Winter Car Camping

[TheChief]

Hello Everyone,

I am planning to do some Winter Camping with a group and am new to both the camping and group. Hoping you could post some packing lists that would help.

Me and a 7 year old
Two nights
Temps - Day - 35, Night 25
2-3" of snow on the ground

I am well kitted out for long term car camping and backpacking so assume I have the gear...just let me know what.

I have a 3 person backpacking tent and a 12 person cabin tent though they are 3 seasons tents. I have slept comfortably in the backpacking tent down to 40 at night.

I have the cabin tent that could fit three queen size mattresses but am thinking about having so much ground to clear. But i could use cots or even a queen air mattress with lots of blankets.

Thoughts?

[Screehopper]

Double up on sleeping pads to insulate from the cold ground.

Air mattress will be cold by loss of heat via convection: cold ground, warm top. If you go this route make sure to put sleeping pads on top of the air mattress.

Having a pee bottle is nice. Beats having to go outside to pee in the middle of the night.

Normal tent stakes don't work well in the snow. Need bigger, wider stakes such as snow stakes or substitute a shovel, ice axe, etc and bury it part way.

I was camping out in the desert (no snow) over Thanksgiving weekend and the low was 10F.

[glockman19]

Hello Everyone,

I am planning to do some Winter Camping with a group and am new to both the camping and group. Hoping you could post some packing lists that would help.

Me and a 7 year old
Two nights
Temps - Day - 35, Night 25
2-3" of snow on the ground

I am well kitted out for long term car camping and backpacking so assume I have the gear...just let me know what.

I have a 3 person backpacking tent and a 12 person cabin tent though they are 3 seasons tents. I have slept comfortably in the backpacking tent down to 40 at night.

I have the cabin tent that could fit three queen size mattresses but am thinking about having so much ground to clear. But i could use cots or even a queen air mattress with lots of blankets.

Thoughts?

The 3 person tent will retain the most heat. last time I camped in 2-3' of snow I cleared a pad 5' larger than the tent on the ground. I then laid a footprint then the tent, inside I had a moving blanket as a floor. I then slept in a Kelty Cosmic 20 Down bag on top of a Therma-Rest Dream Air R6 mattress.

In cold wet high altitude weather I prefer white gas lanterns and stoves to propane/butane. Car Camping, I take along a 2 burner Coleman dual fuel and a single burner dual fuel in addition to a Powerhouse dual fuel lantern and a Coleman catalytic heater.

[Garv]

Make sure you have plenty of fun activities for afternoon/evening.
Dark at 5:30 or so means cold very early and just laying in the tent gets boring quick.

Good luck.

[ldsnet]

Remember your body burns more calories keeping warm! Plan for plenty of warm drinks and snacks (high in fluids) for both of you. Cold is bad, cold and dehydrated is miserable.

+1 on a Catalytic heater. Anything to take the edge off the morning air.

Have a bunch of closed cell mattresses (not just air mattresses) for insulation between you and the ground. They work great on your chair to keep your backside warm around a campfire too.

Lastly, you are car camping. Keep this a happy experience for your little-one. If you realize you are not as well prepared as you thought, don't be a he-man; cut the trip short and go get warm.

[SamIAm]

Wool or fleece hat even if your sleeping bag has a hood.

Hot water bottle, filled with hot water and insulated so that you don't burn yourself when you first start using it. This was common before the days of electric blankets and furnaces.

Catalytic heater for sure.

[sdkevin]

Lds hit it pretty well.

I second the smaller tent for holding heat and would add quality cots with closed cell pads to keep your buns warm, the doubled sleeping bags is a good idea also. I pair up a summer and winter if I suspect things will get rough.

It's against the rules, but I run a Peak One on a stable inflammable base to kill the evening and morning chill. I've done a few extended stays at 12k feet.. screw rules.

[drifts1]

It's been awhile but when I did winter camp in the snow I had a blast. Usually it was 3-4 of us in a 10x10. We used a tent safe catalytic heater. Dress warm and use a good sleeping bag. Most important, stay off the floor. Sleep on cots or an air mattress.

[M1NM]

Double up on sleeping pads to insulate from the cold ground.

This - Don't even think of a cot. You want to keep the air from circulating around you. Of course no gas/propane lanterns/stoves in the tent unless the door is open.

[mls343]

In addition to the double padded ground insulation, feel free to bring extra blankets to put over the sleeping bags. Not only does it help to add some extra warmth when sleeping, but it works great when you get up in the morning to add some extra warmth when you get the fire going before the coffee and hot chocolate.

Also, remember that most of your body heat escapes from you head. Beanies are a must and can be worn comfortably in your sleeping bag.

Have fun and remember that winter car camping is an excellent way to use some of the local camping places without all the crazy crowds that you get in the summer.

[followingc]

Put on a pair of fresh dry socks before you get in the bag and wear a warm beanie!

[sdkevin]

This - Don't even think of a cot. You want to keep the air from circulating around you.

And a closed cell pad + Thermorest + wool blanket won't do that?

If you have a quality bag you are good.. period. I like waking up comfortable, not crawling off the ground.

[Jeepergeo]

Ditch the cabin tent and cots...they will be too cold. Go with the smaller tent which will be fine if it is not snowing. Use a closed cell pad below each bag to provide padding and insulation. The small tent will heat up fast with two in it.

Get a few of the hand warmer packets...you bend them and they heat up...those will help keep hands and feet warm at night.

Consider rubber boots...wet feet can ruin a trip. Extra socks and change them regularly to keep the feet warm and spirits up.

[TheChief]

Thanks everyone for the great posts. I especially like the one about if it is no longer fun then head on out!

[God Bless America]

Lots of firewood. I won't camp without a fire. Lots of warm blankets.

Clothes to enjoy the cold weather outside.

Plenty of flashlights, kids love flashlights, no matter how cheap. Harbor freight has some.