it were me, I would consider using a cheap nylon/poly tarp of some kind for a floor just to keep snow out of everything, but that's just me.

How far back in did you travel?

 

[Revolverrodger]

Hello Major,
Indeed it was hard to drive those stakes in. Under the snow was a layer of ice so I had to resharpen my wood stakes a few times. I hammer them down with a wood batton.
The stove is a kni-co stove I think the trekker junor model. It is their smallest stove but a good size for my tent... and for a solo trek.
You are right it's more heroic to go tarp camping but my skills aren't there yet... not in -25oC LOL I hope to get there one day
I hiked for about 2 hours to reach that spot.
Was a lot of work but worth it.

 

[fmajor007]

Hello Major,
The stove is a kni-co stove I think the trekker junor model. It is their smallest stove but a good size for my tent... and for a solo trek.

Thanks - it looks like they (kni-co) are the premier supplier for smaller canvas wall-tents. The other suppliers' designs are for larger tent and are also *much* heavier.

You are right it's more heroic to go tarp camping but my skills aren't there yet... not in -25oC LOL I hope to get there one day

I'm sorry - I must not have been clear in my communication. I was trying to communicate that I would have used a tarp *inside your tent* as a floor - not as a stand-alone-shelter (though have done that before....)

I hiked for about 2 hours to reach that spot.
Was a lot of work but worth it.

Ahhhhh, the best places usually require a bit more physical exertion and separates the "men from the boys"!

 

[druid189]

CROP CIRCLES AT THE 2:03 MARK !! lol....

Looks like good times. Getting the itch.....

 

[Revolverrodger]

Fortunately I did not see any UFOs or aliens on that trip LOL
One of the joys of solo winter camping is that you are away from everything and everyone for a while... A major change from the way we are used to live.

 

[druid189]

Fortunately I did not see any UFOs or aliens on that trip LOL
One of the joys of solo winter camping is that you are away from everything and everyone for a while... A major change from the way we are used to live.

Oh, I completely agree dude. I did the PA stretch of the AT the summer of '88 [right after graduation] and it was awesome - but that was summer. I have done long-hunting in the winter, which is similar to what you were doing [but I was hunting]. The only difference is that there are other hunters in the woods but I don't often run into that many because my trek starts a week before deer season. It takes me a full day of hiking to get where I want to go. Most day-hunters only hike about 2 hrs in and 2 hrs out. I'm pretty much alone where I go...


One week prior to season-start, I'm packing everything I'm planning to take. I leave the Wednesday before the season start, as it takes almost 8 hrs to get to my location. I park the truck and sleep in it for the night, and then it takes me a full day of hiking [with or without a sled] just to get to my camp location. Camp takes about a full day to set up the way I like it - pretty standard for me - and then I still have the better part of the weekend to relax and prepare for the coming Monday hunt. My plans always surround being there the full 2 weeks of hunting season but I normally score my harvest in the first few days...taking a few more days just to chill out in the outdoors and then pack up for home.

Most of my gear is military surplus though. My tent isn't set up for a camp stove but I use one of those Coleman propane heaters [older version of this one]:

http://www.coleman.com/product/2000004165#.VPZXhSvF_f0

...and it's just awesome. The one thing I must insist on [for me] is an elevated platform about 6" off the ground. That gets lined [underneath it] with leaves and pine boughs, and then pine boughs on top of it making a 'mattress'.

My camp probably mirrors many out there on YT already...shelter....fire pit w/ reflector walls, etc.

I must admit though, the past couple years I haven't done it because...well..I just haven't had that kind of time.

I know the wife won't go, she absolutely hates the cold and the kids - 2 of 3 are in college and the 3rd is the "girlie-girl" and 'rough-it-hunting' isn't her thing...lol.

I miss it though.....getting the itch....

BEST time out ever was when I only took black powder to hunt with. I felt like a real mountain-man...was awesome.

 

[Revolverrodger]

You are a true Druid indeed !
Your hunting expeditions look epic.
I would love to try more extended expeditions but work and family bring me back to reality LOL

 

[druid189]

You are a true Druid indeed !
Your hunting expeditions look epic.
I would love to try more extended expeditions but work and family bring me back to reality LOL

Thanks. I have had lots of fun. It's a lot of hard work but in the end, knowledge is gained and a new perspective on life is achieved. As I recall my gear, some of it is needing replacement and have a plan for that this year ....heh heh heh.........

I bought 14 oz black canvas off Amazon for one specific project [unrelated to knives/outdoors stuff] but since I bought 7 full yards [x 60" wide] of it, I'll have about 5.5 - 6 yards, full width, left over. If I like the way the "secondary" projects turn out, I might make a few extras and sell them.