DNRguide.com - Guide and Blog

For you camping and trekking enthusiasts who are holed up in snow country for multiple months -  why just wait until spring before you pitch a tent?   Today, winter camping is hot. 

Why?  Like many new developments, it is gear driven.  Canvas tents like the Snowtrekker create a welcome shelter wherever you might land & for whatever weather winter might dish up.  Heat is now an option.  With sled (preferably a long & narrow tobaggon) in hand, you can load a tent, food, clothing, sleeping bags AND a lightweight steel wood-burning stove - and snowshoe in to wherever your heart and health permit you to go. 

These little wood fired gems can not only dry you out from mishaps, but they will sweat you out of your jacket and boots even in sub-zero weather.  What had once been in many views a close cousin to a SufferFest, the day of just cold camping in winter is well nigh over.  Heat is in.  Some hot winter campers tend fires all night to keep things cabin-like, but many simply let the fire die out - relying on their sub-zero bags to carry them through the night.  Able campers can launch fires quickly for warm morning starts. 

In addition to providing heat (and ambience…), the stoves are delightful “indoor” cookstoves that keep hotwater and coffee at hand, plus offer plenty of space for frying your fish - or bread - or really anything you enjoy on trails.  Most have a little warming shelf that attaches for moving things off the boil.  In many ways, it is the center of attention - if not the soul of the scene. 

What else is on the short checklist?

Wear wool - underwear, pants, sweaters, shirts, jackets, and socks.

Boots for serious warmth - and waterproof warm slippers for hanging out inside the tent.

Headlamps (and a good book).   

Sub-zero sleeping bag along with a Thermarest to keep dry & a second pad for insulation. 

Waterproof tarp for the sleeping area (for bottomless tents).

Snowshoes suited for the location.

Ax, sharp saw, and hatchet. 

A site with a wood supply. 

Get good advice or go with a guide for a great start. 

Don’t waste another winter sitting inside looking at your July memories.   In Minnesota, the BWCA is a canoe country at rest - just waiting for winter visitors.  Come see for yourself.  Or discover a white haven in your locale.

You may have heard someone say “the best answer to a northeast wind is a warm coat.”  For fisherman, if the conditions are safe and right, in the cooler climes their choice to go fishing or not can often depend on whether or not you have the right clothing.  That is, you need something that will keep you dry and comfortable while out sporting for the fish .  Gearing up with the right clothing is the sole answer to unwelcome weather conditions that might otherwise keep you from getting on the water. 

Talking about the right clothes is not about becoming a fashion plate.  We are talking about outfitting yourself and family with good functional clothing that breeds comfort and keeps you dry.  When I am at a Western Lake Superior Trolling Association meeting, most if not all of these sportsmen are focused entirely on function - and are not worried about how their lined flannel shirts will play-out in pictures.  Looking good does not make possible or extend your stay on the waters - but comfort always will.  KMart can fill the bill in getting you on the water on a cold drizzly day.  But read on for my preferences.

In the 21st century, we have numerous high quality choices for “answering the northeast wind” when you are on the water.  These are choices that excel in warm and dry plus they have a respectable design element. 

• My favorite windbreaker and down vest come from Patagonia.  They have a perfect arsenal of pockets.  The zippers on the jacket seal up nicely.
• Gander Mountain  makes a nice thick cotton-flannel shirt in their Guide Series, and also a great insulated brim hat.
• For dealing with an all out cloud burst, my Helly Hansen waterproof Highliner jacket is a winner. 

What are your favorites for beating the weather on the water?