Winter

[mewolf1]

With the leaves dang near gone here in MN ( gone up north) my favorite season is almost here. As a kid just because it started to snow was no reason to stop camping and I like ice fishing better than summer. Last year when we finally got enough snow my boys and I built a snow house in the yard to camp in. Turned out too small for all three of us but the boys stayed out during one of the coldest nights we had. Little by little theyz getttin what they need to know fer all four seasons.We whipped up a brush and leaf shelter last Saturday in the woods in about an hour. Just wonderin how many of ya can't wait for winter and do ya camp in the snow to test yourself in winter to hone your skills. I realize your kit might change some and I think I know the answers to my question but I'm sick of summer and want it to snow,so to relieve my angst lets talk winter.

 

[shpshooter]

I love winter for snowmobiling. We go out to a nice remote spot about 50 miles away, make a fire, set up camp, and cook up some nice filet mignon. Now they don't like when you do that, but it was always my favorite thing to do in winter.

 

[mewolf1]

I'm not fussy when it comes to feedin.

 

[Will]

I love the winter. I love backcountry skiing, ice climbing, and general winter hiking/snowshoeing. I also just like to play in the snow. I like the challanges also, especially in camping out.

Will

 

[wade]

For me its backpacking, and winter is the best time to go. The winter gear is much heavier than summer gear. But the bugs are not out and the bears are sleeping. Everything seems to be fresh and clean in the snow. A great season.

 

[grobe]

i too spend more time in the woods in the winter. less people, more challenges, quieter, etc. winter seems to slow things down a bit and i like that. i generally have alot more free time in the winter as well. can't wait for the first snow around here. i'm heading a bit north for a week or so and hope to do some hiking in the beautiful green mtns. of vermont.

 

[[digidude]]

I love winter, untill it hits -30 than I wish it was summer.

 

[pict]

I admit it, I miss winter. Living here in Brazil we basically have one season for most of the year, bright sunny day, breezy with a few clouds. It might get really hot or plummet down to the 60's but the same perfect day repeats itself until rainy season. Then it's overcast, thunderstorms, low scuttling clouds and you forget what the sun looks like. I miss winter. Mac

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Winter is interesting as some things are easier, getting water is trivial for exmple and shelter building for example in heavy snow is easier, and navigating over rivers/lakes which are frozen is better than having to go around them, but many things are much harder such as building a fire and the general need to keep warm. It also places much more need for gear than more moderate enviroments due to the ability in extremes to deabilitate almost instantly without proper protection.

-Cliff

 

[shpshooter]

I love winter, untill it hits -30 than I wish it was summer.

A couple times we went out to do a night ride and it was down between -30 and -35, it's amazing how the wind just cuts through your snow suit and layers, you just can't get warm. We could only ride for a little bit before we had to turn around, it was just too cold, and the constant 30mph wind wasn't helping. The snot dripping from your nose would freeze.:barf: I remember the light on my sled went out the one night. I had to duct tape a flashlight to my helmet because I didn't want to take my gloves off to try to fix it.

 

[Cynic1]

Yeah, when its -35 C it does get a bit nippy. But if you wear proper clothing and are used to the climate its not that bad...can actually be quite fun. Waking up in the tent is a bitch though.....

When you have to lie on sentry duty in a low snow-fox hole for a couple of hours, it gets a bit annoying

But when its REAL bad, like-40-45 C....it starts to create a problem.....

 

[Tony Turner]

Winter sure can be fun, you have to make it that way when you live 9 months of it (ND). Last year a buddy and I both took our canvas ice fish houses to a lake in N MN and stayed the night in them. It got down to -8f, it was quite interesting. We nailed the crappies and walleye though. It is amazing how fast things freeze up a that temp. All the water we brought froze up on us, had to hang our canteens above the heaters in our fish houses to keep them liquid. Winter time brings on a whole new set of rules for surviving, you don't want to be caught off gaurd by anything, just the matter of a couple of hours could mean the difference of life and death. Those of you who are not experienced in makeing ice/snow shelters better do some research before you go out and build one and sleep in it over night. You need proper support to prevent cave-in's, ventilation, and of course warmth. It can be alot of fun, just be careful.

 

[mewolf1]

Winter sure can be fun, you have to make it that way when you live 9 months of it (ND). Last year a buddy and I both took our canvas ice fish houses to a lake in N MN and stayed the night in them. It got down to -8f, it was quite interesting. We nailed the crappies and walleye though. It is amazing how fast things freeze up a that temp. All the water we brought froze up on us, had to hang our canteens above the heaters in our fish houses to keep them liquid. Winter time brings on a whole new set of rules for surviving, you don't want to be caught off gaurd by anything, just the matter of a couple of hours could mean the difference of life and death. QUOTE]Those of you who are not experienced in makeing ice/snow shelters better do some research before you go out and build one and sleep in it over night. You need proper support to prevent cave-in's, ventilation, and of course warmth. It can be alot of fun, just be careful.

Making the snow house is great fun and a handy thing to know. Pile up snow about four feet high or so and roundish, trying for some symetry, then gather up a bunch of small twigs. Around the base about a foot off the groundshove the twigs into the pile useing your hand as a"stop". as you go up the pile with this method shorten up the depth you shove them in, about six inches at the top is purdy good. Walk away and let the pile solidify. The time varys depending on the type of snow and the temp. This time is also good for gathering upwood, preping the camp, or goin the house to cool off! Remember sweating is BAD. Usally after as little as 3-4 hours the snow will become workable. Start digging on the east side (away from prevailing winds) and keep on digging until you hit the sticks you installed earlier and "Viola" uniform wall with little risk of collaps. I have even piled the snow that I dug out and put it just outside the door in a long igloo fashion, plugged my original hole, let the diggins hardenand dug out a tunnel of an entrance, but this is just for fun. Try to keep the door as small as possible, this reduces heat loss. Now poke a 1 1/2"- 2" hole on the roof for a vent. Use a blanket for the door or just use your pack. Candle heat is all you need.small shelves can be scooped out near the base to put the candles in. They provide plenty of light and heat, warm enough to sit in a shirtcomfortably even when the temp goes 30 in the hole!

BE CAREFUL and as always, USE YOUR HEAD.

Wolf