When many think of winter and winter weather they think about frozen toes, damp socks, and snow-shoveling. If you are one of these people then you probably think that winter camping is not “fun.”
But there are several reasons why you should consider a winter camping trip- one being that they are surprisingly abundant! During the winter there are little to no insects, most wildlife is in hibernation, the trails are practically empty, and your reward for slowly trudging through the snowdrifts? Epic views of pristine, snowcapped landscapes with nary another hiker in sight.
Now winter camping does require a little bit of preparation and know-how in order to keep your winter camping experience warm, comfortable, safe, and enjoyable.
Here, some tips on how to make the experience a little bit better:
Learn how to preemptively manage clothing layers: Did you know that you should shed your insulating down jackets and heavy fleece sweaters before you start breaking a sweat and that you should put them back on when you start to cool off? Now you’re probably confused because it takes a lot of resolve to layer down while you’re still cold, but it’ll be worth it when you arrive at the summit without a sweaty back. So make sure you have enough layers on to make this possible.
Put down your hiking poles: Do you use hiking poles? While they are great and make hiking a lot easier, holding them in the winter weather can make your fingers go numb. Every so often you should put down the hiking poles and pump blood back into your fingers. To do this properly, you need to bring your arms straight down next to your sides, flip hands out at a 90-degree angle to your hips, and shrug your shoulders up and down forcefully. Also using hand- and toe-warmer packets are also a great way to keep your extremities warm.
Keep your clothing dry: After hiking or being out in the cold elements you will want to take off your wool socks and dry them by the campfire. Don’t wnat your dirty boos in the tent or camper? Well you can wrap your boots in a plastic bag and bring them in overnight. You should also avoid wearing cotton next to your skin at all costs. It’s better to have to carry some extra weight and have dry layers than to have to suffer in damp ones.
Take Water Bottles that can store hot water: It is a smart idea to heat up water with your camp stove and fill up some water bottles—this will keep them from freezing during your hike. You can also sleep with hot water bottles in your sleeping bag for some added warmth, and slip hot bottles in your hiking shoes to warm them up while you eat breakfast.
Stay hydrated and have a snack: Did you know that you actually burn more calories in the cold? This means that if you are hiking, or having any sort of activity in the cold then you should bring nutrient-dense foods that don’t freeze to eat with you. A good tip is to keep them close to your body so they can stay warm and easier to chew. Reward yourself with a comfort food, like a peanut-packed Snickers bar.
Bring a lamp and games for the tent: With the days being shorter in the winter, this means you’ll be spending some quality time with your camping party inside. So when the sun goes down be prepared with lighting, spare batteries, and some games to pass the time.
Choose a good sleeping bag: Make sure you have a high-quality bag rated for the overnight temperatures you’ll be sleeping in, and always sleep on a quality ground pad that provides insulation and a barrier between your body and the cold, hard ground.
Spend Time At Acorn Acres!
Looking for a fabulous weekend of family fun or couples get away? Look no further then Acorn Acres located in Bozrah CT, Connecticut’s best campground. Call us today or book your trip online at acornacrescampsite.com
