Cold-weather Camping
Summer is by far the most popular time to camp, but someone who really loves camping will want to do it year-round! Spring and fall are nice because of their mild temperatures, but is cold-weather winter camping any fun?
There are a couple of tricks to making cold-weather camping enjoyable: have the right gear, and have fun stuff lined up to do!
The gear you need revolves around staying warm. We love our radiant heater for inside the camper because it is safe and doesn’t use our propane. We turn the furnace on 65F so if the temperature in the camper falls below that on a really cold night, then the propane furnace will kick in. If you are using the heater, be mindful of your other power usage so you don’t pop a breaker.
PRO TIP: If your tanks and underbelly are heated using a duct from the furnace, make sure to let your furnace run so your tanks don’t freeze.
I prefer a cold room while I’m sleeping. (Getting up is a different story.) I love burrowing down into my sleeping bag, but an electric blanket also does the trick. Let the sleeping bag or electric blanket do double duty while you’re hanging outside, just be sure to keep it away from the fire- not only is it a fire hazard, but you also don’t want it smelling like smoke when you go to bed.
I have tried to use propane heaters outside, but they just don’t seem to make a difference unless you are right next to them, and of course that’s not the safest thing to do. Nothing beats layering up and sitting next to a warm fire!
There are a couple of keys to starting a fire in cold weather because you want the fire to get hot quickly. I use a medium size bag of Kingsford Match Light charcoal because it is super easy. Simply dump the entire bag in the fire pit and light it. I don’t want to fool around with finding kindling when its freezing outside! Also, make sure your firewood is nice and dry so it will start burning right away. You’ll have a warm fire, and a crowd, in no time.
One of the few things I like more than a fire is eating! I don’t want to cook anything too complicated when its cold outside so I stick to something simple and cook over the fire. Nothing is better than chili cooked in a Dutch oven with hot dogs roasted right over the fire! Here’s my secret chili recipe, don’t tell anyone: 2 cans of Del Monte diced tomatoes (zesty chili style) with 2 cans of Busch’s chili beans for every 1lb of ground beef. Add Tabasco for taste and heat. You can have chili thrown together in no time and it tastes really good!
Of course, while you are sitting by the fire waiting for the chili to cook, you need a drink. Unfortunately having a cold drink can be a problem in the winter. Either your drink makes your hand cold or you struggle to hold your drink with a big glove on. The solution is a beer mit- it will keep your hand warm, and your beer cold and safely cradled in your hand! Maybe you want a warm drink instead; check out these recipes. Try anything from a hot chocolate to a hot toddy. Don’t forget to pack your insulated mug with a lid to keep that drink warm.
After some food and drinks, you’ll probably need to move around some… Nothing warms you up faster than exercise and winter is a perfect time to take a hike! The cold air is refreshing once you get moving and I have found the views can be better on a tall hill or mountain because the tree leaves aren’t in the way. Enjoy watching the sunset and head back to camp to warm up by the fire or in your toasty bed.
Last but not least, make sure to bring some cards and games. When the kids get tired of sitting around the fire or start to lose feeling in their extremities, they can go inside the camper and play. We try to unplug on camping trips, so some fun games and activities are a great alternative to screen time. If the adults are looking for something fun to do as well, try playing charades by the light of the campfire. And you can’t beat a clear winter night for finding constellations in the stars!
Winter camping takes a little more prep to make sure you have everything you need, but I have found it can be just as enjoyable as any summer trip. Happy camping!