Interesting how some people can look past the couple minutes of North Face advertising and appreciate the rest of the video for what it is: an appreciation of winter camping and encouraging people to give it a go. Others seem totally fixated on the advertising element which was kept quite short and could be easily skipped if you don't want to watch that part. And Dan bloody well gave everyone a heads up at the very beginning that the video was sponsored! My question to the haters: if you knew it was coming, why did you watch? And can you not appreciate the fact that Dan had FAR more to say about the joys of winter camping and challenging yourself than he did about the NF products?
Dan! You need to get polarized WRAPAROUND sunglasses! As a former snowboarding instructor, I permanently damaged my eyes from using the wrong sunglasses (polarized Ray Bans) that did not wrap around to prevent the glare from the sides! Don’t make the same mistake I did and get wraparound sunglasses for future snowy adventures!
There's an amazing feeling of accomplishment from completing a back country camping trip. You might not always be fully enjoying the adversity in the moment, but as Devon always says, "There's type 1 fun, and type 2 fun." Type 2 fun is not the immediate gratification. It's the fun you experience afterward from having gone through a difficult journey.
Congrats, clearly you have been smitten and inducted into the winter! There is nothing as perfect as being in the absolute tranquility of the backwoods in the winter I used to do 10 day long distance snowshoeing trips in the high country of Vermont and the Adirondacks Advice: get longer snowshoes with more floatation
When I was in Scouts we did a lot of winter camping. This was before Gore-tex, so most our survival gear was wool, and down was great warmth but terrible if getting wet was probable. In deep snow (like you're in in this video) I didn't even bring a tent, just a tarp, and would build snow shelters. Snow shelters provided much better protection and was quite a bit warmer than a tent (typically hovers around 50°). It does take a measure of skill and aptitude (some people just never seem to grasp the techniques), but as a survive skill it is priceless if you spend any amount of time in winter backcountry. I've had shelters sound enough that I could walk on top of them without collapse.
I remember the fear I had six years ago when I did my first winter camp. Four winters later I was finishing another winter camp and realized it had changed from WINTER camping to winter CAMPING. The fear was completely gone and camping in winter was no stranger than camping in spring, summer or fall. Now I look forward to my annual winter camping trip. PS: I am a 100% winter hammock camper. For me it's the best way to winter camp.
I'm saving up for my winter accessories on my warbonnet blackbird xlc. Any suggestions on underquilts? I'm getting a kelty Noah's 16×16 tarp for full wind protection. I've camped in every season besides winter but I live in maine where winter is 50% of the year and it doesn't really worry me as I am very knowledgeable in outdoor skills.
@@freethinker5225 I bought the Hammock Gear Economy Incubator, 0°F rated. Works a treat. I also double up, with my home made summer UQ inside as a liner.
Liking the low Uintas in winter means you'll LOVE the high Uintas. The High Uintas are grand, but it's easier to go in summer, July or August. Before that you may still face lots of snow. Been in the Wilderness are a few time and it's worth the trip times over. Funny story, first time, my wife wanted to go in May and we drove from Salt Lake by the 80. Before leave told my wife the map says the entry road is close due to snow until mid June. She laughed at me and we went anyway. 2h drive later, on the 150 she faced a 6 feet tall wall of snow on the road. Can't go any further. Told her so: believe the maps....
Living in WI too and seeing very little snow, I forget about the quiet / silence/ peace a heavy snow provides. Beauty in all things. And yes no heat no bugs.
Another huge reason in my area is due to fire bans. Having a camp fire is such a great experience, but for most months of the year canister stoves are the extent of the fire you can have. During winter months you are able to go out and almost feel like a bushcraft artist for the night 😁
Love winter camping. Great video. One thing though, your Gaiters are on the wrong legs. The thin red part goes on the outside of your leg and the thicker fabric goes on the inside to protect your instep from your snowshoes, crampons, microspikes, etc.
My sister and I were born car camping. I recall a photo of my sister having a bath in our camper's tiny pump sink. But, after that I was in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts so I never really knew camping would be like a hotel room. I did a similar thing with my two boys (but tent camping) and they went on their first Winter campout at 6yo (in Cub Scouts) and were sleeping outside is freezing weather in a Lean-to before they were 10yo but learned how to do that safely and with the proper equipment. Now, both are Eagle Scouts and often go backpacking on their own - because they know what to do, they have the equipment, and they know what they get is worth a bit of discomfort. That is a hard thing for most adults to learn.
I always remember the winter camps. From times with Scouts as a youth to times as an adult. I too grew up in the Midwest and the major problem is not the cold, but the wind. Shells are not just helpful but a must. But remember no bugs, you can easily brush snow off your clothing (not true with rain/mud) and no heat stroke. Plus it is beautiful. Remember the sunglasses.
to me the worst part of winter camping is how early the sun sets and how bored I get. To be fair I like to go to sleep about midnight so its hard to wait that long in the dark
I like to build stuff and practice my skills like making char cloth or make a stick table next to my fire, you'll need some small tools, also try bringing a book or some real food that requires some prep work and attention. I also like to carve wooden spoons and bowls or walking sticks, you could also bring a journal and just dump thoughts and ideas..
Look up "fowlers makery and mischief" on youtube he's an outdoorsman from maine and he won a season of Alone, I haven't seen him do a ton of winter camping but he definitely keeps busy in the woods from fishing and building, to Journaling and survival skills
just a little addition to what's great about winter camping (section about 9 minutes): the stargazing is amazing, with the long nights, clear cold air, and winter stars above.
Living in California (near Sacramento), I know that I am spoiled with some of the most amazing places to hike and backpack. That's something I will never take for granted and feel blessed for it. Getting out in nature is such a healing and almost spiritual experience for me. Especially up in the Sierras, no cell signal means the noises and distractions of the world go away for a while. As far as winter camping goes??? I don't do snow 🤣. But I use that time to explore lower elevations, or the coast, when the hills green up and the weather is cooler. Point Reyes is a great place for quick backpacking trips this time of the year. Also a great way to test out all the new gear I got for Christmas before my longer treks this summer. Happy hiking!!
Hiking, backpacking, & camping is kiddie level stuff. I actually do mountaineering & we always sleep at high altitude in the snow. You have to stay well aware of winds that go 20-100 mph & drastic weather fluctuations meaning, temps can drop in increments of 5-30 degrees in a matter of minutes. Plus, there's the factor for avalanches.
I usually understand the CAMPING part of a trip as a need to spend the night out, either because I want a super early start on a climb or because it is a multiday route that cannot be acomplished in one day. I don't just go out camping for the hell of it, so I don't usually have much time to wander arround camp or even get bored. Definitely will never consider carrying a chair as I don't plan on sitting for too long without doing anything! I conccur that winter is much more fun due to the lack of bugs, abundance of water (although you need to melt it). Great video as usual!
That's so funny to me because I consider HIKING the ticket price I must pay to get to camp, lol. I'm hiking to camp and fish. If I hit up some nice little alpine lakes with trout with apatites, I'm happy to stay put for days just eating trout. In any case, cheers to all of this backing stuff, however, and why ever we do it.
I like getting out in deep snow and digging a snow trench for my hammock and tarp. Temps can drop down to minus 20, and that snow trench will hover around freezing. Your water bottle doesn't even freeze. Plus you get over 50 sq ft of covered space.
I would love to get out and do more winter camping like this, but here in SoCal snow is few and far between. We did have a very nice snow storm come through that dropped a lot of snow, but I wont be able to get out for at least another month as I help my mom recover from her rotator cuff surgery.
I love winter camping. The bit that can be a bit challenging is in the first winter months, it's dark pretty early (where I live, around winter solstice, I have barely 4 hours of usable light, while the second half of March to the beginning of May is absolutely awesome (although wet at times!) In deep winter months, me and my wife usually go out when we had a exhausting week, because then we are basically forced to sleep for 12 hours! 😄
I like hiking and camping both considerably more in winter than any other season. There’s just something mesmerizing about it. And hanging out around a nice camp fire with friends and having some drinks is amazing.
@@IdRatherBeHiking that’s definitely a huge plus. I like not being overheated constantly also. And the views from tops of mountains and hills is amazing when there’s no leaves blocking them.
This is great, Dan. Winter camping is so beautiful and quiet, it's just magical. If you're interested in another snow camp this winter, Mt Hood Timberline Lodge has 300" so far this winter and 101" base at 6,000'. Perfect conditions for a snow cave or igloo with snow furniture!
Dude, I was in the RN for 12 1/2 yrs and 6 of those were spent in Norway! I pine for getting out in snow that deep again! The warmest shelter I've ever spent the night in is a properly dug snow hole and the quietness is hypnotising!! Lucky chap!
Winter camping is the Best!!! I've crossed the hardanger vidda highlands in Norway and done a week hike trip in north Sweden above the polar circle, and it is great. Great thing: no worries about wet and water. It's all ice and snow!
Yep . I went winter camping (and skiing) in a special place in Italy, known for it's siberian temperatures (we reached -32° and the average was -22°). I met only people with the same questions in mouth "WHY & HOW" but I loved it. I only had tons of curious, sneaking in camping to ask about the crazy camping there and watch at her (me) as a crazy animal.... Unbeatable 😁😁😁😁
Just last weekend I did a snow cave camping trip in Norther Colorado with my 3 season gear. The snow cave was functional for survival in single digit temps, but I learned I don't like snow caves and would way rather winter camp in a tent. Holler at me North Face.
I’m backpack camping in the serria mountains, currently on 15ft of snow, and it’s quite amazing, boiling snow for water, and digging tent pits due to the extremes of the weather
Welcome to the west, if you ever want to see some amazing country in Idaho I’d go backpacking with you in the Caribou National Forest. Love your videos I’ve been hiking,camping, hunting and backpacking for more than 45 years and I’ve learned from you. We’re always learning.
The whole thing about roughing it: I usually use a down bag with silk liner, so I camp in a feather bed with silk sheets... that tends to quiet anyone who says I'm roughing it
Just make sure the snow is gonna stay snow. I went Winter blanket camping with No tent a couple years back Laid out on the snow all cozy.. temp went up 19 degrees and I was soaked at 3am walked around for 5 hours to keep warm till sun came up.
Great Video Dan! But you can't predict Utah weather!!🤣🤣 The other day I was out in a T Shirt enjoying the beautiful sun at work and by the time I went home 3hrs later the wind had blown a door off our building and there was a inch of snow on the ground.🤣🤣 You forgot to mention the other reason to camp in the winter. NO PEOPLE!!👍🏻 🤣🤣
I love winter camping... the bears are hibernating. The moose are still out, but you can climb a tree for safety. Moose are almost worse than bears. They actually PICK fights... and they don't back down.
I simply love winter-hiking. And you are so right in this vid. The silence in a winter landscape is amazing! Looking foreward to see more of you in this "new" invironment. :)
The last time I went snow camping it was during training with the Marines. Snow caves at 9000 ft in the Sierra Nevadas - I'm not sure if I would do it again by choice, but it was a good learning experience.
PNW here. i have loved winter backpacking for 20+ years, glad to see you out there! anyone looking to get into it, you dont have to break the bank. i do it with almost all budget gear. even budget clothing, except my coat, boots and pack. start small, build big ! most of all have fun!
I'm almost thru my 2nd winter of camping. I live in Canada where I've gone out in -30°c often. If you have the proper rated gear, you're generally fine. Just don't get wet and don't go hungry!
I love snow camping first and backpacking second. There is far greater solitude in snow camping, I go into the backwoods to get away from society. In an extremely popular place, Yosemite NP.... one can find far more solitude snow camping compared to backpacking. Snow camping in Y.N.P. especially in the springtime when the overnight temperatures are a few degrees above freezing even at the higher elevations -7,000ft. or, more during the day is a very comfortable temperature range.
Nice trip! I was out 2 weekends ago here in eastern Canada. Snowshoed in 1 mile with my pulk & 50 lb gear. Setup my hammock & tarp then enjoyed the next few hours in the quiet forest with a crackling campfire before turning in for a good night's sleep. Overnight temps dipped to 20*F. Planning to get out for a few more nights before the snow goes.
I love winter camping. We do that with my daughter's AHG troop every year, and winter backpacking with my sons scout troop. Best part.....no mosquitos :)
People who say they can't "rough it" are the same people who rent a spot at the r.v. park and tell all their friends they're heading to "camp" for the weekend 😆
The outdoors club in highschool had winter camping. We would walk only short distances and basically spent all day around camp building queenzees for everyone to sleep in. I think queenzee is native american "tent" . Euther way its made out of snow, branches and we would use tarps and blankets. It was ridiculously comfortable, much easier to stay warm than a late autumn cold rainy day.
Winter camping is amazing, addictive and fun, but you need to have good equipment, experience, do things 100 percent and have a backup plan for everything, the basis is to have good sleep and food, because you need a good mood to enjoy it, frost is a danger, but for me it's more boring to be in a sleeping bag for 12 hours. 😀
In 2003, during one of my 1st training deployments in the military, we had 2 groups sent out right after the New Year. My group went to Anchorage AK and the other to Albany NY. We had all the good winter equipment and faced 7" of snow but the Albany guys ended up with nearly 50" of snow. We sent them all our good stuff.
I’ve done a good bit of winter snow backpacking and would highly recommend hand warmers, trekking poles, snow shoes, and if near trees a small saw/knife to process food for a fire if with a group.
Glad you had a good trip. There's really nothing quite like the Rockies with snow on them - a whole other level of beauty. 2 words of advice for winter camping when it's truly cold out: hot tent!
Dan ... All of the reasons that you stated in your video are why I also like going into the backcountry in the winter ... It's just awesome ... Thanks for sharing the video and information ...
Did my first ever backpacking trip in the high uintas in early June a couple of years ago. To my surprise there was still snow and ended up getting sun/snow burned LOL. Learned my lesson
If you are going to encourage people to go out winter camping, then please also encourage them to take avalanche safety classes so they know how to do it safely if they are in alpine country.
Hey Dan! Love the vids, I'm looking for the trip to Montana. I live in Montana and would love to see the beartooth trip. Thanks for the inspiration. Big sky Charlie.
My friends all think I am crazy because I drive from windsor "up north" to find the snow. I'm heading to Algonquin for some hiking this weekend. It's all about the gear.
Dan I'm also located in Wisconsin, went on my first ever back packing trip last month! I'd highly recommend Porcupine Mountains in the Upper peninsula!! I did 9 miles in and 8 out on a overnight snowshoe trip!! Only about 1000 foot of elevation, but still had 3 plus feet of snow and really did feel like a mountain! Plan to go back next month and do a 3 night loop, well if the Temps drop back down anyway for snow/snowshoeing
Uk here. Only used snow shoes once and they were a killer. Better snow shoes than no show shoes (trying saying that 5 times fast!), but still a killer. I had to break out my emergency thighs!
Inspiring! You really hit in some critical points on why winter camping is the best! Although, I am one of those guys that doesn’t “rough it”😂, one of those Overlanders with a diesel heater. AND still people think I am crazy to camp in Wisconsin winters.
Well done. But try not to get too many people excited about winter camping. It's may favourite time of the year purely because there is so few people out there. 🙏 😎
