Using a bivouac sack (also known as a bivy sack) with your sleeping bag will increase your comfort while sleeping. Since you will lose much heat to the ground, it is very important to use a sleeping pad, perhaps even two. This will insulate you from the ground and keep you warm.

If you have a mummy sleeping bag make sure you close it up so your eyes, mouth, and nose are exposed. Breathing into your sleeping bag, will wet it and decrease its ability to keep you warm. If you have another style of sleeping bag, sleep with a hat on. (more…)

Drinking water is crucial to preventing hypothermia during your winter camping trips. What follows are some tips to help you stay properly hydrated in the winter.

Although lakes may be frozen solid, a stream or spring might still be flowing. Since low temperatures don’t kill all possible parasites, the water still needs to be boiled or filtered.
However, melting snow to water form takes time and energy, make sure you fill all your water bottles whenever you are near a running supply. (more…)

Ingredients:flour tortilla shells (small), peanut butter, chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows

Instructions:Apply peanut butter on tortilla shell and throw on some chocolate chips. Add some marshmallows and then roll up like a burrito. Wrap individually in foil and cook on grill for about 5 minutes.

Ingredients: bread, cans of cheese whiz, butter or oil

Instructions: Spray cheese whiz on a slice of bread and cover with another piece to make a sandwich. Spread butter on the outsides of each slice of bread and grill on your skillet. When one side becomes golden brown, flip it and cook the other side.

Helpful tip: Make earlier in the trip before the bread gets a chance to become too scrunched or not so fresh. Also leftover cheese whiz can be eaten with crackers as a snack.

Choosing your campground location for winter camping is very important. Of course you have the usual campground regulations and proximity to other campers but winter camping adds a greater challenge to your vacation.

Avoid low laying areas as that is where the coldest air will settle. On the other hand, you also want to avoid high ridge tops where the winds may wreak havok with your tent and possibly create snow drifts. (more…)

Wearing layers is key to camping in the winter. This lets you add and remove layers depending on fluctuations of your body temperature and moisture. Typically three layers are used: liner, insulation, and shell. The liner layer is work directly on your skin such as long underwear. Next you wear an insulation layer made of some sort of fleece. Finally you have an outer shell that is both water-proof and wind-proof.

Cotton is a material to avoid because it loses its insulation quality when it gets wet and it takes a long time to dry. Even if it’s not raining or snowing, the cotton will absorb your perspiration. You really want to wear something synthetic or made of wool.

Below are a couple of quick and easy tips to help you start your campfires. Struggling with the fire can certainly decrease your camping experience.

Start saving your dryer lint. It makes great tinder as it catches fire quickly. The only downside is that it burns up very quickly as well so make sure you have other tinder touching it to catch on. (more…)

Bringing along a pair of work gloves can help you in several ways while camping as they serve many purposes. First for protection when gathering tinder for your campfires. Once the fire is started, wearing gloves while moving or adjusting your wood will protect you further. You may also want to wear them when cooking to touch the cookware. Lastly they could serve as potholders when done cooking.

Understanding the different parts of a tent and how they work together is important in many regards. You’ll have better knowledge when you are ready to buy your first tent and what to do with it afterwards! (more…)

Sealing the seams on your new tent is an absolute requirement in order to stay dry. Rain and even morning dew will seap in through the seams without any waterproofing. It is very easy and inexpensive to seal your tent.

After setting up your tent on a sunny day, apply seam sealer to all threads on both the outside and inside. Usually you must shake the bottle before applying. You will also want to seal the seams on your rain fly.The sealer will need a few hours to dry. For best results, repeat the process again.

It is a good idea to repeat this procedure each year if you do a lot of camping. Besides for waterproofing your tent, you now know how to assemble it.