Winter Camping

When you winter camp and go about it properly, you really don't get cold. You can stay as warm as being in your own bed if you take the right equipment and wear the right clothes. Cotton and denim are not considered the proper clothing for this activity, and are commonly called dead man's clothes when it come to winter camping.

The reason for this is simple. When you start to sweat and you are wearing cotton, the clothes become damp and therefore will freeze. On the other hand polypropylene and wool and even silk and nylon will wick the moisture away from your body and keep you dry and warmer. A good sleeping bag (not a cheap one from Wal-Mart) that is rated below zero is also a must have item.

What most people forget is that snow is a great insulator and when you dig down a foot and get your tent set, it keeps you out of the wind and actually is pretty warm. It must be said here to not use a gas heater in your tent due to using up all of the oxygen in your tent.

When done right and if you go when the temperature is still around the freezing mark, you can stay plenty warm without any heater. I usually eat a good snack before going to sleep. I don't really know if this has anything to do with keeping you warmer, but in my own mind it does.

So if you have never tried it, head out in the back yard sometime and set up a tent and give it a try. If you decide it isn't for you then going in to your warm bed is just a minute away. I like to winter camp at least once every winter. It just gives me that feeling that I can survive the elements and really is quite invigorating both physically and mentally.