As I move slowly through the winter forest I look up to see the huge form of Blue mountain dominating the north west sky. I am pulling a sled with equipment for a three day winter camping trip. Three friends also are harnessed to their sleds pulling along the trail with snowshoes on.
The temp is 15 degrees and the wind is about 20 mph out of the northwest.
Our destination is an open shelter at the south end of Terrell Pond in the Blue mountain wilderness. We are expecting three days of windy cold with lows to 10 below at night. Terrell Pond is a mile long, laying north and south its long and narrow shape. Our trail in is a four mile pull over gently rolling landscape with a number of stream crossings with some running water to add a challenge to our trip. The sleds are long and thin to fit into the snowshoe trail we make and weigh about 45 pounds. Our gear includes a large tarp of white cotton to cover the open side of the shelter and a small pack stove (wood burning) to heat the shelter to a comfortable 40 to 45 degrees. Good food and winter clothing fill out our packs of gear. For winter camping, high energy food and lots of liquids are necessary to stay warm. Keeping your clothing dry is also very important.
The trip in takes more time to complete and we arrive with daylight fading to a winter rose color sky, temps dropping and much work to be done. We work on setting camp, cutting a night's supply of firewood, obtaining water and preparing dinner. A small propane lamp provides a warm light as night falls and we settle in to warm dry clothes for the night. Good spirits all around prevail after a long day on the trail. The wood stove sings a song of warmth as the deep silence of the north woods settles around us. Good down bags, wool caps and one man to stoke the stove through the night help make our dreams warm.
The morning comes bright with sun and clear skies. Today is a day for skiing the pond and just being in this deep quiet world. We share this space with the wild, year-round snowshoe hares, coyotes, fishers, otters and many kinds of birds. So the trip goes on with a sad return to our world of busy details and of happy return to home and loved ones. More on the trip and winter thoughts and sightings soon. Best to you, Don. Late February 2009
The temp is 15 degrees and the wind is about 20 mph out of the northwest.
Our destination is an open shelter at the south end of Terrell Pond in the Blue mountain wilderness. We are expecting three days of windy cold with lows to 10 below at night. Terrell Pond is a mile long, laying north and south its long and narrow shape. Our trail in is a four mile pull over gently rolling landscape with a number of stream crossings with some running water to add a challenge to our trip. The sleds are long and thin to fit into the snowshoe trail we make and weigh about 45 pounds. Our gear includes a large tarp of white cotton to cover the open side of the shelter and a small pack stove (wood burning) to heat the shelter to a comfortable 40 to 45 degrees. Good food and winter clothing fill out our packs of gear. For winter camping, high energy food and lots of liquids are necessary to stay warm. Keeping your clothing dry is also very important.
The trip in takes more time to complete and we arrive with daylight fading to a winter rose color sky, temps dropping and much work to be done. We work on setting camp, cutting a night's supply of firewood, obtaining water and preparing dinner. A small propane lamp provides a warm light as night falls and we settle in to warm dry clothes for the night. Good spirits all around prevail after a long day on the trail. The wood stove sings a song of warmth as the deep silence of the north woods settles around us. Good down bags, wool caps and one man to stoke the stove through the night help make our dreams warm.
The morning comes bright with sun and clear skies. Today is a day for skiing the pond and just being in this deep quiet world. We share this space with the wild, year-round snowshoe hares, coyotes, fishers, otters and many kinds of birds. So the trip goes on with a sad return to our world of busy details and of happy return to home and loved ones. More on the trip and winter thoughts and sightings soon. Best to you, Don. Late February 2009
1 comment:
I wanted to bring your attention to a winter camping resource that you might find interesting - www.WinterCampers.com
There is a comprehensive collection of Winter Camping Articles from varied journals and newspapers.
The discussion of Winter Camping Skills includes an article on How to Get Started Winter Camping, there are special tips on Leave No Trace for Winter Campers, how to Sleep Warm, there are Trip Logs and Photos from past adventures, how to build snow shelters, advanced Winter Camping Tips, Winter Camping Recipes and a Winter Camping Video.
Winter Camping Gear includes several gear reviews, a Sample Gear List, a discussion of The Ten Essentials and examples of What’s In My Pack? by different winter campers.
The Lighter Side of Winter Camping includes: a collection of Winter and Wilderness Survival Quizzes, a tongue in cheek Winter Camping Application, Winter Camping Poems, Winter Camping Quotes and the Top Ten List Reasons to Go Winter Camping.
The BLOG has the latest winter camping news, pictures and chatter.
The website is not for profit and tries to help others celebrate the winter camping experience.
Please give it your consideration.
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