Cold weather camping tips !The end of summer doesn't always mean the end of camping. How to prepare for the trip and how to keep warm.
The end of summer doesn't always mean the end of camping. During the fall, winter and spring are some of the best times for camping because of the availability of sites in campgrounds and in most year round campgrounds there is also a greatly reduced rate for camping off season. Cold weather camping is defined as camping when the weather drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Most year round campgrounds will be almost empty so you can be sure that you will find the peace and quiet you've missed all summer.
To prepare for a cold weather camping trip you will need to keep these things in mind. You will need to bring all your regular camping gear plus extra gear like down sleeping bags, blankets preferably made of wool (enough to use as an insulation underneath where you will be sleeping). An extra tarp to line the underside of your tent, winter wear such as mittens, gloves, hats, scarves, boots, and winter coats. You will also want to bring extra clothes and socks. Changing socks often will help keep your feet warm. You will want to keep a campfire going most of the time to keep warm while sitting around camp, so make sure you bring extra wood for this.
If there is snow on the ground, you will want to remove as much snow from the ground as possible. You can use the snow as a shield for your tent to keep the wind off of it. Never use space heaters inside your tent. That can cause a fire and propane heaters can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. You will want to make sure that you keep all wet gear away from your sleeping area. The key to keeping warm is staying dry. You also want to make sure not to get overheated. If you get too warm you will begin sweating and later on as your body drops to it's resting temperature you will be cold.
Preventing hypothermia is very important. To prevent this make sure you are prepared. Drink plenty of fluids. Keep clothing dry, and wear them in layers. The human body loses most of its heat through the head so make sure to wear a hat.
